1969 Virginia gubernatorial election

November 4, 1969
 
Nominee Linwood Holton William C. Battle
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 480,869 415,695
Percentage 52.5% 45.4%

County and independent city results
Holton:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Battle:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Mills Godwin
Democratic

Elected Governor

Linwood Holton
Republican

In the 1969 Virginia gubernatorial election, incumbent Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr., a Democrat, was unable to seek re-election due to term limits. 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.

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. This was the first election in which Republicans won a gubernatorial election in the state. As of 2022, this was the most recent Virginia gubernatorial election in which a Republican won the city of Alexandria.

Candidates

Results

Virginia gubernatorial election, 1969[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican A. Linwood Holton, Jr. 480,869 52.51% +14.80%
Democratic William C. Battle 415,695 45.39% -2.50%
Conservative Party of Virginia (1965) Beverly McDowell 10,596 1.16% -12.22%
American Independent William Pennington 7,382 0.81% +0.81%
Independent George Walker 1,182 0.13%
Write-ins 317 <0.01%
Majority 65,174 7.12% -7.86%
Turnout 915,764
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

References


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