1977 Virginia gubernatorial election

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]

1977 Virginia gubernatorial election

November 8, 1977
Turnout	62.7% (voting eligible)[1]
Nominee John N. Dalton Henry Howell Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 699,302 541,319 Percentage 55.90% 43.27%
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

Candidates

• John N. Dalton, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (R)
• Henry Howell, former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (D)

Results

Virginia gubernatorial election, 1977[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John N. Dalton	699,302	55.90%	+5.19%
	Democratic	Henry Howell	541,319	43.27%	-5.99%
	Independent	Alan Ogden	10,101	0.81%
	Write-ins		218	0.02%
Majority			157,983	12.63%	+11.18%
Turnout			1,250,940
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. Virginia Department of Elections (2016). "Registration/Turnout Statistics". The Commonwealth of Virginia. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
2. http://www.coopercenter.org/sites/default/files/autoVANLPubs/Virginia%20News%20Letter%201978%20Vol.%2054%20No.%206.pdf
3. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=26401