5%, but less than 10% (113 electoral votes): Louisiana, 5.45% (84,400 votes) Vermont, 5.96% (12,707 votes) Michigan, 6.49% (253,693 votes) Missouri, 6.81% (142,999 votes) Pennsylvania, 7.11% (324,332 votes) Illinois, 7.93% (376,636 votes) (tipping-point state) Connecticut, 9.64% (135,478 votes) Oregon, 9.66% (114,154 votes) Statistics Counties with highest percentage of the vote (Republican) Banner County, Nebraska 90.41% Madison County, Idaho 88.41% McIntosh County, North Dakota 86.01% McPherson County, South Dakota 85.60% Franklin County, Idaho 85.31% Counties with highest percentage of the vote (Democratic) Macon County, Alabama 80.10% Hancock County, Georgia 78.50% Duval County, Texas 77.91% Jefferson County, Mississippi 77.84% Greene County, Alabama 77.09% Counties with highest percentage of the vote (Other) Nantucket, Massachusetts 21.63% Winnebago County, Illinois 21.50% Dukes County, Massachusetts 20.88% Pitkin County, Colorado 20.82% Story County, Iowa 19.41% Voter demographics Source: CBS News and The New York Times exit poll from the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research (15,201 surveyed) Conspiracy theory The "October Surprise conspiracy theory" alleges the existence of a plot to influence the outcome of the election. One of the leading national issues was the release of 66 Americans being held hostage in Iran since November 4, 1979. Reagan won the election. On the day of his inauguration—in fact, minutes after he concluded his 20-minute inaugural address—the Islamic Republic of Iran announced the release of the hostages. The timing gave rise to an allegation that representatives of Reagan's presidential campaign had conspired with Iran to delay the release until after the election to thwart President Jimmy Carter from pulling off an "October surprise". See also 1980 United States House of Representatives elections 1980 United States gubernatorial elections History of the United States (1964–1980) History of the United States (1980–1991) Anderson v. Celebrezze Political activities of the Koch brothers Debategate per allegations of Carter's briefing books being leaked to Reagan campaign prior to their debate References Further reading Books . online review by Michael Barone Davies, Gareth, and Julian E. Zelizer, eds. America at the Ballot Box: Elections and Political History (2015) pp. 196–218. Hogue, Andrew P. Stumping God: Reagan, Carter, and the Invention of a Political Faith (Baylor University Press; 2012) 343 pages; A study of religious rhetoric in the campaign Johnstone, Andrew, and Andrew Priest, eds. US Presidential Elections and Foreign Policy: Candidates, Campaigns, and Global Politics from FDR to Bill Clinton (2017) pp 250–270. online Mason, Jim (2011). No Holding Back: The 1980 John B.