You can help empower voters with the information they need when heading to the ballot box. Join the Ballotpedia Society.
Governor of Virginia
| Virginia Governor | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $175,000 |
| 2024 FY Budget: | $10,182,726 |
| Term limits: | Cannot succeed themselves, no limit on total number of terms |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Virginia Constitution, Article V, Section 1 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
Governor of Virginia
Glenn Youngkin | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 4, 2025 |
| Last election: | November 2, 2021 |
| Other Virginia Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch and the highest state office in Virginia. The Governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality. Although there is no life-term term limit, the governor cannot serve consecutive terms.[1]
Virginia has a divided government where neither party holds a trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor, while the Democratic Party controls both chambers of the state legislature.
Virginia has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The 74th and current governor is Glenn Youngkin, a Republican elected in 2021.
Authority
The state Constitution addresses the office of the governor in Article V, the Executive.
Under Article V, Section I:
|
The chief executive power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in a Governor. |
Qualifications
A candidate for the office of governor of Virginia must be:
- a United States citizen
- a resident of Virginia for at least five years at the time of the election
- a qualified elector of Virginia for at least one year preceding the election
- at least 30 years old[2]
Vacancies
- See also: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled
Details of vacancies are addressed under Article V, Section 16.
If a Governor-elect dies, resigns, fails to qualify, or cannot take office for any other reason, the Lieutenant Governor-elect takes office as Governor and serves the full term. If the Governor-elect is only temporarily unable to take the oath, the Lieutenant Governor-elect serves as Acting Governor until the disability is removed.
"In the case of the removal of the Governor from office or in the case of his disqualification, death, or resignation, the Lieutenant Governor shall become Governor."
While death and resignation are straightforward, what about disqualification? One option outlined in Section 16 states:
"Whenever the Attorney General, the President pro tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Delegates, or a majority of the total membership of the General Assembly, transmit to the Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Delegates their written declaration that the Governor is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Lieutenant Governor shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting Governor."
If that were to happen, the governor could still offer a "written declaration that no inability exists" and resume the position unless the Attorney General, the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates, or a majority of the total membership of the General Assembly, reply with their own written declaration, reaffirming their beliefs that the governor is unable to discharge the duties of the office. That then sends the issue to the General Assembly to decide.
Also worth noting is that Virginia has a unique process for removing elected officials from office that is akin to a recall, but gives jurisdiction to a circuit court, which would hold a trial. Created in 1975 and modified in 1989, 1993, 2002, and 2011, § 24.2-233 of the Virginia code states:[3]
"Upon petition, a circuit court may remove from office any elected officer or officer who has been appointed to fill an elective office, residing within the jurisdiction of the court."
The petition would require signatures of registered voters equal to ten percent of the total number of votes cast in the last election for the office. The terms of which an official can be removed include neglect of duty, misuse of office, or incompetence in the performance of duties when that neglect of duty, misuse of office, or incompetence in the performance of duties has a material adverse effect upon the conduct of the office, or upon conviction of a drug-related misdemeanor or a misdemeanor involving a "hate crime."[3][4]
At any time, a sitting Governor may transmit a written statement to both the President Pro Tem of the Senate and the Speaker of the House that she is temporarily unable to serve, at which time the Lieutenant Governor becomes Acting Governor. The Governor resumes her duties by making a second written declaration to the same two officers.
If, at the time a vacancy occurs, an emergency prevents the Assembly from convening, the preordained line of succession behind the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor is as follows:
- the Speaker of the House of Delegates
- the Delegate named to act as the Speaker's stead in the Rules of the House of Delegates
- the President Pro Tem of the Senate
- the Majority Leader of the Senate
Such an individual serves as Acting Governor until the General Assembly is able to convene.
The General Assembly also has the discretion to pass a law that waives the eligibility requirements to serve as Governor or Acting Governor. Such a law may only apply in an "emergency or enemy attack upon the soil of Virginia" and only when the Governor or the duly appointed officer has proclaimed an emergency.
Elections
Virginia belongs to the handful of states that hold off-year elections, that is, elections in off-numbered years that are neither presidential nor midterm years. In Virginia's case, elections are held in the year after a presidential and before a midterm; thus, 2021, 2025, 2029, and 2033 are all gubernatorial election years.
