1969 Virginia gubernatorial election

none related races 1969 United States gubernatorial elections January 2025 September 2023 1969 Virginia gubernatorial election Virginia presidential no 1965 Virginia gubernatorial election 1965 1973 Virginia gubernatorial election 1973 November 4, 1969 File:Linwood Holton 1970.jpg 150x150px Linwood Holton Republican Party (United States) 480,869 52.5% File:Ambassador William C Battle.jpg William C. Battle Democratic Party (United States) 415,695 45.4% 1969 Virginia gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 300px County and independent city resultsHolton: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80%Battle: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Governor Mills Godwin Democratic Party (United States) Linwood Holton Republican Party (United States) In the 1969 Virginia gubernatorial election, incumbent Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr., a Democrat, was unable to seek re-election due to term limits. Godwin would later successfully run for election as a Republican in 1973. A. Linwood Holton, Jr., an attorney from Roanoke, was nominated again by the Republican Party to run against former United States Ambassador to Australia, Democratic candidate William C. Battle. Background During the late 1960s, Virginia politics was being radically transformed by the numerical growth of an electorate that for six decades was relatively the smallest in the nation due to cumulative poll taxes and literacy tests excluding almost all blacks and poor whites.Valdimer Orlando Key Key Valdimer Orlando 1949 Southern Politics in State and Nation New York City A.A. Knopf 20, 495 The Twenty-Fourth Amendment, aided by subsequent drives to register blacks,Davidson Chandler Grofman Bernard 1994 Quiet Revolution in the South: the Impact of the Voting Rights Act, 1965-1990 275–276 0691032475 and the Voting Rights Act greatly expanded Virginia's electorate. Consequently, the statewide Democratic party was severely divided into conservative, moderate and liberal factions,Bass Jack De Vries Walter The Transformation of Southern Politics: Social Change and Political Consequence Since 1945 1995 347–353 despite Godwin having united those factions behind him in the 1965 gubernatorial election.Pope Michael Lee 2022 The Byrd Machine in Virginia: The Rise and Fall of a Conservative Political Organization History Press 143 9781467139205 Intractable Democratic divisions By the time of the 1969 primaries, however, the divisions within the party were becoming irreconcilable.2-7 Summer 1982 The 1969 Democratic Party Gubernatorial Primary: A Watershed in Virginia Political History Patrick Anthony Parr Old Dominion University Master of Arts https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1202&context=history_etds Whereas the 1965 gubernatorial primary was the first uncontested one for over half a century, each of the three factions would nominate its own candidate in 1969. Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Fred G. Pollard would be the conservative nominee, whilst the liberals nominated Henry Howell of Norfolk – long a center of liberal opposition to the Byrd machineKey Southern Politics in State and Nation 27-31 1949 — and the moderates descended from the "Young Turks" of the 1950s backed William C. Battle, son of a former governor. Primary campaigns Howell, opposed even by the relatively liberal Senator Spong, would by the first to begin his campaign in the primary during June, relying on Hubert Humphrey's support base of blacks and members of the United Mine Workers. Pollard and Battle, who announced their candidacies somewhat later, would campaign against Howell mainly in the "urban corridor" between Virginia Beach and the Washington metropolitan area.Parr The 1969 Democratic Party Gubernatorial Primary 47, 57-58 Summer 1982 Master of Arts Both Pollard and Battle attacked Howell as an extremist oriented against big business,J. Harvie Wilkinson III J. Harvie Wilkinson III 1982 Linwood Holton: An Idealist's Demise The Governors of Virginia, 1860–1978 Charottesville University Press of Virginia 0813909201 Whilst mostly focused upon their opposition to Howell, Battle reiterated his claim that Pollard was oriented toward Byrd conservatism, whilst Pollard challenged Battle on lack of experience. Pollard's failure to win more than 23 percent of the vote in the first primary would mark the final demise of the Byrd machine within the state Democratic party. Battle continued his attacks on Howell in the runoff primaryUnlike other former Confederate states, Virginia did not have a runoff primary provision until 1952, and after that it would be held only when requested. and, aided by the endorsement of sitting Governor Godwin, managed to narrowly defeat him. Weakening and splitting of conservative opposition The 1965 gubernatorial election had seen the Conservative Party split from both major parties in opposition to President Johnson's civil rights and welfare programs.Parr The 1969 Democratic Party Gubernatorial Primary 33-34 Master of Arts Summer 1982 However, the Conservative Party's role in the demise of the Byrd machine in the 1966 Senatorial elections alienated most of its core base.108 Master of Arts Summer 1999 The Virginia Conservative Party, 1965-1969 Gerald Paul Gaidmore III Old Dominion University https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1126&&context=history_etds&&sei-redir=1&referer=https%253A%252F%252Fscholar.google.com%252Fscholar%253Fstart%253D20%2526q%253D1969%252BVirginia%252Bgubernatorial%252Belection%2526hl%253Den%2526as_sdt%253D0%252C5%2526as_vis%253D1#search=%221969%20Virginia%20gubernatorial%20election%22 