1840 Virginia gubernatorial election

none January 2025 December 2025 ly 1840 Virginia gubernatorial election Virginia File:Flag of the United States (1837–1845).svg Presidential no 1837 Virginia gubernatorial election 1837 1842 Virginia gubernatorial election 1842 February 11, 1840 150x150px 1st ballot 8th ballot File:Thomas Walker Gilmer SecNavy (3x4 cropped).jpg Thomas Walker Gilmer Whig Party (United States) 77 83 File:James McDowell (3x4 cropped).jpg James McDowell Democratic Party (United States) 66 50 File:Philip Norborne Nicholas (3x4 cropped).jpg Philip N. Nicholas Democratic Party (United States) — 11 File:3x4.svg Joseph S. Watkins Democratic Party (United States) 18 — Governor David Campbell Democratic Party (United States) Thomas Walker Gilmer Whig Party (United States) A gubernatorial election was held in Virginia on February 11, 1840. The Whig speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Thomas Walker Gilmer defeated the Democratic former member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Rockbridge County James McDowell.Virginia 1839 140 The Whigs were the largest party in the legislature following the 1839 state elections, while the Conservatives held the balance of power despite losing 11 seats. Both parties determined to cooperate in the gubernatorial election in order to defeat the Democratic candidate.Dent 1974 256, 261, 264 A caucus of the Democratic members of the legislature met prior to the election and nominated McDonnell,A New Scene in the Drama https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84024735/1840-02-13/ed-1/?sp=2 Richmond Enquirer February 13, 1840 who was popular with voters in Western Virginia. McConnell had previously sought to succeed William Cabell Rives in the United States Senate, but lost his bid for the Democratic nomination due to his past support for the abolition of slavery.Simms 1929 142 The election was conducted by the Virginia General Assembly in joint session. No candidate had a majority on the first ballot, requiring eight consecutive rounds of voting. Gilmer was elected with a majority on the eighth ballot.Virginia 1839 137–40 General election + 1840 Virginia gubernatorial electionVirginia Legislature https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84024735/1840-02-13/ed-1/?sp=3 Richmond Enquirer February 13, 1840 Party Candidate Ballot 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th Whig Thomas Walker Gilmer 77 79 79 80 82 82 82 83 Democratic James McDowell 66 76 80 80 80 52 40 50 Democratic Joseph S. Watkins 18 7 1colspan=2 11colspan=2 Conservative William M. Peyton 1 1 1 1colspan=4 Democratic John Rutherfoord 1colspan=7 Democratic Andrew Beirnecolspan=2 1colspan=5 Democratic Joseph H. Samuelscolspan=2 1colspan=5 Whig Lewis Summerscolspan=2 1colspan=5 colspan=2 Edwin S. Duncancolspan=3 1colspan=4 Democratic John Winston Jonescolspan=3 1colspan=3 1 Democratic Philip N. Nicholascolspan=3 1 19 41 11 Democratic John Brockenbroughcolspan=4 2colspan=3 Whig Thomas H. Baylycolspan=6 1 1 Total 163 163 164 164 164 164 164 146 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 Simms Henry H. The Rise of the Whigs in Virginia, 1824–1840 1929 William Byrd Press Richmond https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Rise_of_the_Whigs_in_Virginia_1824_1/Etn0OdyZl9YC Virginia Journal of the House of Delegates [...] 1839 none Richmond https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433014925584&seq=1 Gubernatorial Category:Virginia gubernatorial elections Virginia Category:March 1840 Category:Indirect gubernatorial elections in the United States Category:Single-candidate gubernatorial elections in Virginia