Legally, the inauguration is always held on the Saturday after the second Wednesday in January after an election.[5] In the event of a tie between two candidates or a contested election, a joint session of the legislature shall cast ballots.
Term limits
- See also: States with gubernatorial term limits
Virginia governors are not allowed to succeed themselves in office, however, they have no restrictions on the number of times they may hold the position. This was once a common provision among America's gubernatorial offices, but Virginia is now the only state that continues to apply it.
Virginia Constitution, Article V, Section 1
| [The Governor] shall be ineligible to the same office for the term next succeeding that for which he was elected |
Partisan composition
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Virginia from 1992 to 2013.
Full history
To view the electoral history dating back to 2001 for the office of Governor of Virginia, click [show] to expand the section. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2021
General electionGeneral election for Governor of VirginiaGlenn Youngkin defeated Terry McAuliffe, Princess Blanding, and Paul Davis in the general election for Governor of Virginia on November 2, 2021.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Democratic primary electionDemocratic primary for Governor of VirginiaTerry McAuliffe defeated Jennifer D. Carroll Foy, Jennifer McClellan, Justin Fairfax, and Lee Carter in the Democratic primary for Governor of Virginia on June 8, 2021.
Republican convention
.rcvvotebox {
color: #888;
display: table;
max-width: 600px;
}
.electionsectionheading {
font-size: 1.25em;
font-weight: bold;
padding-left: 10px;
margin-bottom: .75em;
margin-top: 1em;
}
.rcvresults_text {
font-size: 0.9em;
font-weight: 200;
border-bottom: 1px solid grey;
padding-bottom: 7px;
color: #888;
}
.election_results_text {
display: inline;
}
.rcvrace_header {
background: #4c4c4c;
color: #fff;
padding:7px 8px 8px;
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 4px;
font-size: 5px;
}
.rcvrace_header.Democratic {
background-color: #003388;
}
.rcvrace_header.Republican {
background-color: #db0000;
}
.rcvrace_header.Libertarian {
background-color: #dac113;
}
.rcvrace_header.Green {
background-color: #6db24f;
}
.mw-body #mw-content-text .rcvvotebox h3.votebox-header-office-name {
font-size: 20px;
letter-spacing: .03em;
padding-bottom: 8px;
padding-left: 0;
}
.mw-body #mw-content-text h5.rcvrace_header {
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: 300;
letter-spacing: .04em;
padding-left: 0;
margin-top: 0px;
margin-bottom: 0px;
line-height: 1.5em;
}
.results_table {
width: 100%;
}
.rcvresults_table_container {
max-height: 355px;
overflow-y: auto;
}
.votebox_legend {
width: 100% !important;
}
.votebox_legend .non_result_row {
vertical-align: top;
}
.results_row td {
padding-bottom: 3px;
padding-top: 3px;
}
.results_row td:first-child {
padding-left: 8px;
}
.results_row {
height: 56px;
}
.rcvvotebox-results-cell--check {
color: #6db24f;
font-size: 2em;
}
.mw-content-ltr td.votebox-results-cell--text,
.mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text {
font-weight: 300;
}
.mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text {
font-weight: 100;
text-align: left;
}
.votebox-results-cell--number {
text-align: center;
}
.image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper {
border: 1px solid #999;
border-radius: 50%;
display: block;
height: 50px;
overflow: hidden;
position: relative;
width: 50px;
margin-right: 10px;
}
.image-candidate-thumbnail-wrapper .image-candidate-thumbnail {
width: 100%
}
.results_row.winner {
background-color: #f4f4f4;
}
.non_result_row {
color: #888;
font-size: 12px;
letter-spacing: 0.03em;
}
.non_result_row th {
text-align: left !important;
}
.non_result_row div {
display: inline-block;
}
.race_footer {
display: block;
margin: 8px auto;
width: 50%;
}
.votebox-results-metadata {
padding-bottom: 8px;
padding-left: 16px;
padding-top: 8px;
}
.votebox-results-metadata-p {
font-size: 12px;
letter-spacing: 0.03em;
padding-bottom: 0px;
margin-bottom: -2px !important;
}
.outer_percentage {
margin: 0px 10px;
width: 90%;
background-color: #ccc;
