1977 Virginia gubernatorial election

1977 Virginia gubernatorial election

← 1973 November 8, 1977 1981 →
Turnout	62.7% (voting eligible)[1]
Nominee John N. Dalton Henry Howell Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 699,302 541,319 Percentage 55.9% 43.3%
County and independent city results Dalton:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Howell:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Governor before election Mills E. Godwin, Jr. Republican Elected Governor John N. Dalton Republican

In the 1977 Virginia gubernatorial election, incumbent Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr., a Republican, was unable to seek re-election due to term limits. John N. Dalton, the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, was nominated by the Republican Party to run against the Democratic nominee, former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Henry Howell.^[2]

This was the only instance in Virginia's history in which the Republican Party won the gubernatorial election for a third time consecutively.

As of 2023^[update], this was the most recent Virginia gubernatorial election in which a Republican won Richmond, Arlington County and the city of Falls Church, as well as the most recent one in which both major party candidates are now deceased.^{[original research?]}

• Henry Howell, former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and candidate in 1969 and 1973
• Andrew P. Miller, Attorney General of Virginia

• John N. Dalton, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (Republican)
• Henry Howell, former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and candidate in 1969 and 1973 (Democratic)
• Alan Ogden (Independent)