DemocratNo state or federal office heldLost the 1980 general
Gaylord A. Nelson
Ran in 1 election in 1980.
- Last margin
- −1.9
- Lost 1980
- Elections
- 1
- 1980
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative records
Every race Nelson has run
Baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year. Running ahead of it means Nelson won voters the party’s presidential nominee did not; primaries have no baseline.
| Year | Office | Stage | Result | Opponents | Share | Margin | Raised | Baseline | Against baseline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | U.S. Senate, Wisconsin | General | Lost | Robert Kasten (R), James P. Wickstrom (AMI), Bervin J. Larson (L) | 48.3% | R+1.9 | $788.1K | R+5.2 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Money
Nelson’s campaign fundraising.
- Raised, 1979–80
- $788.1K
Source: FEC filings through Dec 31, 1980Updated Nov 9, 2026, 2:59 AM ET
Who Nelson has run against
- Robert Kasten (R) · 1980 election, lost
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Nelson
One person, matched across every source we use.
- FEC S4WI00017
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FEC