Bickering within the Conservative Party, due to Virginia's unusually liberal ballot access lawsVirginia as of 1968 allowed any party to qualify for ballot access in a statewide election based upon the signature of one thousand qualified voters, regardless of the total number of voters in the state. and debates over how to nominate electors pledged to American Independent presidential nominee George Wallace,Gaidmore III The Virginia Conservative Party Summer 1999 Master of Arts 113-123 however, meant that the party was severely divided by the time of the presidential election, and by the summer of 1969 it was clear that there was no possibility of reconciliation between the two parties,Gaidmore III The Virginia Conservative Party Summer 1999 Master of Arts 127 especially after one member of the Conservatives alleged the American Independent Party was campaigning to elect sitting Lieutenant Governor Pollard to the governorship.May 27, 1969 VCP Charged AIP Aim Is To Elect Pollard The Daily Progress Charlottesville, Virginia 3 Conservative opposition to the major parties became further divided when George Walker, who sought the American Independent nomination for Governor in January,January 4, 1969 Portsmouth Man Enters State Gubernatorial Race The Free-Lance Star Fredericksburg, Virginia 2 but former "states' rights" nominee and AIP state president T. Coleman Andrews said that Walker had no authority to run under the party's label soon after.Candidacy of Walker 'Surprise' The News Virginian January 6, 1969 Waynesboro, Virginia 7 In August Andrews – initially expected to run himself – would nominate William Pennington of Buckingham County as the party's candidate,Andrews Steps Down as Nominee; Dr. Pennington Is AIP Candidate The Daily Progress Charlottesville 3 August 18, 1969 whilst Walker would run as an independent. GOP unites behind second-time nominee Amidst the splitting of the right and of the state Democratic Party, Virginia's Republican Party, which remained under the control of moderates from the southwestern valleys,Sweeney James R. 2022 Armageddon Revisited: The 1973 Gubernatorial Election in Virginia The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 130 4 Virginia Historical Society 290–347 united behind 1965 nominee A. Linwood Holton at a very early stage: Holton had been nominated as early as March 1. He would be able to combine his "progressive" reputation with his ties to the Nixon administration in such a manner as to avoid alienating voters.Chapter Three 64-82 Farmer Ted Anthony Politics and Society in Virginia, 1960–1969: New Course for the Old Dominion Master of Arts Virginia Polytechnic Institute 1991 https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/33a080b1-41c0-4697-aee0-d807ba339405/content He would focus on the putative advantages ties to Nixons' administration would provide for voters and upon Battle's connections with the liberal national Democratic party. Democratic nomination Candidates William C. Battle, former U. S. Ambassador to Australia and son of former Governor John S. Battle Henry Howell, State Senator from Norfolk Fred G. Pollard, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and former State Delegate from Richmond Results 300px|thumb|center|Primary results by county and independent city #678cd7 Battle #dee8fb Battle 30–40% #b4c7ec Battle 40–50% #8da9e2 Battle 50–60% #678cd7 Battle 60–70% #4170cd Battle 70–80% #3358a2 Battle 80–90% #244079 Battle 90–100% #3fa457 Howell #d6efdc Howell 30–40% #a3d5af Howell 40–50% #73bc84 Howell 50–60% #3fa457 Howell 60–70% #c56900 Pollard #e8ba85 Pollard 40–50% #d79346 Pollard 50–60% #c56900 Pollard 60–70% Democratic primary resultsHistorical Elections Database Hardway L.Stanley Statement of the Vote for Governor and Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/data/serve_file_pages_for_item/78744/Election/ Virginia Department of Elections 1969 Democratic Party (United States) William C. Battle 158,956 39.6% Democratic Party (United States) Henry Howell 154,617 37.0% Democratic Party (United States) Fred G. Pollard 95,057 23.4% 408,630 100.00% Primary results by county or independent city +1969 Virginia gubernatorial Democratic first primary by county or independent city William Cullen BattleDemocratic Henry Evans HowellDemocratic Frederick Gresham PollardDemocratic Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Accomack County 2,039 50.28% 831 20.49% 1,185 29.22% 854"PollarddHowell" In this county or city where Howell ran third behind both Battle and Pollard, margin given is Battle vote minus Pollard vote and percentage margin Battle percentage minus Pollard percentage. 21.06% 4,055 Albemarle County 1,699 57.77% 557 18.94% 685 23.29% 1,014"PollarddHowell" 34.48% 2,941 Alleghany County 394 43.54% 367 40.55% 144 15.91% 27 2.98% 905 Amelia County 152 14.76% 427 41.46% 451 43.79% -24"PollarddBattle" In this county or city where Battle ran third behind both Howell and Pollard, margin given is Howell vote minus Pollard vote and percentage margin Howell percentage minus Pollard percentage. -2.33% 1,030 Amherst County 520 38.18% 451 33.11% 391 28.71% 69 5.07% 1,362 Appomattox County 314 21.61% 397 27.32% 742 51.07% -345"PollarddBattle" -23.74% 1,453 Arlington County 4,521 37.62% 5,151 42.87% 2,344 19.51% -630 -5.24% 12,016 Augusta County 710 49.93% 392 27.57% 320 22.50% 318 22.36% 1,422 Bath County 209 56.95% 62 16.89% 96 26.16% 113"PollarddHowell" 30.79% 367 Bedford County 424 40.81% 392 37.73% 223 21.46% 32 3.08% 1,039 Bland County 170 41.16% 40 9.69% 203 49.15% -33"PollarddHowell" -7.99% 413 Botetourt County 490 57.92% 246 29.08% 110 13.00% 244 28.84% 