1980 United States Senate election in California

The 1980 United States Senate election in California took place on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Alan Cranston easily won re-election to a third term, even as the state's former Republican governor, Ronald Reagan, won a landslide victory in the concurrent presidential election, and a target of the National Conservative Political Action Committee.

Primary elections
Primary elections were held on June 3, 1980.

Candidates

 * Alan Cranston, incumbent United States Senator
 * Richard Morgan
 * David Rees
 * Frank L. Thomas

Candidates

 * Paul Gann, political activist
 * Rayburn Hanzlik, former Nixon and Ford staffer
 * Brian Hyndman
 * John G. Schmitz, State Senator and American Independent Party candidate for President in 1972
 * Philip Schwartz
 * Sam Yorty, former Mayor of Los Angeles, and Democratic nominee in 1954
 * James A. Ware, nominee for Controller in 1978