float: left;
height: 22px;
overflow-y: hidden;
position: relative;
top: -1px;
max-width: 75px;
}
.inner_percentage {
display: inline-block;
position: absolute;
top: 0px;
left: 0px;
height: 100%;
}
.inner_percentage.Democratic {
background-color: #003388;
}
.inner_percentage.Republican {
background-color: #db0000;
}
.inner_percentage.Libertarian {
background-color: #f9d334;
}
.inner_percentage.Green {
background-color: #6db24f;
}
.inner_percentage.CrossFiled {
background-color: grey;
}
.inner_percentage, .inner_percentage.Nonpartisan, .inner_percentage.Independent, .inner_percentage.Constitution, .inner_percentage.unknown {
background-color: green;
}
.percentage_number {
display: inline-block;
width: 100%;
color:white;
position: absolute;
top: 2px;
left: 0;
text-align: center;
z-index:1;
}
.votebox_bp_logo {
width: 35px !important;
vertical-align: middle;
margin-right: 12px;
position: relative;
top: -5px;
}
.indicate_scroll {
font-size: 12px;
margin: 0;
padding-bottom: 5px;
font-style: italic;
color: #0645ad;
}
.rcv_select {
display: inline-block;
}
@media screen and (max-width: 411px) {
.rcvvotebox, h5.rcvrace_header, .rcvresults_text, .rcvresults_table_container, .rcvvotebox_legend {
width: 95% !important;
}
.rcvtooltip:hover span {
width: 215px !important;
font-size:0.58em;
}
}
.rcvtooltip {
color: #000000; outline: none;
position: relative;
}
.rcvtooltip span {
display:none;
}
.rcvtooltip:hover span {
/* Show the tooltip text when you mouse over the tooltip container */
visibility: visible;
display:inline-block;
position:absolute;
top: -120px;
left: 0px;
right: 0;
z-index:100;
}
.rcvclassic { padding: 0.8em 1em;
opacity:1 !important;
background-color:white !important;
width: 350px;
color:#888;
font-size:0.68em;
text-align: center;
border: 1px solid #888;
border-radius: 6px;
}
Republican Convention for Governor of Virginia
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Glenn Youngkin in round 6 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
2017
Virginia held an election for governor on November 7, 2017. Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) was term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election to a consecutive term. The general election took place on November 7, 2017. A primary election was held on June 13, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in the primary election was March 30, 2017. Ralph Northam (D) defeated Ed Gillespie (R) and Cliff Hyra (Libertarian) in the election for Governor of Virginia.[6]
2013 On November 5, 2013, Terry McAuliffe won election to the office of Governor of Virginia. He defeated Ken Cuccinelli (R) in the general election.
2009 On November 3, 2009, Bob McDonnell won election to the office of Governor of Virginia. He defeated R. Creigh Deeds in the general election.
2005 On November 8, 2005, Tim Kaine won election to the office of Governor of Virginia. He defeated J.W. Kilgore, H.R. Potts, Jr. in the general election.
2001 On November 6, 2001, Mark Warner won re-election to the office of Governor of Virginia. He defeated M.L. Early, William B. Redpath in the general election.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Duties
The governor is responsible for ensuring that the laws of the state are faithfully executed and is responsible for the safety of the state, serving as commander-in-chief of the Virginia Militia. The governor must convene the legislature when two-thirds of each house calls for a special session (§ 5).
Other duties and privileges of the office include:
- The governor makes an address to the legislature at least once during each regular session concerning the state of the Commonwealth and containing gubernatorial recommendations (§ 5).
- The governor has the legislative power to submit recommendations and to call special sessions when deemed necessary (§ 5).
- The governor has veto powers over bills and appropriations. All bills must be sent to the governor before becoming law. The governor may sign the bill, let it sit unsigned for seven days after which it becomes law, or veto the legislation. After a veto, the bill returns to its house of origin and may be overridden by two-thirds of the vote in each house (§ 6).
- The governor also has the power to use a line-item veto. The governor may send legislation back to the legislature with recommendations and amendments, including severable amendments. The legislature must either approve the changes by a majority in each house, or override the veto with a two-thirds majority in each house (§ 6).
- The governor is commander-in-chief of Virginia's armed forces (§ 7).
- The governor may also communicate with other states and foreign powers (§ 7).
- The governor has the power to fill vacancies in positions unless the position is appointed by the legislature (§ 7).
- The governor may commute fines or sentences and issue pardons, excepting cases when the conviction was made by the House of Delegates. The governor may also restore voting rights and overturn other political penalties on individuals (§ 12).
- The governor must reside at the seat of government during the term (§ 4).
- The governor may require information, in writing and under oath, from any executive officer, officer of an administrative department, or officer of a state institution, on any aspect of that officer's duties and office (§ 8).
- The governor may require formal legal opinions from the Attorney General of Virginia (§ 8).
- The governor appoints all administrative officers, subject to the confirmation of the Senate or the General Assembly, as required by law, and provided the nominee have the legal qualifications for the office ((§ 8).
- Attesting to all commissions and grants made by the Commonwealth of Virginia (§ 17).[8]
Divisions
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Governor of Virginia has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
State budget
Role in state budget
- See also: Virginia state budget and finances
The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[9]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in August.
- State agency budget requests are submitted September through October.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the Virginia General Assembly in December.
- The General Assembly adopts a budget in March or April. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.
- The biennial budget cycle begins in July.
Virginia is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[9][10]
The legislature is not required to pass, and the governor is not required to sign, a balanced budget. However, the governor is required to make sure actual expenditures do not exceed revenues by the end of the appropriation period.[9]
Governor's office budget
The budget for the Governor's Office in Fiscal Year 2024 was $10,182,726.[11]
Compensation
See statutes: VA Code § 2.2-201 (2014)
The governor is entitled to receive a fixed annual salary in accordance with Title 2, Chapter 2 of the Virginia Code (§ 2.2-201).[12] The amount is set by law, pursuant to Article V, Section 4 of the Virginia Constitution:
| The Governor... shall receive for his services a compensation to be prescribed by law, which shall not be increased nor diminished during the period for which he shall have been elected. |
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2021
In 2021, the governor received a salary of $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2020
In 2020, the governor received a salary of $175,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2019
In 2019, the governor received a salary of $175,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2018
In 2018, the governor received a salary of $175,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2017
In 2017, the governor received a salary of $175,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2016
In 2016, the governor received a salary of $175,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
2015
In 2015, the governor received a salary of $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments. [20]
2014
In 2014, the governor received a salary of $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[21]
2013
In 2013, the governor's salary was $175,000.[22]
2010
In 2010, the governor was paid $166,000 a year, the 5th highest gubernatorial salary in America.
Historical officeholders
There have been 74 governors of Virginia since 1776. (Acting governors are listed below but not counted). Of the 74 officeholders, 38 were Democrats, 13 were Democratic-Republicans, eight had no party, eight were Republicans, two were Conservative, two were Federalists, two were Whigs, and one was a Readjuster.[23]
| List of Former Officeholders from 1776-Present | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | Party | ||
| 1 | Patrick Henry | 1776 - 1779 | No Party | ||
| 2 | Thomas Jefferson | 1779 - 1781 | No Party | ||
| 3 | William Fleming | 1781 - 1781 | No Party | ||
| 4 | Thomas Nelson | 1781 - 1781 | No Party | ||
| - | David Jameson | 1781 - 1781 | No Party | ||
