# 1980 United States Senate election in Colorado

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vte :
The 1980 United States Senate election in Colorado was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Gary Hart won re-election to a second term despite Republican nominee Ronald Reagan winning the state over Democratic President Jimmy Carter in the concurrent presidential election. This election was the first time since 1948 that an incumbent Democratic Senator from Colorado was re-elected or won re-election and the first time since 1938 that an incumbent Democratic Senator from Colorado was re-elected or won re-election for this seat.

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Mary Estill Buchanan, Colorado Secretary of State
* Bo Callaway, former Secretary of the Army and former U.S. Representative from Georgia
* John Cogswell, attorney
* Sam H. Zakhem, former State Senator

## General election
### Candidates

* Mary Estill Buchanan, Colorado Secretary of State (Republican)
* Gary Hart, incumbent Senator since 1975 (Democratic)
* Earl Higgerson (Statesman)
* Henry John Olshaw (Independent American)
General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Gary Hart (inc.) | 590,501 | 50.33% | −6.90% |
| | Republican | Mary Estill Buchanan | 571,295 | 48.70% | +9.20% |
| | Statesman | Earl Higgerson | 7,265 | 0.62% | |
| | Independent American | Henry John Olshaw | 4,081 | 0.35% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,206 | 1.64% | −16.10% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,173,142 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | | |