1845 Virginia gubernatorial election

none January 2025 December 2025 ly 1845 Virginia gubernatorial election Virginia File:Flag of the United States (1837–1845).svg Presidential no 1842 Virginia gubernatorial election 1842 1848 Virginia gubernatorial election 1848 December 10, 1845 150x150px 1st ballot Hon. William Smith Virginia governor (3x4 cropped).jpg William Smith Democratic Party (United States) 94 File:John Brockenbrough (3x4 cropped).jpg John Brockenbrough Democratic Party (United States) 40 File:3x4.svg Valentine W. Southall Whig Party (United States) 12 Governor James McDowell Democratic Party (United States) William Smith Democratic Party (United States) A gubernatorial election was held in Virginia on December 10, 1845.Virginia 1845a 34 The Democratic former U.S. representative from Virginia's 13th congressional district William Smith defeated Democratic businessperson John Brockenbrough.Dent 1974 407 Democrats swept the 1845 state elections, winning large majorities in both chambers of the legislature. The Whig Party was divided over Texas annexation and further demoralized by their defeat. Some Whigs hoped to split the incoming Democratic majority by supporting Brockenbrough, a member of the Richmond Junto, for governor against the regular Democratic candidate. Smith first hoped to be elected to the United States Senate, but was passed over for the caucus nomination in favor of Isaac S. Pennybacker. Instead, Smith was selected as the party's candidate for governor. Privately, Smith was reluctant to accept the office, as the salary was too small to comfortably cover his expenses.Dent 1974 404–5, 407, 407n13 The election was conducted by the Virginia General Assembly in joint session. Smith was elected with a majority on the first ballot.Virginia 1845a 34 General election + 1845 Virginia gubernatorial electionVirginia 1845a 34 Virginia 1845b 33 Party Candidate First ballot Count Percent Democratic William Smith 94 58.75 Democratic John Brockenbrough 40 25.00 Whig Valentine W. Southall 12 7.50 Whig James Lyons 2 1.25 Whig William C. Rives 2 1.25 Democratic Andrew Stevenson 2 1.25 Whig Edmund Broadus 1 0.62 Democratic William F. Gordon 1 0.62 Whig Chapman Johnson 1 0.62 Democratic James M. Mason 1 0.62 Whig William B. Preston 1 0.62 Whig Robert Eden Scott 1 0.62 Whig George W. Summers 1 0.62 Democratic William P. Taylor 1 0.62 Total 160 100.00 References Bibliography Dent Lynwood Miller 1974 The Virginia Democratic Party, 1824-1847. (Volumes I and II) https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/2660/ PhD [Baton Rouge] Louisiana State University Virginia Journal of the House of Delegates [...] 1845a none Richmond https://www.google.com/books/edition/Journal_of_the_House_of_Delegates_of_the/lXtDAQAAMAAJ Virginia Journal of the Senate [...] 1845b none Richmond https://www.google.com/books/edition/Journal_of_the_Senate_of_Virginia/sMQzAQAAMAAJ Gubernatorial Category:Virginia gubernatorial elections Virginia Category:December 1845 Category:Indirect gubernatorial elections in the United States Category:Single-candidate gubernatorial elections in Virginia