| 5 | Benjamin Harrison | 1781 - 1784 | No Party | ||
| 6 | Patrick Henry | 1784 – 1786 | No Party | ||
| 7 | Edmund Randolph | 1786 - 1788 | No Party | ||
| 8 | Beverley Randolph | 1788 - 1791 | No Party | ||
| 9 | Henry Lee | 1791 - 1794 | Federalist | ||
| 10 | Robert Brooke | 1794 - 1796 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 11 | James Wood | 1796 - 1799 | Federalist | ||
| - | Hardin Burnley | 1799 - 1799 | No Party | ||
| - | John Pendleton | 1799 - 1799 | No Party | ||
| 12 | James Monroe | 1799 - 1802 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 13 | John Page | 1802 - 1805 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 14 | William Henry Cabell | 1805 - 1808 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 15 | John Tyler | 1808 - 1810 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| - | George William Smith | 1811 - 1811 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 16 | James Monroe | 1811 – 1811 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 17 | George William Smith | 1811 - 1811 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| - | Peyton Randolph | 1811 - 1812 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 18 | James Barbour | 1812 - 1814 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 19 | Wilson Cary Nicholas | 1814 - 1816 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 20 | James Patton Preston | 1816 - 1819 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 21 | Thomas Mann Randolph | 1819 - 1822 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 22 | James Pleasants | 1822 - 1825 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 23 | John Tyler | 1825 - 1827 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 24 | William Branch Giles | 1827 - 1830 |  Democratic
| ||
| 25 | John Buchanan Floyd | 1830 - 1834 | Democratic
| ||
| 26 | Littleton Waller Tazewell | 1834 - 1836 | Whig | ||
| - | Wyndham Robertson | 1836 - 1837 | Whig | ||
| 27 | David Campbell | 1837 - 1840 | Democratic
| ||
| 28 | Thomas Walker Gilmer | 1840 - 1841 | Whig | ||
| - | John Mercer Patton | 1841 - 1841 | Whig | ||
| - | John Rutherfoord | 1841 - 1842 | Whig | ||
| - | John Munford Gregory | 1842 - 1843 | Whig | ||
| 29 | James McDowell | 1843 - 1846 | Democratic
| ||
| 30 | William Smith | 1846 - 1849 | Democratic
| ||
| 31 | John Buchanan Floyd | 1848 - 1851 | Democratic
| ||
| 32 | Joseph Johnson | 1852 - 1856 | Democratic
| ||
| 33 | Henry Alexander Wise | 1856 - 1860 | Democratic
| ||
| 34 | John Letcher | 1860 - 1864 | Democratic
| ||
| 35 | William Smith | 1864 – 1865 | Democratic
| ||
| Disputed | Francis Harrison Pierpont | 1865 – 1868 |  Republican
| ||
| Reconstruction | Henry Horatio Wells | 1868 - 1869 | Republican
| ||
| 36 | Gilbert Carlton Walker | 1869 - 1874 | Republican
| ||
| 37 | James Lawson Kemper | 1874 - 1878 | Conservative | ||
| 38 | Frederick William Mackey Holliday | 1878 - 1882 | Conservative | ||
| 39 | William E. Cameron | 1882 - 1886 | Readjuster | ||
| 40 | Fitzhugh Lee | 1886 - 1890 | Democratic
| ||
| 41 | Philip Watkins McKinney | 1890 - 1894 | Democratic
| ||
| 42 | Charles Triplett O'Ferrall | 1894 - 1898 | Democratic
| ||
| 43 | James Hoge Tyler | 1898 - 1902 | Democratic
| ||
| 44 | Andrew Jackson Montague | 1902 - 1906 | Democratic
| ||
| 45 | Claude Augustus Swanson | 1906 - 1910 | Democratic
| ||
| 46 | William Hodges Mann | 1910 - 1914 | Democratic
| ||
| 47 | Henry Carter Stuart | 1914 - 1918 | Democratic
| ||
| 48 | Westmoreland Davis | 1918 - 1922 | Democratic
| ||
| 49 | Elbert Lee Trinkle | 1922 - 1926 | Democratic
| ||
| 50 | Harry Flood Byrd | 1926 - 1930 | Democratic
| ||
| 51 | John Garland Pollard | 1930 - 1934 | Democratic
| ||
| 52 | George Campbell Peery | 1934 - 1938 | Democratic
| ||
| 53 | James Hubert Price | 1938 - 1942 | Democratic
| ||
| 54 | Colgate Whitehead Darden | 1942 - 1946 | Democratic
| ||
| 55 | William Munford Tuck | 1946 - 1950 | Democratic
| ||
| 56 | John Stewart Battle | 1950 - 1954 | Democratic
| ||
| 57 | Thomas Bahnson Stanley | 1954 - 1958 | Democratic
| ||
| 58 | James Lindsay Almond | 1958 - 1962 | Democratic
| ||
| 59 | Albertis S. Harrison | 1962 - 1966 | Democratic
| ||
| 60 | Mills Edwin Godwin | 1966 - 1970 | Democratic
| ||
| 61 | Linwood Holton | 1970 - 1974 | Republican
| ||
| 62 | Mills Edwin Godwin | 1974 - 1978 | Republican
| ||
| 63 | John Nichols Dalton | 1978 - 1982 | Republican
| ||
| 64 | Charles Spittal Robb | 1982 - 1986 | Democratic
| ||
| 65 | Gerald L. Baliles | 1986 - 1990 | Democratic
| ||
| 66 | L. Douglas Wilder | 1990 - 1994 | Democratic
| ||
| 67 | George Allen | 1994 - 1998 | Republican
| ||
| 68 | James S. Gilmore | 1998 - 2002 | Republican
| ||
| 69 | Mark Warner | 2002 - 2006 | Democratic
| ||
| 70 | Tim Kaine | 2006 - 2010 | Democratic
| ||
