Who won West Virginia in the 1980 presidential election?

Carter (Democratic) carried West Virginia in 1980, winning its 6 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did West Virginia have in 1980?

West Virginia cast 6 electoral votes in the 1980 presidential election.

Did West Virginia vote for the national winner in 1980?

No. West Virginia backed Carter, while Ronald Reagan won the presidency nationally.

Cold War RealignmentWV · 6 EV

1980

West Virginia: Carter carries 6 EV.

West Virginia cast its 6 electoral votes for Carter (Democratic). National winner: Ronald Reagan (Republican) — West Virginia voted against the national winner this cycle.

What happened in West Virginia, 1980

In 1980, West Virginia awarded its 6 electoral votes to Carter of the Democratic party. The presidency went elsewhere: Ronald Reagan (Republican) won nationally, while West Virginia had backed a different ticket.

West Virginia stayed in the Democratic column for the 13th straight cycle, extending a run that began in 1932. The region divided — Maryland joined West Virginia for the Democratic ticket, while Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky did not. Over its 41 recorded presidential cycles, West Virginia has backed the Democratic party more than any other — 22 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

West Virginia full history →