1980 United States Senate election in Arizona

1980 United States Senate election in Arizona

November 4, 1980

Nominee Barry Goldwater Bill Schulz Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 432,371 422,972 Percentage 49.46% 48.38%

County results Goldwater:      40–50%      50–60% Schulz:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Barry Goldwater Republican Elected U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater Republican

The 1980 United States Senate election in Arizona took place on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Republican Senator Barry Goldwater decided to run for reelection to a third consecutive term, after returning to the Senate in 1968 following his failed presidential run in 1964 against Lyndon B. Johnson. Despite Republican presidential nominee Ronald Reagan's landslide win in Arizona, Goldwater defeated Democratic Party nominee Bill Schulz in the general election by a narrow margin, which later caused Goldwater to decide against running for reelection to a fourth consecutive term. Goldwater won only three counties, including Maricopa County.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Barry Goldwater, incumbent U.S. Senator

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Bill Schulz, businessman
• James F. McNulty Jr., state senator
• Frank DePaoli
• Frances Morgan

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bill Schulz	97,520	55.4%
	Democratic	James F. McNulty, Jr.	58,894	33.4%
	Democratic	Frank DePaoli	19,259	10.9%
	Democratic	Frances Morgan (withdrawn)	485	0.3%
Total votes			176,158	100.0

General election

United States Senate election in Arizona, 1980

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Barry Goldwater (incumbent)	432,371	49.46%	−8.80%
	Democratic	Bill Schulz	422,972	48.38%	+6.64%
	Libertarian	Fred R. Esser	12,008	1.37%
	People Before Profits	Lorenzo Torrez	3,608	0.41%
	Socialist Workers	Josefina Otero	3,266	0.37%
Majority			9,399	1.08%	−15.44%
Turnout			874,225
	Republican hold		Swing

See also

• 1980 United States Senate elections