846 Brunswick County 473 19.89% 1,139 47.90% 766 32.21% 373"PollarddBattle" 15.69% 2,378 Buchanan County 864 59.18% 80 5.48% 516 35.34% 348"PollarddHowell" 23.84% 1,460 Buckingham County 323 19.27% 530 31.62% 823 49.11% -293"PollarddBattle" -17.48% 1,676 Campbell County 642 34.15% 460 24.47% 778 41.38% -136"PollarddHowell" -7.23% 1,880 Caroline County 431 27.58% 859 54.96% 273 17.47% -428 -27.38% 1,563 Carroll County 716 83.26% 111 12.91% 33 3.84% 605 70.35% 860 Charles City County 60 9.00% 530 79.46% 77 11.54% 453"PollarddBattle" 67.92% 667 Charlotte County 1,228 40.60% 818 27.04% 979 32.36% 249"PollarddHowell" 8.23% 3,025 Chesterfield County 3,812 43.62% 2,898 33.16% 2,029 23.22% 914 10.46% 8,739 Clarke County 210 32.21% 138 21.17% 304 46.63% -94"PollarddHowell" -14.42% 652 Craig County 169 63.30% 52 19.48% 46 17.23% 117 43.82% 267 Culpeper County 512 45.03% 225 19.79% 400 35.18% 112"PollarddHowell" 9.85% 1,137 Cumberland County 282 20.70% 707 51.91% 373 27.39% 334"PollarddBattle" 24.52% 1,362 Dickenson County 1,006 51.46% 324 16.57% 625 31.97% 381"PollarddHowell" 19.49% 1,955 Dinwiddie County 1,223 42.38% 925 32.05% 738 25.57% 298 10.33% 2,886 Essex County 319 35.33% 373 41.31% 211 23.37% -54 -5.98% 903 Fairfax County 7,843 36.84% 8,854 41.59% 4,592 21.57% -1,011 -4.75% 21,289 Fauquier County 834 43.51% 497 25.93% 586 30.57% 248"PollarddHowell" 12.94% 1,917 Floyd County 251 69.53% 88 24.38% 22 6.09% 163 45.15% 361 Fluvanna County 221 54.84% 94 23.33% 88 21.84% 127 31.51% 403 Franklin County 1,634 72.21% 350 15.47% 279 12.33% 1,284 56.74% 2,263 Frederick County 594 37.43% 647 40.77% 346 21.80% -53 -3.34% 1,587 Giles County 1,031 71.65% 238 16.54% 170 11.81% 793 55.11% 1,439 Gloucester County 894 50.20% 541 30.38% 346 19.43% 353 19.82% 1,781 Goochland County 367 25.22% 657 45.15% 431 29.62% 226"PollarddBattle" 15.53% 1,455 Grayson County 857 85.44% 74 7.38% 72 7.18% 783 78.07% 1,003 Greene County 166 61.48% 67 24.81% 37 13.70% 99 36.67% 270 Greensville County 435 24.63% 796 45.07% 535 30.29% 261"PollarddBattle" 14.78% 1,766 Halifax County 1,572 47.46% 583 17.60% 1,157 34.93% 415"PollarddHowell" 12.53% 3,312 Hanover County 1,189 37.16% 1,006 31.44% 1,005 31.41% 183 5.72% 3,200 Henrico County 8,242 45.51% 4,657 25.71% 5,213 28.78% 3,029"PollarddHowell" 16.72% 18,112 Henry County 1,185 46.80% 766 30.25% 581 22.95% 419 16.55% 2,532 Highland County 90 60.81% 18 12.16% 40 27.03% 50"PollarddHowell" 33.78% 148 Isle of Wight County 892 34.84% 1,172 45.78% 496 19.38% -280 -10.94% 2,560 James City County 466 39.39% 499 42.18% 218 18.43% -33 -2.79% 1,183 King and Queen County 208 28.03% 379 51.08% 155 20.89% -171 -23.05% 742 King George County 125 33.97% 146 39.67% 97 26.36% -21 -5.71% 368 King William County 239 25.48% 434 46.27% 265 28.25% 169"PollarddBattle" 18.02% 938 Lancaster County 502 35.15% 488 34.17% 438 30.67% 14 0.98% 1,428 Lee County 1,462 93.54% 46 2.94% 55 3.52% 1,407"PollarddHowell" 90.02% 1,563 Loudoun County 1,122 41.52% 614 22.72% 966 35.75% 156"PollarddHowell" 5.77% 2,702 Louisa County 460 38.82% 422 35.61% 303 25.57% 38 3.21% 1,185 Lunenburg County 415 34.02% 462 37.87% 343 28.11% -47 -3.85% 1,220 Madison County 394 47.87% 101 12.27% 328 39.85% 66"PollarddHowell" 8.02% 823 Mathews County 303 44.76% 230 33.97% 144 21.27% 73 10.78% 677 Mecklenburg County 921 32.54% 1,020 36.04% 889 31.41% -99 -3.50% 2,830 Middlesex County 346 40.05% 213 24.65% 305 35.30% 41"PollarddHowell" 4.75% 864 Montgomery County 1,051 54.80% 550 28.68% 317 16.53% 501 26.12% 1,918 Nansemond County 1,553 37.95% 2,016 49.27% 523 12.78% -463 -11.31% 4,092 Nelson County 657 58.50% 235 20.93% 231 20.57% 422 37.58% 1,123 New Kent County 136 30.84% 216 48.98% 89 20.18% -80 -18.14% 441 Northampton County 565 34.28% 640 38.83% 443 26.88% -75 -4.55% 1,648 Northumberland County 247 30.46% 373 45.99% 191 23.55% -126 -15.54% 811 Nottoway County 852 46.41% 627 34.15% 357 19.44% 225 12.25% 1,836 Orange County 389 38.21% 184 18.07% 445 43.71% -56"PollarddHowell" -5.50% 1,018 Page County 555 47.40% 276 23.57% 340 29.04% 215"PollarddHowell" 18.36% 1,171 Patrick County 763 72.19% 108 10.22% 186 17.60% 577"PollarddHowell" 54.59% 1,057 Pittsylvania County 3,614 40.28% 1,712 19.08% 3,647 40.64% -33"PollarddHowell" -0.37% 8,973 Powhatan County 170 20.68% 471 57.30% 181 22.02% 290"PollarddBattle" 35.28% 822 Prince Edward County 1,535 54.11% 491 17.31% 811 28.59% 724"PollarddHowell" 25.52% 2,837 Prince George County 569 34.30% 754 45.45% 336 20.25% -185 -11.15% 1,659 Prince William County 1,289 37.30% 1,059 30.64% 1,108 32.06% 181"PollarddHowell" 5.24% 3,456 Pulaski County 1,056 50.94% 730 35.21% 287 13.84% 326 15.73% 2,073 Rappahannock County 156 36.28% 100 23.26% 174 40.47% -18"PollarddHowell" -4.19% 430 Richmond County 203 38.01% 109 20.41% 222 41.57% -19"PollarddHowell" -3.56% 534 Roanoke County 1,817 48.27% 1,311 34.83% 636 16.90% 506 13.44% 3,764 Rockbridge County 404 58.64% 149 21.63% 136 19.74% 255 37.01% 689 Rockingham County 829 58.55% 316 22.32% 271 19.14% 513 36.23% 1,416 Russell County 1,349 82.26% 129 7.87% 162 9.88% 1,187"PollarddHowell" 72.38% 1,640 Scott County 768 84.86% 97 10.72% 40 4.42% 671 74.14% 905 Shenandoah County 611 57.97% 226 21.44% 217 20.59% 385 36.53% 1,054 Smyth County 687 61.61% 237 21.26% 191 17.13% 450 40.36% 1,115 Southampton County 902 42.33% 700 32.85% 529 24.82% 202 9.48% 2,131 Spotsylvania County 758 28.01% 1,600 59.13% 348 12.86% -842 -31.12% 2,706 Stafford County 916 34.74% 1,318 49.98% 403 15.28% -402 -15.24% 2,637 Surrey County 351 24.43% 712 49.55% 374 26.03% 338"PollarddBattle" 23.52% 1,437 Sussex County 783 29.49% 1,042 39.25% 830 31.26% 212"PollarddBattle" 7.98% 2,655 Tazewell