1. California
In 1980, President Ronald Reagan won 44 states. He received the most electoral votes in California this year to total 45. In 1984, he also received the most support in this state where he acquired 47 electoral votes. For the second election, Reagan won every state except Minnesota.
2. New York
Reagan won the second most electoral votes in New York in 1980. This year, he won 41 NY votes. In 1984, Reagan won only 36, but NY remained second in number of total EVs. By the way, Reagan ran against Democratic Jimmy Carter and Independent John B. Anderson in 1980. In 1984, Democratic nominee Walter Mondale was Reagan’s main opponent.
3. Pennsylvania
1980 marked the year that Ronald Reagan acquired his third highest electoral vote count in this state. For this first election, he won 27 votes in Pennsylvania. In 1984, Reagan received more votes in Texas, and Pennsylvania moved down one notch for a total of 25 EVs.
4. Illinois
Illinois came at fourth in 1980. Here, Reagan won 26 electoral votes this election year. Based on 24 EVs, Illinois became Reagan’s fifth most supportive state after his second win in 1984.
5. Texas
This state tied with Illinois with 26 electoral votes in 1980 for Ronald Reagan. This same state bumped up to third in 1984, when Reagan won 29 EVs here.
6. Ohio
Reagan won a total of 25 electoral votes in this state in 1980. In 1984, Reagan secured 23 EVs in Ohio to become his sixth highest supporting state during his second election.
7. Michigan
Michigan became the state that won 21 votes for President Reagan in 1980. In 1984, he won 20 votes of the same in this state.
8. Florida
Ronald Reagan won more electoral votes in 1984, totaling 21 for this election year. In 1980, it was 17. For the second term, he secured 65.32 of the votes. The first term was only 55.52 percent.
9. New Jersey
At a 17-vote count, Reagan earned one more electoral point in this state in 1980 than he did in 1984. For the second election, he only achieved 16 but 60.09 percent of the total votes.
10. Massachusetts
In 1980, Reagan won 14 electoral votes here. In 1984, he only acquired 13. However, overall voting percentage during the second election calculated at 51.22, which was higher than for the first. For the first election, Reagan only won 41.90 percent of the vote.