Who won South Dakota in the 1980 presidential election?

Reagan (Republican) carried South Dakota in 1980, winning its 4 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did South Dakota have in 1980?

South Dakota cast 4 electoral votes in the 1980 presidential election.

Did South Dakota vote for the national winner in 1980?

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

Cold War RealignmentSD · 4 EV

1980

South Dakota: Reagan carries 4 EV.

South Dakota cast its 4 electoral votes for Reagan (Republican). National winner: Ronald Reagan (Republican) — South Dakota voted with the national winner this cycle.

What happened in South Dakota, 1980

In 1980, South Dakota awarded its 4 electoral votes to Reagan of the Republican party. That placed South Dakota with the eventual winner: Ronald Reagan went on to take the presidency, and South Dakota was part of his column.

South Dakota stayed in the Republican column for the 4th straight cycle, extending a run that began in 1968. The region divided — North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana joined South Dakota for the Republican ticket, while Minnesota did not. Over its 34 recorded presidential cycles, South Dakota has backed the Republican party more than any other — 29 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

South Dakota full history →