County 1,174 36.28% 989 30.56% 1,073 33.16% 101"PollarddHowell" 3.12% 3,236 Warren County 720 40.47% 763 42.89% 296 16.64% -43 -2.42% 1,779 Washington County 984 57.38% 322 18.78% 409 23.85% 575"PollarddHowell" 33.53% 1,715 Westmoreland County 341 36.05% 339 35.84% 266 28.12% 2 0.21% 946 Wise County 1,835 80.73% 186 8.18% 252 11.09% 1,583"PollarddHowell" 69.64% 2,273 Wythe County 604 45.62% 191 14.43% 529 39.95% 75"PollarddHowell" 5.66% 1,324 York County 980 39.44% 1,064 42.82% 441 17.75% -84 -3.38% 2,485 Alexandria City 2,791 32.67% 3,599 42.13% 2,152 25.19% -808 -9.46% 8,542 Bedford City 191 44.94% 132 31.06% 102 24.00% 59 13.88% 425 Bristol City 893 70.48% 145 11.44% 229 18.07% 664"PollarddHowell" 52.41% 1,267 Buena Vista City 142 49.31% 70 24.31% 76 26.39% 66"PollarddHowell" 22.92% 288 Charlottesville City 2,544 52.48% 1,432 29.54% 872 17.99% 1,112 22.94% 4,848 Chesapeake City 2,155 24.87% 4,713 54.38% 1,798 20.75% -2,558 -29.52% 8,666 Clifton Forge City 272 52.31% 166 31.92% 82 15.77% 106 20.38% 520 Colonial Heights City 869 50.91% 303 17.75% 535 31.34% 334"PollarddHowell" 19.57% 1,707 Covington City 444 39.12% 495 43.61% 196 17.27% -51 -4.49% 1,135 Danville City 3,318 38.51% 2,191 25.43% 3,106 36.05% 212"PollarddHowell" 2.46% 8,615 Emporia City 414 29.28% 423 29.92% 577 40.81% -154"PollarddBattle" -10.89% 1,414 Fairfax City 393 29.80% 535 40.56% 391 29.64% -142 -10.77% 1,319 Falls Church City 322 32.14% 428 42.71% 252 25.15% -106 -10.58% 1,002 Franklin City 308 33.66% 315 34.43% 292 31.91% -7 -0.77% 915 Fredericksburg City 957 35.55% 1,171 43.50% 564 20.95% -214 -7.95% 2,692 Galax City 285 71.97% 35 8.84% 76 19.19% 209"PollarddHowell" 52.78% 396 Hampton City 3,843 31.26% 6,704 54.53% 1,748 14.22% -2,861 -23.27% 12,295 Harrisonburg City 433 56.60% 80 10.46% 252 32.94% 181"PollarddHowell" 23.66% 765 Hopewell City 926 44.24% 654 31.25% 513 24.51% 272 13.00% 2,093 Lexington City 309 54.02% 122 21.33% 141 24.65% 168"PollarddHowell" 29.37% 572 Lynchburg City 952 27.90% 1,300 38.10% 1,160 34.00% 140"PollarddBattle" 4.10% 3,412 Martinsville City 935 43.73% 691 32.32% 512 23.95% 244 11.41% 2,138 Newport News City 4,492 37.28% 5,587 46.37% 1,971 16.36% -1,095 -9.09% 12,050 Norfolk City 10,206 32.46% 17,030 54.17% 4,201 13.36% -6,824 -21.71% 31,437 Norton City 219 68.44% 28 8.75% 73 22.81% 146"PollarddHowell" 45.63% 320 Petersburg City 1,689 28.01% 3,030 50.24% 1,312 21.75% -1,341 -22.24% 6,031 Portsmouth City 5,509 33.66% 8,840 54.01% 2,017 12.32% -3,331 -20.35% 16,366 Radford City 512 59.12% 285 32.91% 69 7.97% 227 26.21% 866 Richmond City 8,906 26.32% 16,206 47.90% 8,724 25.78% -7,300 -21.57% 33,836 Roanoke City 2,825 44.27% 2,396 37.55% 1,160 18.18% 429 6.72% 6,381 Salem City 473 38.80% 421 34.54% 325 26.66% 52 4.27% 1,219 Staunton City 656 46.76% 322 22.95% 425 30.29% 231"PollarddHowell" 16.46% 1,403 South Boston City 647 53.92% 117 9.75% 436 36.33% 211"PollarddHowell" 17.58% 1,200 Suffolk City 980 49.02% 553 27.66% 466 23.31% 427 21.36% 1,999 Virginia Beach City 5,351 37.13% 5,332 37.00% 3,728 25.87% 19 0.13% 14,411 Waynesboro City 450 56.39% 169 21.18% 179 22.43% 271"PollarddHowell" 33.96% 798 Williamsburg City 465 48.59% 266 27.80% 226 23.62% 199 20.79% 957 Winchester City 535 39.81% 348 25.89% 461 34.30% 74"PollarddHowell" 5.51% 1,344Totals158,95638.90%154,61737.84%95,05723.26%4,339!1.06%408,630 Runoff results 300px|thumb|center|Runoff primary results by county and independent city #678cd7 Battle #8da9e2 Battle 50–60% #678cd7 Battle 60–70% #4170cd Battle 70–80% #3358a2 Battle 80–90% #244079 Battle 90–100% #3fa457 Howell #73bc84 Howell 50–60% #3fa457 Howell 60–70% #008c21 Howell 70–80% #006e1a Howell 80–90% #005113 Howell 90–100% #AE8BB1 Tie #AE8BB1 Tie 50% Democratic runoff primary results Democratic Party (United States) William C. Battle 226,108 51.7% Democratic Party (United States) Henry Howell 207,505 48.3% 433,613 100.00% Runoff results by county or independent city +1969 Virginia gubernatorial Democratic runoff primary by county or independent city William Cullen BattleDemocratic Henry Evans HowellDemocratic Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % Accomack County 2,387 60.75% 1,542 39.25% 845 21.51% 3,929 Albemarle County 2,098 67.74% 999 32.26% 1,099 35.49% 3,097 Alleghany County 469 40.50% 689 59.50% -220 -19.00% 1,158 Amelia County 514 51.66% 481 48.34% 33 3.32% 995 Amherst County 827 53.98% 705 46.02% 122 7.96% 1,532 Appomattox County 1,254 71.53% 499 28.47% 755 43.07% 1,753 Arlington County 7,101 54.28% 5,980 45.72% 1,121 8.57% 13,081 Augusta County 1,082 57.49% 800 42.51% 282 14.98% 1,882 Bath County 321 71.49% 128 28.51% 193 42.98% 449 Bedford County 640 48.71% 674 51.29% -34 -2.59% 1,314 Bland County 316 76.51% 97 23.49% 219 53.03% 413 Botetourt County 590 55.50% 473 44.50% 117 11.01% 1,063 Brunswick County 1,129 47.14% 1,266 52.86% -137 -5.72% 2,395 Buchanan County 1,623 87.68% 228 12.32% 1,395 75.36% 1,851 Buckingham County 840 56.11% 657 43.89% 183 12.22% 1,497 Campbell County 1,196 62.39% 721 37.61% 475 24.78% 1,917 Caroline County 726 37.06% 1,233 62.94% -507 -25.88% 1,959 Carroll County 966 84.00% 184 16.00% 782 68.00% 1,150 Charles City County 123 11.99% 903 88.01% -780 -76.02% 1,026 Charlotte County 880 57.59% 648 42.41% 232 15.18% 1,528 Chesterfield County 5,843 56.54% 4,491 43.46% 1,352 13.08% 10,334 Clarke County 616 70.72% 255 29.28% 361 41.45% 871 Craig County 229 69.18% 102 30.82% 127 38.37% 331 Culpeper County 930 67.29% 452 32.71% 478 34.59% 1,382 Cumberland County 489 39.72% 742 60.28% -253 -20.55% 1,231 Dickenson County 1,755 77.18% 519 22.82% 1,236 54.35% 2,274 Dinwiddie County 1,443 56.26% 1,122 43.74% 321 12.51% 2,565 Essex