Who won Rhode Island in the 1980 presidential election?

Carter (Democratic) carried Rhode Island in 1980, winning its 4 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did Rhode Island have in 1980?

Rhode Island cast 4 electoral votes in the 1980 presidential election.

Did Rhode Island vote for the national winner in 1980?

No. Rhode Island backed Carter, while Ronald Reagan won the presidency nationally.

Cold War RealignmentRI · 4 EV

1980

Rhode Island: Carter carries 4 EV.

Rhode Island cast its 4 electoral votes for Carter (Democratic). National winner: Ronald Reagan (Republican) — Rhode Island voted against the national winner this cycle.

Reading the 1980 result in Rhode Island

Rhode Island backed Carter (Democratic) in the 1980 presidential election, casting 4 electoral votes for the ticket. The presidency went elsewhere: Ronald Reagan (Republican) won nationally, while Rhode Island had backed a different ticket.

Rhode Island stayed in the Democratic column for the 6th straight cycle, extending a run that began in 1960. It stood apart from its neighbors: Connecticut and Massachusetts went the other way that year. Over its 59 recorded presidential cycles, Rhode Island has backed the Democratic party more than any other — 25 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

Rhode Island full history →