1980 North Carolina gubernatorial election

The 1980 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1980. Despite North Carolina going to Ronald Reagan in the presidential race and the U.S. Senate race being won by a Republican (John P. East), popular Democratic Governor Jim Hunt won a second term in office in a landslide over Republican I. Beverly Lake. Hunt thus became the first governor of the state elected to a consecutive four-year term, following an amendment to the Constitution of North Carolina allowing such a run.[1]

1980 North Carolina gubernatorial election

November 4, 1980

Nominee Jim Hunt I. Beverly Lake Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,143,145 691,449 Percentage 61.88% 37.43%

County Results Hunt:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Lake:      50-60%      60-70%

Governor before election Jim Hunt Democratic Elected Governor Jim Hunt Democratic

Elections in North Carolina
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State executive Gubernatorial elections 1904 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 2020 Lieutenant Governor elections 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 Attorney General elections 2008 2012 2016 2020 Council of State elections 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 Secretary of State elections 1940 1944
State legislature General Assembly elections 2002 2004 2006 2008 State Senate elections 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 State House elections 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
State judiciary Judicial elections 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020
Ballot measures 2012 Amendment 1
Mayoral elections Charlotte mayoral elections 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 Cary mayoral elections 2011 2015 2019 Durham mayoral elections 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 Fayetteville mayoral elections 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 Greensboro mayoral elections 2013 2015 2017 Raleigh mayoral elections 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 Winston-Salem mayoral elections 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 2016 2020

Hunt's decision to run for a second term led to a challenge from former Democratic governor Robert W. Scott, but Hunt easily defeated the former governor in the Democratic primary.[2]