County 635 54.37% 533 45.63% 102 8.73% 1,168 Fairfax County 12,224 50.46% 12,002 49.54% 222 0.92% 24,226 Fauquier County 1,275 59.75% 859 40.25% 416 19.49% 2,134 Floyd County 343 65.21% 183 34.79% 160 30.42% 526 Fluvanna County 295 63.71% 168 36.29% 127 27.43% 463 Franklin County 1,785 76.87% 537 23.13% 1,248 53.75% 2,322 Frederick County 1,000 49.14% 1,035 50.86% -35 -1.72% 2,035 Giles County 1,341 71.71% 529 28.29% 812 43.42% 1,870 Gloucester County 814 54.41% 682 45.59% 132 8.82% 1,496 Goochland County 920 49.78% 928 50.22% -8 -0.43% 1,848 Grayson County 1,186 88.24% 158 11.76% 1,028 76.49% 1,344 Greene County 206 65.40% 109 34.60% 97 30.79% 315 Greensville County 552 35.66% 996 64.34% -444 -28.68% 1,548 Halifax County 2,421 76.98% 724 23.02% 1,697 53.96% 3,145 Hanover County 1,965 56.21% 1,531 43.79% 434 12.41% 3,496 Henrico County 11,769 66.20% 6,009 33.80% 5,760 32.40% 17,778 Henry County 1,849 53.67% 1,596 46.33% 253 7.34% 3,445 Highland County 148 79.14% 39 20.86% 109 58.29% 187 Isle of Wight County 1,186 45.34% 1,430 54.66% -244 -9.33% 2,616 James City County 656 43.79% 842 56.21% -186 -12.42% 1,498 King and Queen County 338 41.73% 472 58.27% -134 -16.54% 810 King George County 222 45.87% 262 54.13% -40 -8.26% 484 King William County 552 50.18% 548 49.82% 4 0.36% 1,100 Lancaster County 924 55.97% 727 44.03% 197 11.93% 1,651 Lee County 2,000 96.85% 65 3.15% 1,935 93.70% 2,065 Loudoun County 1,738 63.76% 988 36.24% 750 27.51% 2,726 Louisa County 703 52.78% 629 47.22% 74 5.56% 1,332 Lunenburg County 768 55.13% 625 44.87% 143 10.27% 1,393 Madison County 479 67.75% 228 32.25% 251 35.50% 707 Mathews County 404 53.44% 352 46.56% 52 6.88% 756 Mecklenburg County 1,628 54.32% 1,369 45.68% 259 8.64% 2,997 Middlesex County 485 64.93% 262 35.07% 223 29.85% 747 Montgomery County 1,436 64.37% 795 35.63% 641 28.73% 2,231 Nansemond County 1,638 39.99% 2,458 60.01% -820 -20.02% 4,096 Nelson County 677 60.45% 443 39.55% 234 20.89% 1,120 New Kent County 245 43.29% 321 56.71% -76 -13.43% 566 Northampton County 908 55.16% 738 44.84% 170 10.33% 1,646 Northumberland County 505 45.33% 609 54.67% -104 -9.34% 1,114 Nottoway County 1,168 56.95% 883 43.05% 285 13.90% 2,051 Orange County 767 62.56% 459 37.44% 308 25.12% 1,226 Page County 1,263 75.13% 418 24.87% 845 50.27% 1,681 Patrick County 1,587 88.07% 215 11.93% 1,372 76.14% 1,802 Pittsylvania County 3,495 64.72% 1,905 35.28% 1,590 29.44% 5,400 Powhatan County 359 35.76% 645 64.24% -286 -28.49% 1,004 Prince Edward County 1,671 68.43% 771 31.57% 900 36.86% 2,442 Prince George County 771 44.70% 954 55.30% -183 -10.61% 1,725 Prince William County 2,029 57.11% 1,524 42.89% 505 14.21% 3,553 Pulaski County 1,628 60.63% 1,057 39.37% 571 21.27% 2,685 Rappahannock County 240 57.01% 181 42.99% 59 14.01% 421 Richmond County 444 61.75% 275 38.25% 169 23.50% 719 Roanoke County 2,059 52.27% 1,880 47.73% 179 4.54% 3,939 Rockbridge County 511 65.51% 269 34.49% 242 31.03% 780 Rockingham County 1,294 65.85% 671 34.15% 623 31.70% 1,965 Russell County 1,943 88.76% 246 11.24% 1,697 77.52% 2,189 Scott County 1,043 83.78% 202 16.22% 841 67.55% 1,245 Shenandoah County 1,010 72.77% 378 27.23% 632 45.53% 1,388 Smyth County 971 66.55% 488 33.45% 483 33.10% 1,459 Southampton County 1,282 54.09% 1,088 45.91% 194 8.19% 2,370 Spotsylvania County 681 28.89% 1,676 71.11% -995 -42.21% 2,357 Stafford County 737 33.08% 1,491 66.92% -754 -33.84% 2,228 Surry County 505 42.76% 676 57.24% -171 -14.48% 1,181 Sussex County 1,132 50.16% 1,125 49.84% 7 0.31% 2,257 Tazewell County 1,001 47.22% 1,119 52.78% -118 -5.57% 2,120 Warren County 1,066 48.90% 1,114 51.10% -48 -2.20% 2,180 Washington County 1,652 75.68% 531 24.32% 1,121 51.35% 2,183 Westmoreland County 528 48.13% 569 51.87% -41 -3.74% 1,097 Wise County 3,047 87.01% 455 12.99% 2,592 74.01% 3,502 Wythe County 1,239 78.22% 345 21.78% 894 56.44% 1,584 York County 1,298 44.42% 1,624 55.58% -326 -11.16% 2,922 Alexandria City 3,841 45.46% 4,609 54.54% -768 -9.09% 8,450 Bedford City 320 61.42% 201 38.58% 119 22.84% 521 Bristol City 1,125 82.90% 232 17.10% 893 65.81% 1,357 Buena Vista City 213 63.20% 124 36.80% 89 26.41% 337 Charlottesville City 2,911 56.79% 2,215 43.21% 696 13.58% 5,126 Chesapeake City 3,979 36.64% 6,881 63.36% -2,902 -26.72% 10,860 Clifton Forge City 357 56.67% 273 43.33% 84 13.33% 630 Colonial Heights City 1,210 67.18% 591 32.82% 619 34.37% 1,801 Covington City 503 37.62% 834 62.38% -331 -24.76% 1,337 Danville City 4,756 64.86% 2,577 35.14% 2,179 29.71% 7,333 Emporia City 624 52.93% 555 47.07% 69 5.85% 1,179 Fairfax City 830 54.61% 690 45.39% 140 9.21% 1,520 Falls Church City 565 50.00% 565 50.00% 0 0.00% 1,130 Franklin City 590 58.36% 421 41.64% 169 16.72% 1,011 Fredericksburg City 1,084 44.92% 1,329 55.08% -245 -10.15% 2,413 Galax City 525 88.09% 71 11.91% 454 76.17% 596 Hampton City 4,897 36.40% 8,558 63.60% -3,661 -27.21% 13,455 Harrisonburg City 717 76.68% 218 23.32% 499 53.37% 935 Hopewell City 1,240 51.28% 1,178 48.72% 62 2.56% 2,418 Lexington City 384 68.94% 173 31.06% 211 37.88% 557 Lynchburg City 2,160 54.67% 1,791 45.33% 369 9.34% 3,951 Martinsville City 1,453 55.76% 1,153 44.24% 300 11.51% 2,606 Newport News City 5,886 44.90% 7,223 55.10% -1,337 -10.20% 13,109 Norfolk City 11,113 34.83% 20,789 65.17% -9,676 -30.33% 31,902 Norton City 292 87.43% 42 12.57% 250 74.85% 334 Petersburg City 2,684 42.19% 3,677 57.81% -993 -15.61% 6,361 Portsmouth City 7,058 38.83% 11,118 61.17% -4,060 -22.34% 18,176 Radford City 665 60.45% 435 39.55% 230 20.91% 1,100 Richmond City 13,524 41.99% 18,680 58.01% -5,156 -16.01% 32,204 Roanoke City 4,094 50.04% 4,088 49.96% 6 0.07% 8,182 South Boston City 946 79.70% 241 20.30% 705 59.39% 