1980 United States Senate election in New York
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County results D'Amato: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% Holtzman: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections in New York State |
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The 1980 United States Senate election in New York was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Jacob Javits was defeated in the primary by Al D'Amato. D'Amato went on to win a plurality in the general election over Elizabeth Holtzman and Javits, who remained in the race as the candidate of the Liberal Party of New York.
Background
Even as early as his time in the U.S. House in the 1940s, Jacob Javits had been one of the most liberal members of the
For years, Javits had been considered politically "invincible," but had become vulnerable in 1980 in part due to the rise of the
Javits also faced criticisms from liberals in the state over his tepid opposition to the
Republican primary
Background
Before 1980, Javits had never faced a primary challenge. However, amid widespread speculation that he would not run, two challengers entered the race: Queens attorney James Eagan, a political unknown, and Hempstead supervisor
However, neither Caputo nor D'Amato were the Conservatives' first choice. Most speculation surrounded Representative Jack Kemp, a leading Conservative Party fundraiser and active supporter of Ronald Reagan's campaign for President.[5] Kemp was all but assured of the Conservative nomination if he desired it.[4] He told supporters that he would not challenge Javits,[3] but publicly said there was "a good chance" he would run if Javits retired.[4] The Conservatives withheld their formal endorsement from D'Amato, Caputo, or any other candidate in hopes that Javits would not run and Kemp would.[3]
Javits initially said he would announce his intent before February 12, but delayed that decision two weeks, citing his health. Javits also refused to fundraise before formally announcing his campaign despite changes in the law that would have allowed it.
Candidates
- Al D'Amato, Presiding Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead
- Jacob Javits, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1957
Withdrew
- Yonkers and nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1978[3]
- James Eagan, Queensattorney
Declined
- Jack Kemp, U.S. Representative from Buffalo[5]
- Henry Kissinger, former U.S. Secretary of State[4]
Campaign
Conservative nomination: D'Amato vs. Caputo
Javits's announcement livened the race, which instantly centered on his long record.
On March 22, the Conservative state committee gave their informal endorsement to D'Amato, pledging to formalize the nomination in June. There was considerable haggling over whether the committee would weight their votes by party support, which D'Amato favored since most of his strength was in the Conservative base of Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk. The final weighted vote backed D'Amato over Caputo nearly two-to-one.[8]
In preliminary speeches, D'Amato backers stressed his long standing in the Conservative Party and his ability to get on the Republican primary ballot without resorting to an expensive petition drive, since he had the necessary party committee support.[8]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative
|
Al D'Amato | 155,877 | 65.63% | |
Conservative
|
Bruce Caputo
|
80,587 | 33.93% | |
Conservative
|
James Eagan | 1,048 | 0.44% | |
Total votes | 237,512 | 100.00% |
After the announcement, Caputo said he would remain in the race. D'Amato said he would contest the general election even if he lost the primary.[8]
D'Amato vs. Javits
Few initially believed that D'Amato could unseat Javits in the primary.[9]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Al D'Amato | 323,468 | 55.68% | |
Republican | Jacob Javits (incumbent) | 257,433 | 44.32% | |
Total votes | 580,901 | 100.00% |
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Elizabeth Holtzman, U.S. Representative from Brooklyn
- John Lindsay, former Mayor of New York City and Republican U.S. Representative
- Bess Myerson, former Commissioner of the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs and Miss America 1945
- Queens CountyDistrict Attorney
Declined
- Joseph A. Califano, former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare[5]
Campaign
