| Year: | 1979 |
| Type: | Off-year elections |
| Election Day: | November 6 |
| Special Elections: | Congressional special elections |
| Special Elections Seats Contested: | 2 |
| Special Elections Net Change: | Republican +1 |
| Special Elections Map Caption: | 0 |
| Governor Seats Contested: | 3 |
| Governor Net Change: | Republican +1 |
| Governor Map Caption: | 1979 gubernatorial election results map |
| Legend: |
The 1979 United States elections were held on November 6, 1979. This off-year election primarily involved local, state, and congressional elections.
The 1979 elections occurred in the final year of President Jimmy Carter's first and only term. Minor gains occurred for the Republican party as a result of increasing stagflation.
Two special elections were held to fill vacancies in the House of Representatives. The most notable race was that for California's eleventh district, whose previous representative had been shot and killed by members of the Peoples Temple in Jonestown, Guyana.[1]
|-! | Leo Ryan| | Democratic| 1972| | Incumbent member-elect was murdered November 18, 1978.
New member elected April 3, 1979.
Republican gain.| nowrap |
|-! | William A. Steiger| | Republican| 1966| | Incumbent member-elect died December 4, 1978.
New member elected April 3, 1979.
Republican hold.[2] | nowrap |
|}
Three states held gubernatorial elections in 1979.
| State | Incumbent | First elected | Result | Candidates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky[3] | Julian Carroll (Democratic) | 1974 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic hold. |
| |
| Louisiana | Edwin Edwards (Democratic) | 1972 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
| |
| Mississippi | Cliff Finch (Democratic) | 1975 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic hold. |
|
State legislative elections were also held in various states across the country. These elections determined the control of state legislatures, which would play a crucial role in the redistricting process following the 1980 census.
In addition to state and congressional races, numerous local elections were held. These elections included mayoral races, city council elections, and referenda on key issues such as taxation and public services.