1,187 Salem City 738 50.86% 713 49.14% 25 1.72% 1,451 Staunton City 1,184 65.49% 624 34.51% 560 30.97% 1,808 Suffolk City 1,123 65.40% 594 34.60% 529 30.81% 1,717 Virginia Beach City 7,207 46.86% 8,173 53.14% -966 -6.28% 15,380 Waynesboro City 661 63.07% 387 36.93% 274 26.15% 1,048 Williamsburg City 632 60.83% 407 39.17% 225 21.66% 1,039 Winchester City 989 67.79% 470 32.21% 519 35.57% 1,459Totals226,10852.15%207,50547.85%18,6034.29%433,613 General election Candidates William C. Battle, former U. S. Ambassador to Australia and son of former Governor John S. Battle (Democratic) Linwood Holton, Roanoke attorney (Republican) Rev. Beverly McDowell, Richmond pastor (Conservative)Conservative Party Nominates McDowell The Daily News Leader March 24, 1969 Staunton, Virginia 3 William Pennington, Buckingham County physician (American Independent)'Man of Experience' Letters to the Editor The Roanoke Times November 1, 1969 6 George Walker, retired Navy officer from Portsmouth (Independent)Holton, Battle Promise Opposition to Secrecy Daily Press October 6, 1969 Newport News 15 Results 1969 Virginia gubernatorial electionJack R. Hunter http://scholarship.richmond.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1350&context=masters-theses Linwood Holton's long quest for the governorship of Virginia and its impact on the growth of the Republican Party Spring 1972 University of Richmond Masters Republican Party (United States) A. Linwood Holton, Jr. 480,869 52.51% +14.80% Democratic Party (United States) William C. Battle 415,695 45.39% -2.50% Conservative Party of Virginia (1965) Beverly McDowell 10,596 1.16% -12.22% American Independent Party William Pennington 7,382 0.81% +0.81% Independent politician George Walker 1,182 0.13% Write-ins 317 <0.01% 65,174 7.12% -7.86% 915,764 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) Results by county or independent city +1969 Virginia gubernatorial election by county or independent cityhttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=97156 Our Campaigns VA Governor November 04, 1969 Abner Linwood Holton jr.Republican William C. Battle Democratic Beverley B. McDowellVirginia Conservative William A. PenningtonAmerican Independent George R. WalkerIndependent Various candidatesWrite-ins Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % # % # % # % Accomack County 3,188 48.25% 3,207 48.54% 201 3.04% 8 0.12% 3 0.05% -19 -0.29% 6,607 Albemarle County 3,001 48.05% 3,136 50.22% 50 0.80% 52 0.83% 6 0.10% -135 -2.16% 6,245 Alleghany County 1,312 51.37% 1,224 47.92% 7 0.27% 10 0.39% 1 0.04% 88 3.45% 2,554 Amelia County 692 40.97% 841 49.79% 123 7.28% 26 1.54% 7 0.41% -149 -8.82% 1,689 Amherst County 2,100 46.12% 2,264 49.73% 23 0.51% 159 3.49% 7 0.15% -164 -3.60% 4,553 Appomattox County 1,072 37.13% 1,719 59.54% 9 0.31% 86 2.98% 1 0.03% -647 -22.41% 2,887 Arlington County 18,418 50.51% 17,097 46.89% 702 1.93% 191 0.52% 51 0.14% 2 0.01% 1,321 3.62% 36,461 Augusta County 4,992 67.26% 2,365 31.86% 56 0.75% 6 0.08% 3 0.04% 2,627 35.39% 7,422 Bath County 547 47.28% 602 52.03% 0 0.00% 8 0.69% 0 0.00% -55 -4.75% 1,157 Bedford County 2,254 48.45% 1,934 41.57% 91 1.96% 358 7.70% 15 0.32% 320 6.88% 4,652 Bland County 764 51.80% 702 47.59% 3 0.20% 1 0.07% 5 0.34% 62 4.20% 1,475 Botetourt County 2,244 58.27% 1,571 40.79% 4 0.10% 31 0.80% 1 0.03% 673 17.48% 3,851 Brunswick County 1,280 38.55% 1,776 53.49% 188 5.66% 68 2.05% 8 0.24% -496 -14.94% 3,320 Buchanan County 3,379 43.78% 4,184 54.20% 103 1.33% 39 0.51% 14 0.18% -805 -10.43% 7,719 Buckingham County 725 29.06% 1,319 52.87% 7 0.28% 442 17.72% 2 0.08% -594 -23.81% 2,495 Campbell County 3,494 53.93% 2,436 37.60% 303 4.68% 231 3.57% 15 0.23% 1,058 16.33% 6,479 Caroline County 1,025 39.32% 1,530 58.69% 35 1.34% 14 0.54% 3 0.12% -505 -19.37% 2,607 Carroll County 3,879 65.61% 1,988 33.63% 14 0.24% 18 0.30% 13 0.22% 1,891 31.99% 5,912 Charles City County 340 26.84% 911 71.90% 4 0.32% 8 0.63% 4 0.32% -571 -45.07% 1,267 Charlotte County 988 41.22% 1,309 54.61% 21 0.88% 75 3.13% 4 0.17% -321 -13.39% 2,397 Chesterfield County 17,261 67.46% 7,694 30.07% 419 1.64% 189 0.74% 24 0.09% 9,567 37.39% 25,587 Clarke County 853 46.28% 980 53.17% 3 0.16% 7 0.38% 0 0.00% -127 -6.89% 1,843 Craig County 480 46.78% 543 52.92% 0 0.00% 3 0.29% 0 0.00% -63 -6.14% 1,026 Culpeper County 1,642 50.32% 1,564 47.93% 7 0.21% 36 1.10% 14 0.43% 78 2.39% 3,263 Cumberland County 650 34.50% 1,173 62.26% 24 1.27% 31 1.65% 6 0.32% -523 -27.76% 1,884 Dickenson County 3,377 51.54% 3,141 47.94% 12 0.18% 9 0.14% 13 0.20% 236 3.60% 6,552 Dinwiddie County 1,225 34.46% 2,172 61.10% 95 2.67% 56 1.58% 7 0.20% -947 -26.64% 3,555 Essex County 555 38.78% 846 59.12% 5 0.35% 19 1.33% 6 0.42% -291 -20.34% 1,431 Fairfax County 37,932 54.97% 30,370 44.01% 310 0.45% 363 0.53% 36 0.05% 7,562 10.96% 69,011 Fauquier County 2,345 48.85% 2,403 50.06% 15 0.31% 28 0.58% 9 0.19% -58 -1.21% 4,800 Floyd County 1,607 67.15% 778 32.51% 3 0.13% 5 0.21% 0 0.00% 829 34.64% 2,393 Fluvanna County 620 52.23% 532 44.82% 12 1.01% 23 1.94% 0 0.00% 88 7.41% 1,187 Franklin County 2,018 40.53% 2,887 57.98% 8 0.16% 59 1.18% 7 0.14% -869 -17.45% 4,979 Frederick County 3,553 65.60% 1,799 33.22% 16 0.30% 22 0.41% 26 0.48% 1,754 32.39% 5,416 Giles County 2,036 42.51% 2,660 55.54% 59 1.23% 25 0.52% 9 0.19% -624 -13.03% 4,789 Gloucester County 1,599 52.27% 1,384 45.24% 58 1.90% 17 0.56% 1 0.03% 215 7.03% 3,059 Goochland County 1,023 38.37% 1,578 59.19% 28 1.05% 26 0.98% 9 0.34% 2 0.08% -555 -20.82% 2,666 Grayson County 2,957 54.58% 2,442 45.07% 10 0.18% 6 0.11% 3 0.06% 515 9.51% 5,418 Greene County 699 59.90% 455 38.99% 4 0.34% 7 0.60% 2 0.17% 244 20.91% 1,167 Greensville County 803 39.38% 