1980 United States Senate election in North Carolina

1980 United States Senate election in North Carolina

← 1974 November 4, 1980 1986 →
 
Nominee John East Robert Morgan
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 898,064 887,653
Percentage 49.96% 49.38%

East:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Morgan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election

Robert Morgan
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

John East
Republican

The 1980 United States Senate election in North Carolina was held on November 4, 1980, as part of the nationwide elections to the Senate. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Robert Morgan ran for reelection to a second term, but narrowly lost to Republican John East.

This was the first time Republicans won this seat since 1897, and the inauguration of John East marked the first time since Reconstruction that they held both Senate seats simultaneously.