Who won North Carolina in the 1980 presidential election?

Reagan (Republican) carried North Carolina in 1980, winning its 13 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did North Carolina have in 1980?

North Carolina cast 13 electoral votes in the 1980 presidential election.

Did North Carolina vote for the national winner in 1980?

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

Cold War RealignmentNC · 13 EV

1980

North Carolina: Reagan carries 13 EV.

North Carolina cast its 13 electoral votes for Reagan (Republican). National winner: Ronald Reagan (Republican) — North Carolina voted with the national winner this cycle.

Reading the 1980 result in North Carolina

North Carolina backed Reagan (Republican) in the 1980 presidential election, casting 13 electoral votes for the ticket. That placed North Carolina with the eventual winner: Ronald Reagan went on to take the presidency, and North Carolina was part of his column.

The result flipped North Carolina away from the Democratic it had supported in 1976. The region divided — Virginia, Tennessee, and South Carolina joined North Carolina for the Republican ticket, while Georgia did not. Over its 58 recorded presidential cycles, North Carolina has backed the Democratic party more than any other — 32 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

North Carolina full history →