| 71 | Bob McDonnell | 2010 – 2014 | Republican
| ||
| 72 | Terry McAuliffe | 2014 – 2018 | Democratic
| ||
| 73 | Ralph Northam | 2018 – 2022 | Democratic
| ||
| 74 | Glenn Youngkin | 2022 - present | Republican
| ||
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
From 1992-2013, in Virginia there were Democratic governors in office for 10 years while there were Republican governors in office for 12 years, including the last four. Virginia was under Republican trifectas for the last two years of the study period.
Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992 to 2013.
Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Virginia, the Virginia State Senate and the Virginia House of Delegates from 1992 to 2013.
.PNG)
SQLI and partisanship
The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Virginia state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. During the course of the study, Virginia experienced both Democratic and Republican trifectas as well as divided governments. For over half the years of the study, Virginia was ranked in the top-10. This occurred during a Democratic trifecta, Republican trifectas and divided government. Both its highest ranking, finishing 1st in 2006, and its lowest ranking, finishing 26th in 1997, occurred during divided governments.
- SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 11.00
- SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 7.67
- SQLI average with divided government: 9.00
Contact information
Office of the Governor
Patrick Henry Building, 3rd Floor
1111 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone:804-786-2211
Fax:804-371-6351
State profile
| Demographic data for Virginia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 8,367,587 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 39,490 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 69% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 19.2% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 6% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 3.2% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 8.6% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 88.3% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 36.3% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $65,015 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 13% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Virginia. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Virginia
Virginia voted for the Democratic candidate in four out of the six presidential elections between 2000 and 2020.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, five are located in Virginia, accounting for 2.43 percent of the total pivot counties.[24]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Virginia had five Retained Pivot Counties, 2.76 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.
More Virginia coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Virginia
- United States congressional delegations from Virginia
- Public policy in Virginia
- Influencers in Virginia
- Virginia fact checks
- More...
See also
| Virginia | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Virginia Law, "Constitution of Virginia," accessed January 14, 2021
- ↑ Virginia Law, "Constitution of Virginia," accessed January 14, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Code of Virginia, "§ 24.2-233 Removal of elected and certain appointed officers by courts," accessed February 7, 2018
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, Recall of State Officials, accessed July 16, 2013
- ↑ Virginia Law, "Article V. Executive, Section 1. Executive power; Governor's term of office.," accessed November 3, 2021
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "List of Statewide Candidates," October 17, 2017
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 Primary Filing," accessed May 12, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Law, "Constitution of Virginia," accessed January 14, 2021
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
- ↑ Commonwealth of Virginia, "Budget Bill - HB6001 (Chapter 1)," accessed December 12, 2023
- ↑ Justia.com, "VA Code § 2.2-201 (2014)," accessed January 14, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 14, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 14, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 14, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 14, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries," June 25, 2013
- ↑ National Governors Association, " Former governors of Virginia," accessed January 14, 2021
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
| ||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||
 |
State of Virginia Richmond (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2024 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