The Democratic field included four major candidates. Bess Myerson was the early favorite, having the support of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, New York City mayor Ed Koch, and Governor Hugh Carey.[7][11] Nevertheless, Myerson's campaign was reliant on her statewide celebrity status as a former Miss America winner and TV personality. If she faltered, most expected Representative Elizabeth Holtzman to take the lead. She had already unseated House dean Emanuel Celler in 1972, and as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, took a leading role in the Nixon impeachment hearings.[7] The third leading candidate, former mayor of New York City John Lindsay, was considered popular with minority voters but struggled to escape his controversial eight-year tenure as mayor, which some city residents blamed for the near-bankruptcy of the city in 1975.[7]
Holtzman rose quickly in the primary, despite her difficulty expressing criticism of Senator Javits, who remained popular with the same liberal Democrats who supported her campaign.[9] During the campaign, Holtzman boasted that she was "never been hand-picked by the bosses. I have never been hand-picked by anyone.", in a thinly-veiled dig to her opponents. Holtzman touted her legislative record, implicitly criticizing Myerson's lack of actual political experience,[9] and her support for women's rights, having secured an extension for the Equal Rights Amendment's 1979 ratification.[12] Myerson also struggled to define herself ideologically, and by late March Holtzman had already pulled ahead in at least one poll.[9]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Elizabeth Holtzman | 378,567 | 40.74% | |
Democratic | Bess Myerson | 292,767 | 31.51% | |
Democratic | John Lindsay | 146,815 | 15.80% | |
Democratic | John J. Santucci | 36,770 | 11.96% | |
Total votes | 854,919 | 100.00% |
Liberal nomination
- Jacob Javits, incumbent U.S. Senator (registered Republican)
Although Elizabeth Holtzman sought the Liberal Party nomination, the party stuck with Javits, a decision which was to prove pivotal in the general election.
General election
Campaign
D'Amato, also running on the
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Al D'Amato | 2,272,082 | 37.77% | ||
Conservative
|
Al D'Amato | 275,100 | 4.57% | 11.36 | |
Right to Life
|
Al D'Amato | 152,470 | 2.53% | N/A | |
Total | Al D'Amato | 2,699,652 | 44.88% | N/A | |
Democratic | Elizabeth Holtzman | 2,618,661 | 43.54% | 5.31 | |
Liberal | Jacob Javits (incumbent) | 664,544 | 11.05% | ||
Libertarian | Richard Savadel | 21,465 | 0.36% | N/A | |
Communist | William R. Scott | 4,161 | 0.07% | 0.01 | |
Workers World | Thomas Soto | 3,643 | 0.06% | ||
Socialist Workers | Victor A. Nieto | 2,715 | 0.05% | 0.10 | |
Write-in | 73 | 0.00% | |||
Majority | 80,991 | 1.34% | |||
Total votes | 6,014,914 | 100.00% | |||
Republican hold | Swing |
See also
References
- ^ Martin, Paul (September 7, 1956). "Javits' Record in House Lowest for GOP 'Unity'". Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e Peck, Louis (April 29, 1979). "Javits: Feared but Respected". Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin. pp. 51, 54. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g Zander, Dick (January 11, 1980). "The Riddle of Javits' Run". Newsday. Hempstead, NY.
- ^ a b c d e Zander, Dick (January 18, 1980). "Two Who May Challenge Javits". Newsday. Melville, NY. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Peck, Louis (November 4, 1979). "Will Javits run for another term?". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Zander, Dick. "Javits To Seek 5th Senate Term". Newsday. Retrieved August 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Poughkeepsie Journal 02 Mar 1980, page Page 7A". Poughkeepsie Journal. March 2, 1980. p. 7A. Retrieved August 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Zander, Dick (March 23, 1980). "D'Amato Gets Conservative Endorsement". Newsday. Retrieved August 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Peck, Louis (March 31, 1980). "Holtzman: Can she distinguish herself enough to oust Javits?". The Ithaca Journal. p. 10. Retrieved August 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Syracuse Mayoral Primary Results - 9wsyr.com". Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
- ^ Lynn, Frank (September 24, 1982). "CUOMO BEATS KOCH IN DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
- ^ "HOLTZMAN, Elizabeth". US House of Representatives. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - NY US Senate - D Primary Race - Sep 09, 1980".
- ISBN 0472081926.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - NY US Senate Race - Nov 04, 1980".
- ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1980" (PDF). clerk.house.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 20, 2022.