1,159 56.84% 46 2.26% 25 1.23% 6 0.29% -356 -17.46% 2,039 Halifax County 2,361 45.38% 2,732 52.51% 30 0.58% 71 1.36% 9 0.17% -371 -7.13% 5,203 Hanover County 4,593 61.87% 2,623 35.33% 138 1.86% 63 0.85% 7 0.09% 1,970 26.54% 7,424 Henrico County 25,779 65.78% 12,579 32.10% 625 1.59% 193 0.49% 8 0.02% 6 0.02% 13,200 33.68% 39,190 Henry County 3,139 44.98% 3,739 53.58% 23 0.33% 62 0.89% 16 0.23% -600 -8.60% 6,979 Highland County 498 62.09% 301 37.53% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 3 0.37% 197 24.56% 802 Isle of Wight County 2,199 56.11% 1,576 40.21% 75 1.91% 59 1.51% 10 0.26% 623 15.90% 3,919 James City County 1,416 48.51% 1,431 49.02% 46 1.58% 23 0.79% 3 0.10% -15 -0.51% 2,919 King and Queen County 497 38.17% 766 58.83% 30 2.30% 5 0.38% 4 0.31% -269 -20.66% 1,302 King George County 771 51.92% 702 47.27% 5 0.34% 7 0.47% 0 0.00% 69 4.65% 1,485 King William County 884 46.36% 979 51.34% 35 1.84% 5 0.26% 4 0.21% -95 -4.98% 1,907 Lancaster County 1,382 49.84% 1,352 48.76% 21 0.76% 17 0.61% 1 0.04% 30 1.08% 2,773 Lee County 3,875 46.14% 4,455 53.05% 31 0.37% 18 0.21% 19 0.23% -580 -6.91% 8,398 Loudoun County 3,190 46.49% 3,621 52.77% 11 0.16% 36 0.52% 4 0.06% -431 -6.28% 6,862 Louisa County 1,303 49.43% 1,260 47.80% 42 1.59% 29 1.10% 2 0.08% 43 1.63% 2,636 Lunenburg County 1,221 47.14% 1,154 44.56% 101 3.90% 111 4.29% 3 0.12% 67 2.59% 2,590 Madison County 1,164 60.82% 725 37.88% 7 0.37% 17 0.89% 1 0.05% 439 22.94% 1,914 Mathews County 1,153 58.68% 784 39.90% 14 0.71% 9 0.46% 5 0.25% 369 18.78% 1,965 Mecklenburg County 2,480 40.91% 3,347 55.21% 96 1.58% 125 2.06% 14 0.23% -867 -14.30% 6,062 Middlesex County 833 53.95% 669 43.33% 31 2.01% 10 0.65% 1 0.06% 164 10.62% 1,544 Montgomery County 5,107 61.68% 3,151 38.06% 11 0.13% 10 0.12% 1 0.01% 1,956 23.62% 8,280 Nansemond County 3,089 48.69% 3,084 48.61% 30 0.47% 135 2.13% 6 0.09% 5 0.08% 6,344 Nelson County 713 38.07% 1,116 59.58% 9 0.48% 32 1.71% 3 0.16% -403 -21.52% 1,873 New Kent County 572 47.12% 593 48.85% 24 1.98% 25 2.06% 0 0.00% -21 -1.73% 1,214 Northampton County 1,390 46.88% 1,541 51.97% 26 0.88% 8 0.27% 0 0.00% -151 -5.09% 2,965 Northumberland County 1,172 53.71% 988 45.28% 14 0.64% 7 0.32% 1 0.05% 184 8.43% 2,182 Nottoway County 1,551 46.24% 1,680 50.09% 85 2.53% 33 0.98% 5 0.15% -129 -3.85% 3,354 Orange County 1,529 57.39% 1,095 41.10% 20 0.75% 19 0.71% 1 0.04% 434 16.29% 2,664 Page County 2,682 53.43% 2,306 45.94% 20 0.40% 8 0.16% 4 0.08% 376 7.49% 5,020 Patrick County 1,759 46.44% 1,981 52.30% 9 0.24% 34 0.90% 5 0.13% -222 -5.86% 3,788 Pittsylvania County 4,215 43.90% 5,250 54.68% 28 0.29% 80 0.83% 29 0.30% -1,035 -10.78% 9,602 Powhatan County 912 41.91% 1,121 51.52% 48 2.21% 91 4.18% 4 0.18% -209 -9.60% 2,176 Prince Edward County 1,783 48.24% 1,840 49.78% 37 1.00% 31 0.84% 5 0.14% -57 -1.54% 3,696 Prince George County 1,249 46.66% 1,350 50.43% 55 2.05% 22 0.82% 1 0.04% -101 -3.77% 2,677 Prince William County 6,004 52.65% 5,246 46.01% 21 0.18% 115 1.01% 17 0.15% 758 6.65% 11,403 Pulaski County 3,562 50.91% 3,399 48.58% 8 0.11% 21 0.30% 6 0.09% 163 2.33% 6,996 Rappahannock County 596 45.95% 688 53.05% 5 0.39% 6 0.46% 2 0.15% -92 -7.09% 1,297 Richmond County 831 59.15% 559 39.79% 10 0.71% 5 0.36% 0 0.00% 272 19.36% 1,405 Roanoke County 12,124 64.12% 6,562 34.70% 22 0.12% 188 0.99% 11 0.06% 1 0.01% 5,562 29.42% 18,908 Rockbridge County 1,450 59.55% 957 39.30% 8 0.33% 16 0.66% 4 0.16% 493 20.25% 2,435 Rockingham County 5,481 67.92% 2,545 31.54% 19 0.24% 16 0.20% 9 0.11% 2,936 36.38% 8,070 Russell County 3,261 47.77% 3,438 50.36% 98 1.44% 17 0.25% 13 0.19% -177 -2.59% 6,827 Scott County 3,869 54.19% 3,189 44.66% 24 0.34% 20 0.28% 38 0.53% 680 9.52% 7,140 Shenandoah County 4,528 66.20% 2,282 33.36% 13 0.19% 11 0.16% 6 0.09% 2,246 32.84% 6,840 Smyth County 4,212 58.23% 2,988 41.31% 8 0.11% 15 0.21% 10 0.14% 1,224 16.92% 7,233 Southampton County 1,393 40.55% 1,963 57.15% 46 1.34% 27 0.79% 6 0.17% -570 -16.59% 3,435 Spotsylvania County 1,669 41.58% 2,153 53.64% 138 3.44% 24 0.60% 30 0.75% -484 -12.06% 4,014 Stafford County 2,354 51.20% 2,212 48.11% 13 0.28% 3 0.07% 16 0.35% 142 3.09% 4,598 Surry County 556 33.72% 1,061 64.34% 16 0.97% 12 0.73% 4 0.24% -505 -30.62% 1,649 Sussex County 1,577 53.40% 1,269 42.97% 42 1.42% 64 2.17% 1 0.03% 308 10.43% 2,953 Tazewell County 3,612 45.62% 4,186 52.87% 69 0.87% 23 0.29% 27 0.34% -574 -7.25% 7,917 Warren County 2,102 50.76% 1,977 47.74% 25 0.60% 28 0.68% 9 0.22% 125 3.02% 4,141 Washington County 4,680 52.74% 4,138 46.64% 20 0.23% 23 0.26% 12 0.14% 542 6.11% 8,873 Westmoreland County 1,036 49.45% 1,040 49.64% 8 0.38% 10 0.48% 1 0.05% -4 -0.19% 2,095 Wise County 5,149 46.14% 5,982 53.60% 12 0.11% 9 0.08% 8 0.07% -833 -7.46% 11,160 Wythe County 2,810 51.80% 2,492 45.94% 104 1.92% 14 0.26% 5 0.09% 318 5.86% 5,425 York County 3,353 55.56% 2,543 42.14% 59 0.98% 64 1.06% 16 0.27% 810 13.42% 6,035 Alexandria City 8,987 50.52% 8,589 48.29% 62 0.35% 132 0.74% 18 0.10% 398 2.24% 17,788 Bedford City 689 43.64% 763 48.32% 55 3.48% 70 4.43% 2 0.13% -74 -4.69% 1,579 Bristol City 1,113 38.71% 1,750 60.87% 1 0.03% 5 0.17% 6 0.21% -637 -22.16% 2,875 Buena Vista City 636 52.82% 554 46.01% 4 0.33% 6 0.50% 4 0.33% 82 6.81% 1,204 Charlottesville City 3,826 44.13% 4,745 54.74% 40 0.46% 53 0.61% 4 0.05% 1 0.01% -919 -10.60% 8,669 Chesapeake City 8,158 47.53% 8,214 47.86% 431 2.51% 318 1.85% 42 0.24% 1 0.01% -56 -0.33% 17,164 Clifton Forge City 734 49.39% 720 48.45% 6 0.40% 25 1.68% 1 0.07% 14 0.94% 1,486 Colonial Heights City 1,923 53.85% 1,552 43.46% 61 1.71% 35 0.98% 0 0.00% 371 10.39% 3,571 Covington City 1,230 47.99% 1,309 51.07% 4 0.16% 16 0.62% 4 0.16% -79 -3.08% 2,563 Danville City 5,040 46.11% 