United States Senate election in Oklahoma, 1980

United States Senate election in Oklahoma, 1980

November 3, 1980
Nominee Don Nickles Andy Coats Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 587,252 400,230 Percentage 53.5% 44.8%
U.S. Senator before election Henry Bellmon Republican Elected U.S. Senator Don Nickles Republican

Elections in Oklahoma
Federal government Presidential Elections 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 Presidential primaries Democratic 2008 2012 2016 Republican 2008 2012 Senate elections 1968 1974 1980 1986 1992 1996 1998 2002 2004 2008 2010 2014 2016 House of Representatives elections 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 Special elections Senate, 1994 1st district, 2002 Senate, 2014
State government Gubernatorial elections 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 State Elections 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014
Ballot measures 2004 Question 711
Tulsa government Mayoral elections 2006 2009 2013
Government

The 1980 United States Senate election in Oklahoma was held November 3, 1980. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Henry Bellmon decided to retire, instead of seeking a third term. Republican nominee Don Nickles won the open seat.

Major candidates

Democratic

• Andy Coats, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma district attorney^[1]

Republican

• Don Nickles, State Senator

Campaign

After two years in the State Senate and displeased by the policies of the Carter Administration, Nickles ran for the United States Senate in 1980 to succeed Republican Henry Bellmon who was retiring. As an unknown in a field crowded with business and political bigwigs, Nickles was not initially given much of a chance. Bellmon even tried to convince him to wait and run for the U.S. House. Utilizing personal contact and passing out unique "wooden nickel" campaign button novelties, Nickles unique grassroot community ties to local Amway distributors throughout Oklahoma gave him an interpersonal network which proved helpful. Nickles beat two well funded oil millionaires (Jack Zink and Ed Noble) in the primary and won the primary run-off against Zink, a race car driver. He later won the general election against Democrat Oklahoma City Mayor Andy Coats and independent Charles Nesbitt, the Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner and former Oklahoma Attorney General. At the age of 32, Nickles was the youngest Republican ever elected to the United States Senate.

Results

References