The 1980 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1980. Democratic incumbent Scott M. Matheson defeated Republican nominee Bob Wright with 55.16% of the vote. , this is the last time a Democrat was elected Governor of Utah; since Matheson left office in 1985, all of Utah's governors have been Republican. In fact, Democrats, save in the "asterisk election" of 1988 featuring a Republican running as an Independent, have not even had a close call during that time; coming no closer in a strict two-candidate race than Matheson's Scott Jr. losing by more than sixteen points in 2004.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/compare.php?year=2024&fips=49&f=0&off=5&elect=0&type=state Matheson's victory was despite Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan and incumbent Republican Senator Jake Garn both winning over 72% of the vote in their respective races on the same ballot.

Primary election Primary elections were held on September 9, 1980.

Democratic primary Incumbent governor Scott M. Matheson was renominated without opposition.

Republican primary Bob Wright, former Chair of the Utah Republican Party, was nominated without opposition.

General election

Candidates Scott M. Matheson, Democratic Bob Wright, Republican Lawrence Rey Topham, American Party

Results

Results by county County Scott M. MathesonDemocratic Bob WrightRepublican Lawrence Rey TophamAmerican Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # %Beaver1,46468.12%68331.78%20.09%78136.34%2,149Box Elder6,96346.39%8,00953.36%380.25%-1,046-6.97%15,010Cache11,19243.90%14,20255.71%1000.39%-3,010-11.81%25,494Carbon6,86776.15%2,14323.76%80.09%4,72452.38%9,018Daggett27666.99%13633.01%00.00%14033.98%412Davis28,76349.96%28,52149.54%2920.51%2420.42%57,576Duchesne2,05542.21%2,80757.66%60.12%-752-15.45%4,868Emery2,89763.70%1,64036.06%110.24%1,25727.64%4,548Garfield1,17359.09%81040.81%20.10%36318.29%1,985Grand1,84956.61%1,41043.17%70.21%43913.44%3,266Iron4,79561.94%2,92637.80%200.26%1,86924.14%7,741Juab1,62760.66%1,04939.11%60.22%57821.55%2,682Kane91450.64%88649.09%50.28%281.55%1,805Millard2,52956.74%1,92143.10%70.16%60813.64%4,457Morgan1,19548.72%1,25551.16%30.12%-60-2.45%2,453Piute39354.81%32044.63%40.56%7310.18%717Rich51154.89%41844.90%20.21%939.99%931Salt Lake149,98559.70%99,69139.68%1,5430.61%50,29420.02%251,219San Juan1,62546.32%1,86453.14%190.54%-239-6.81%3,508Sanpete3,54653.92%3,00645.70%250.38%5408.21%6,577Sevier3,65452.98%3,20946.53%340.49%4456.45%6,897Summit3,13562.70%1,85937.18%60.12%1,27625.52%5,000Tooele5,05152.10%4,61447.60%290.30%4374.51%9,694Uintah3,14543.57%4,06456.30%100.14%-919-12.73%7,219Utah40,80447.66%44,69352.20%1220.14%-3,889-4.54%85,619Wasatch2,29958.38%1,63541.52%40.10%66416.86%3,938Washington5,46546.00%6,36553.57%510.43%-900-7.58%11,881Wayne49244.97%59954.75%30.27%-107-9.78%1,094Weber36,31058.32%25,84341.51%1080.17%10,46716.81%62,261Total330,97455.16%266,57844.43%2,4670.41%64,39610.73%600,019

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Davis Garfield Kane Millard Piute Rich Sanpete Sevier Wasatch

References