The United States presidential election of 1980 was the 49th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 4, 1980. The election took place among the backdrop of the New Depression that had ruined the promises of incumbent President and Republican candidate Ronald Reagan to bring about a new era of prosperity. The Democratic nomination went to the well-known governor of the most populous state, California's Jerry Brown, who had been reelected governor in a landslide in 1978. Brown united all wings of his party, avoided divisive cultural issues, and brought in a leading establishment liberal as his running mate, Minnesota senator Walter Mondale.
Brown repeatedly blamed the failed policies of Humphrey and Reagan for the Depression and worsening economy. With unemployment above 10% in 1980 alone, Reagan was remiss to defend his record, and Brown promised a "Great Renewal" for the American people. Brown won by a landslide in both the electoral and popular vote, receiving among the highest percentage of the popular vote for a Democratic nominee. Subsequent landslides in the 1982 mid-term elections and following presidential election two and four years later respectively, signified a renewed mandate of Democratic dominance.