1980 Democratic Party presidential primaries facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
1980 Democratic Party presidential primaries

← 1976 January 21 to June 3, 1980 1984 →
3,315 delegates to the Democratic National Convention 1,105 delegate votes needed to win
Candidate Jimmy Carter Ted Kennedy Home state Georgia Massachusetts Contests won 36 12 Popular vote 10,043,016 7,381,693 Percentage 51.13% 37.58%
Results of the 1980 Democratic National Convention
Previous Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter

The 1980 Democratic presidential primaries were a series of elections. During these elections, voters who supported the Democratic Party chose their favorite candidate. The winner would then run for President of the United States in the main 1980 U.S. presidential election.

At this time, the country of Iran was facing a lot of problems. This caused them to produce and sell less oil. In January 1979, Iran's leader, known as the Shah, left the country. After he left, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini took control. He made the country follow a very strict form of Islam.

Another big issue during this election was rising prices, especially for oil and gas. Many people felt that President Carter was to blame for these problems. Only 28% of people surveyed said they approved of how he was doing his job.

Choosing the Democratic Candidate

The 1980 Democratic presidential primaries were how the Democratic Party picked its candidate for president. These events included both primary elections and caucuses. The goal was to choose who would represent the party at the 1980 Democratic National Convention. This convention took place in New York City from August 11 to August 14, 1980.

President Carter's Challenge

The current president, Jimmy Carter, was hoping to be chosen again. However, he faced a big challenge from Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts. Senator Kennedy won 12 of the primary contests. He also received more than seven million votes across the country.

Kennedy did not give up his campaign until the second day of the convention. This was a very unusual situation. It was the most recent time a sitting president still had an opponent at the party's convention.

Main Candidates in the Race

Many people ran for the Democratic nomination. Here are the main candidates who sought to become the party's choice for president.

The Party's Nominee

• Jimmy Carter
  • Most Recent Job: President of the United States (1977-1981)
  • Home State: Georgia
  • Popular Vote: 10,043,016 votes (51.13%)
  • Contests Won: 36 states and territories, including Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida, Illinois, Texas, Ohio, and California.
  • Running Mate: Walter Mondale

Jimmy Carter, the Democratic nominee for president in 1980.

Candidates Who Withdrew

Some candidates started the race but later decided to stop their campaigns.

• Ted Kennedy
  • Most Recent Job: U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (1962-2009)
  • Home State: Massachusetts
  • Popular Vote: 7,381,693 votes (37.58%)
  • Contests Won: 12 states and territories, including Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and California.
  • Withdrawal: He withdrew his campaign during the Democratic National Convention.

Senator Ted Kennedy, who challenged President Carter for the nomination.

Other Candidates Who Withdrew

• Jerry Brown, who was the Governor of California.
• Cliff Flinch, who was the Governor of Mississippi.

Images for kids

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  Map showing the results of the 1980 Democratic presidential primaries.