Who won Illinois in the 1980 presidential election?

Reagan (Republican) carried Illinois in 1980, winning its 26 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did Illinois have in 1980?

Illinois cast 26 electoral votes in the 1980 presidential election.

Did Illinois vote for the national winner in 1980?

Yes. Illinois backed Ronald Reagan, who won the presidency that year.

Cold War RealignmentIL · 26 EV

1980

Illinois: Reagan carries 26 EV.

Illinois cast its 26 electoral votes for Reagan (Republican). National winner: Ronald Reagan (Republican) — Illinois voted with the national winner this cycle.

What happened in Illinois, 1980

In 1980, Illinois awarded its 26 electoral votes to Reagan of the Republican party. That placed Illinois with the eventual winner: Ronald Reagan went on to take the presidency, and Illinois was part of his column.

Illinois stayed in the Republican column for the 4th straight cycle, extending a run that began in 1968. Illinois did not move alone — neighboring Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, and Indiana broke the same way in 1980. Over its 53 recorded presidential cycles, Illinois has backed the Democratic party more than any other — 26 times in all. The vote fell within the Cold War Realignment — Nixon, Reagan, and the Republican South.

Nationally, Ronald Reagan finished with 489 of the 538 electoral votes to Jimmy Carter's 49. Ronald Reagan led the national popular vote with 50.75% of the ballots cast.

The 1980 national map

Illinois full history →