5,720 52.33% 100 0.91% 63 0.58% 7 0.06% -680 -6.22% 10,930 Emporia City 713 45.97% 796 51.32% 20 1.29% 21 1.35% 0 0.00% 1 0.06% -83 -5.35% 1,551 Fairfax City 1,872 51.68% 1,679 46.36% 28 0.77% 38 1.05% 5 0.14% 193 5.33% 3,622 Falls Church City 1,370 49.16% 1,393 49.98% 11 0.39% 12 0.43% 1 0.04% -23 -0.83% 2,787 Franklin City 813 52.42% 720 46.42% 9 0.58% 6 0.39% 3 0.19% 93 6.00% 1,551 Fredericksburg City 1,748 42.60% 2,332 56.84% 9 0.22% 8 0.19% 6 0.15% -584 -14.23% 4,103 Galax City 943 50.56% 911 48.85% 2 0.11% 7 0.38% 2 0.11% 32 1.72% 1,865 Hampton City 10,765 53.95% 8,946 44.83% 96 0.48% 120 0.60% 25 0.13% 2 0.01% 1,819 9.12% 19,954 Harrisonburg City 2,018 61.52% 1,251 38.14% 3 0.09% 7 0.21% 1 0.03% 767 23.38% 3,280 Hopewell City 2,214 49.64% 1,905 42.71% 303 6.79% 32 0.72% 6 0.13% 309 6.93% 4,460 Lexington City 817 58.11% 581 41.32% 1 0.07% 7 0.50% 0 0.00% 236 16.79% 1,406 Lynchburg City 5,694 54.50% 4,158 39.80% 341 3.26% 238 2.28% 17 0.16% 1,536 14.70% 10,448 Martinsville City 1,902 43.04% 2,482 56.17% 9 0.20% 22 0.50% 4 0.09% -580 -13.13% 4,419 Newport News City 11,678 51.05% 10,776 47.11% 131 0.57% 258 1.13% 33 0.14% 902 3.94% 22,876 Norfolk City 20,311 45.15% 22,617 50.27% 1,795 3.99% 195 0.43% 57 0.13% 14 0.03% -2,306 -5.13% 44,989 Norton City 477 47.75% 517 51.75% 2 0.20% 2 0.20% 1 0.10% -40 -4.00% 999 Petersburg City 3,147 43.62% 3,896 54.01% 96 1.33% 48 0.67% 23 0.32% 4 0.06% -749 -10.38% 7,214 Portsmouth City 9,638 40.61% 13,783 58.08% 122 0.51% 139 0.59% 49 0.21% -4,145 -17.47% 23,731 Radford City 1,681 53.76% 1,436 45.92% 2 0.06% 7 0.22% 1 0.03% 245 7.83% 3,127 Richmond City 27,611 59.09% 18,377 39.33% 503 1.08% 197 0.42% 32 0.07% 4 0.01% 9,234 19.76% 46,724 Roanoke City 13,238 56.77% 9,860 42.28% 42 0.18% 165 0.71% 15 0.06% 3,378 14.49% 23,320 Salem City 3,356 64.66% 1,807 34.82% 4 0.08% 18 0.35% 3 0.06% 2 0.04% 1,549 29.85% 5,190 South Boston City 930 50.74% 894 48.77% 2 0.11% 7 0.38% 0 0.00% 36 1.96% 1,833 Staunton City 3,297 61.42% 2,051 38.21% 10 0.19% 9 0.17% 1 0.02% 1,246 23.21% 5,368 Suffolk City 1,183 49.17% 1,177 48.92% 6 0.25% 35 1.45% 5 0.21% 6 0.25% 2,406 Virginia Beach City 14,086 56.37% 10,210 40.86% 555 2.22% 119 0.48% 18 0.07% 3,876 15.51% 24,988 Waynesboro City 2,713 62.43% 1,587 36.52% 37 0.85% 6 0.14% 3 0.07% 1,126 25.91% 4,346 Williamsburg City 804 46.15% 884 50.75% 44 2.53% 10 0.57% 0 0.00% -80 -4.59% 1,742 Winchester City 1,915 58.90% 1,318 40.54% 6 0.18% 5 0.15% 7 0.22% 597 18.36% 3,251Totals480,86952.44%415,69545.34%10,5961.16%7,3820.81%1,1820.13%1,1820.13%65,1747.11%916,906 Counties and independent cities that flipped from Conservative to Republican Chesterfield Lunenburg Sussex Counties and independent cities that flipped from Republican to Democratic Greensville Russell Norton (independent city) Williamsburg (independent city) Counties and independent cities that flipped from Conservative to Democratic Amelia Brunswick Charlotte Mecklenberg Nottoway Powhatan Prince Edward Surry Counties and independent cities that flipped from Democratic to Republican Alleghany Bedford Bland Campbell Culpeper Dickenson Fluvanna Frederick Gloucester Hanover King George Lancaster Isle of Wight Lousia Madison Mathews Middlesex Nansemond Northumberland Orange Prince William Richmond Pulaski Stafford Warren Wythe York Clifton Forge (independent city) Buena Vista (independent city) Colonial Heights (independent city) Fairfax (independent city) Franklin (independent city) Galax (independent city) Hampton (independent city) Hopewell (independent city) Lynchburg (independent city) South Boston (independent city) Richmond (independent city) Staunton (independent city) Suffolk (independent city) Virginia Beach (independent city) Winchester (independent city) Analysis The Democrats had held the governor's mansion for 84 years since 1885, and Holton's victory was considered a historic upset at the time.Virginia, N.J. Elect GOP Governors The Charlotte Observer Associated Press November 5, 1969 2A This was the first occasion when Republicans won a gubernatorial election in the state, and Holton even won 37 percent of the African American voteRepublicans and Race: The GOP's Frayed Relationship with African Americans, 1945-1974 Thurber Timothy Nels 2013 Lawrence, Kansas University Press of Kansas 9780700619382 343 – a substantial share of which was won from blacks who had backed the liberal Howell in the two Democratic primaries.The Two-Party South Lamis Alexander P. 1984 New York City Oxford University Press 103 0195034775 Holton was also helped by defections from Battle by supporters the conservative of Pollard in the first primary,The dynamic Dominion: realignment and the rise of two-party competition in Virginia, 1945-1980 Atkinson Frank B. Prologue: Republican Resolve, Democratic Division 200-201 Revised 2006 Lanham, Maryland Rowman & Littlefield Publishers 9780742552098 although the Republican's largest gains were in the rapidly growing urban corridor, where Holton had been weakest in his previous gubernatorial run. Support from sitting President Nixon was another critical aspect of Holton's win. As of 2025, this is the last occasion when the City of Alexandria voted Republican for Governor, but also the last when New Kent County,"Independent" New Kent County and Prince George County backed independent Henry Howell in the following 1973 gubernatorial election, when Howell was supported by most Democrats as the party did not nominate a gubernatorial candidate. Pittsylvania County, Powhatan County and Prince George County"Independent" voted Democratic for Governor. Notes References collapsed Gubernatorial 1969 Virginia Category:November 1969 in the United States