Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of Virginia
For related races, see 1973 United States gubernatorial elections.
1973 Virginia gubernatorial election
← 1969
November 6, 1973
1977 →
Nominee
Mills Godwin
Henry Howell
Party
Republican
Independent
Popular vote
525,075
510,103
Percentage
50.7%
49.3%
County and independent city results Godwin: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Howell: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Governor before election
Linwood Holton
Republican
Elected Governor
Mills Godwin
Republican
Elections in Virginia
Federal government
U.S. President
1788–89
1792
1796
1800
1804
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U.S. Senate
1788
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2026
U.S. House
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State government
Governor
1776
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C
U
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2025
Lieutenant Governor
1973
1977
1981
1985
1989
1993
1997
2001
2005
2009
2013
2017
2021
2025
Attorney General
1993
1997
2001
2005
2009
2013
2017
2021
2025
Senate
1967
1971
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2011
2015
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House of Delegates
1975
1977
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1987
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1995
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1999
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2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
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State elections
1989
1991
1993
1995
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1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
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2014
2015
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Ballot measures
Statewide
1970
1972
1974
1976
1977
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1987
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2010
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Fairfax County
2016
Alexandria
Mayor
2012
2015
2018
2021
2024
(List)
Hampton
Mayor
2016
Henrico County
Commonwealth's Attorney
2011
2015
2019
Norfolk
Mayor
2006
2010
2014
2016
Richmond
Mayor
2016
2020
2024
City Council
2016
Virginia Beach
Mayor
2008
2012
2016
2018
2020
City Council
2020
v
t
e
In the 1973 Virginia gubernatorial election, incumbent Governor A. Linwood Holton, Jr., a Republican, was unable to seek re-election due to term limits. Mills E. Godwin, Jr., former Democratic Governor of Virginia, was nominated by the Republican Party to run against Independent Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Henry Howell. The Democrats did not field a candidate, mostly choosing to support Howell's candidacy.
This was the last time until 2013 in which a member of the incumbent President's party was elected Governor of Virginia. It was also the last time a non-Democrat won the city of Alexandria.
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