McGovern lost his bid for a fourth term by a resounding 19-point margin to Republican Representative James Abdnor.
In the 1986 elections, the Democrats managed to recapture the majority in the Senate, largely thanks to the defeat of several members of the Reagan class of 1980: Democrats won three more seats in 1986, but these have since shown instability, alternating between the parties and in one case between senators: One other freshmen Republican Senator, Mark Andrews of North Dakota, lost reelection in 1986, to Kent Conrad, but he had succeeded a retiring Republican, Milton Young.
[1] Reagan's coattails also affected other elections in 1980, including gubernatorial ones, most prominently the defeat of first term Governor of Arkansas and future President of the United States Bill Clinton by Frank D.
In a speech delivered at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Clinton referenced the effect of Reagan as the reason for his defeat in 1980.
Link of North Dakota, who lost to Allen I. Olson, who only served one term before losing reelection to George A. Sinner.