The 20th general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada, was held on November 2, 1980 to elect members of the Alberta legislature.

The Progressive Conservative Party of Peter Lougheed won its fourth consecutive term in government, and returned to the 62% popular vote level it had attained in the 1975 election. The PC party won 75 of the 79 seats in the legislature.

The Social Credit Party collapsed: its share of the popular vote fell from almost 20% to less than one percent after its legislative caucus had resigned from the party. Two of its members won re-election as independents, and later formed the Representative Party of Alberta.

The New Democratic Party, led by Grant Notley, became the official opposition when it doubled its legislative caucus from one member to two.

The Western Canada Concept, a party that advocated the separation of the four western provinces of Canada to form a new country, had surprised Canadians when Gordon Kesler won by-election and took his seat in the Alberta legislature. Although Kesler lost his seat in this election, the WCC won almost 12% of the popular vote.

Notes:

"Previous" refers to to standings at previous election, not to standings in the Legislature at dissolution.

n.a. = not applicable - the party was not recognized in the previous election

See also

List of Canadian political parties