1980Final results
1980 election for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania
U.S. Senate · Pennsylvania
Arlen Specter (R) won with 50.5% of the vote, defeating Pete Flaherty (D) by 2.4 points.
Arlen SpecterRepublican · winner
50.5%2,230,404
Pete FlahertyDemocrat
48.0%2,122,391
Linda MohrbacherSocialist Workers
0.6%27,229
David K. WalterLibertarian
0.4%18,595
Lee FrissellOther party
0.4%16,089
Frank KincesCommunist
0.1%3,334
4,418,042 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1980
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Pete FlahertyArlen Specter
$507.8K
Raised by the campaign
$1.5M
$544.5K
Spent by the campaign
$1.5M
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Other candidates' campaigns: David K. Walter $8.3K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980
The candidates
Arlen Specter (R)Pete Flaherty (D)
Also on the ballot: Linda Mohrbacher (Socialist Workers), 0.6%; David K. Walter (Libertarian), 0.4%; Lee Frissell (Other party), 0.4%; Frank Kinces (Communist), 0.1%