Republican Party presidential primaries, 1980 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Republican Party Presidential Primaries, 1980

← 1976 January 21 to June 3, 1980 1984 →

Nominee Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush John B. Anderson Party Republican Republican Republican Home state California Texas Illinois States carried 44 6 (D.C., PR) 0 Popular vote 7,709,793 3,070,033 1,572,174 Percentage 59.79% 23.81% 12.19%

Red indicates a win by Reagan, blue a win by Bush.

Republican presidential candidate before election Gerald Ford Republican presidential candidate-elect Ronald Reagan

The 1980 Republican presidential primaries were a series of elections and meetings where voters of the Republican Party chose their candidate for President of the United States. This process helped decide who would run for president in the 1980 U.S. presidential election.

Former California Governor Ronald Reagan won the most votes and became the Republican nominee. This decision was made official at the 1980 Republican National Convention, which took place from July 14 to July 17, 1980, in Detroit, Michigan.

Choosing a President: The 1980 Republican Primaries

What Are Presidential Primaries?

Presidential primaries are like special elections. They help a political party pick their best candidate for president. Voters go to the polls or attend meetings called caucuses. They choose which person they want to represent their party.

The person who wins the most support becomes the party's official nominee. This nominee then runs against candidates from other parties in the main presidential election.

Who Ran for President in 1980?

Many people wanted to become the Republican Party's candidate in 1980. The main candidates who competed in the primaries were:

• Ronald Reagan: He was a former Governor of California. Reagan was a well-known figure in the Republican Party.
• George H. W. Bush: He had been the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Bush was also a former U.S. Ambassador.
• John B. Anderson: He was a U.S. Congressman from Illinois. Anderson later decided to run as an independent candidate.

Other Candidates Who Competed

Several other people also ran for the Republican nomination. They included:

• Howard Baker, a Senator from Tennessee.
• John Connally, a former Governor of Texas.
• Phil Crane, a U.S. Congressman from Illinois.
• Bob Dole, a Senator from Kansas.

These candidates eventually stopped their campaigns during the primary season. They did this because they did not get enough votes or support.

How Ronald Reagan Won

Ronald Reagan started his campaign strong. He won many of the early primary elections and caucuses. His message focused on reducing government spending and making the country stronger.

George H.W. Bush also won some important early contests. He won the Iowa caucuses, which was a big surprise. However, Reagan gained more and more support as the primaries continued. He won most of the states.

By the time of the Republican National Convention, Reagan had enough support to become the nominee. He officially accepted the nomination in Detroit.

Images for kids

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  Former Governor Ronald Reagan of California

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  U.S. Congressman John B. Anderson of Illinois (withdrew April 24, 1980)

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  Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker of Tennessee (withdrew March 5, 1980)

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  Former CIA director George H. W. Bush of Texas (withdrew May 26, 1980)

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  Former Governor John Connally of Texas (withdrew March 9, 1980)

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  U.S. Congressman Phil Crane of Illinois (withdrew March 20, 1980)

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  U.S. Senator Bob Dole of Kansas (withdrew March 15, 1980)

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  Former Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen of Pennsylvania

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  Senator Larry Pressler of South Dakota (withdrew January 8, 1980)

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  Senator Lowell Weicker of Connecticut (withdrew May 16, 1979)

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  The Nashua debate, the 9th debate between Ronald Reagan (left) and George H. W. Bush (right)

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  Ronald Reagan delivering his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Detroit, Michigan, on July 17, 1980.