# List of governors of Virginia

The governor of Virginia is the state's head of government and commander-in-chief of the state's official national guard. The first Constitution of 1776 created the office of governor, to be elected annually by the Virginia State Legislature. The governor could serve up to three years at a time, and once out of office, could not serve again for four years. The 1830 constitution changed the thrice-renewable one-year term length to a non-renewable three-year term, and set the start date at the first day in January following an election. This constitution also prevented governors from succeeding themselves, a prohibition that exists to the present day. The 1851 Constitution increased terms to four years and made the office elected by the people, rather than the legislature. The commencement of the Governor's term was moved to the first day in February by the 1902 Constitution, and then to the Saturday after the second Wednesday in January by the 1971 and current Constitution.
If the office of governor is vacant due to death, impeachment and disqualification, or resignation, the lieutenant governor of Virginia becomes governor. The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1851. Prior to that a Council of State existed; it chose from among its members a president who would be "lieutenant-governor" and would act as governor when there was a vacancy in that office. The governor and the lieutenant governor are elected at the same time but not on the same ticket. Officially, there have been 74 governors of Virginia; the acting governors are not counted.

## Governors

Virginia was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and was admitted as a state on June 25, 1788. Before it declared its independence, Virginia was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain. It seceded from the Union on April 17, 1861, and was admitted to the Confederate States of America on May 7, 1861. Following the end of the American Civil War, Virginia during Reconstruction constituted the First Military District, which exerted some control over governor appointments and elections. Virginia was readmitted to the Union on January 26, 1870.
The federal government recognized the Restored Government of Virginia, based in Wheeling, as the legitimate government in Virginia on June 25, 1861. It elected its own slate of governors, and after West Virginia was split from Virginia on June 20, 1863, the restored government relocated to Alexandria.
Governors of the Commonwealth of Virginia :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor |
| 1 | Patrick Henry (1736–1799) | July 6, 1776 – June 1, 1779 (term-limited) | None | 1776 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 1 | Patrick Henry (1736–1799) | July 6, 1776 – June 1, 1779 (term-limited) | None | 1777 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 1 | Patrick Henry (1736–1799) | July 6, 1776 – June 1, 1779 (term-limited) | None | 1778 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 2 | Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) | June 1, 1779 – June 4, 1781 (did not run) | None | 1779 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 2 | Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) | June 1, 1779 – June 4, 1781 (did not run) | None | 1780 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 3 | William Fleming (1727–1795) | June 4, 1781 – June 12, 1781 (did not run) | None | Senior member of Governor's Council acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 4 | Thomas Nelson Jr. (1738–1789) | June 12, 1781 – November 22, 1781 (resigned) | None | 1781 (special) | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| – | David Jameson (1723–1793) | November 22, 1781 – December 1, 1781 (did not run) | None | Senior member of Governor's Council acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 5 | Benjamin Harrison V (1726–1791) | December 1, 1781 – November 30, 1784 (term-limited) | None | 1781 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 5 | Benjamin Harrison V (1726–1791) | December 1, 1781 – November 30, 1784 (term-limited) | None | 1782 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 5 | Benjamin Harrison V (1726–1791) | December 1, 1781 – November 30, 1784 (term-limited) | None | 1783 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 6 | Patrick Henry (1736–1799) | November 30, 1784 – November 30, 1786 (did not run) | None | 1784 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 6 | Patrick Henry (1736–1799) | November 30, 1784 – November 30, 1786 (did not run) | None | 1785 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 7 | Edmund Randolph (1753–1813) | November 30, 1786 – November 12, 1788 (resigned) | None | 1786 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 7 | Edmund Randolph (1753–1813) | November 30, 1786 – November 12, 1788 (resigned) | None | 1787 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 8 | Beverley Randolph (1754–1797) | November 12, 1788 – December 1, 1791 (term-limited) | None | Senior member of Governor's Council acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 8 | Beverley Randolph (1754–1797) | November 12, 1788 – December 1, 1791 (term-limited) | None | 1788 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 8 | Beverley Randolph (1754–1797) | November 12, 1788 – December 1, 1791 (term-limited) | None | 1789 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 8 | Beverley Randolph (1754–1797) | November 12, 1788 – December 1, 1791 (term-limited) | None | 1790 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 9 | Henry Lee III (1756–1818) | December 1, 1791 – December 1, 1794 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1791 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 9 | Henry Lee III (1756–1818) | December 1, 1791 – December 1, 1794 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1792 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 9 | Henry Lee III (1756–1818) | December 1, 1791 – December 1, 1794 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1793 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 10 | Robert Brooke (d. 1800) | December 1, 1794 – November 30, 1796 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1794 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 10 | Robert Brooke (d. 1800) | December 1, 1794 – November 30, 1796 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1795 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 11 | James Wood (1741–1813) | November 30, 1796 – December 19, 1799 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | Senior member of Governor's Council acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 11 | James Wood (1741–1813) | November 30, 1796 – December 19, 1799 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1796 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 11 | James Wood (1741–1813) | November 30, 1796 – December 19, 1799 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1797 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 11 | James Wood (1741–1813) | November 30, 1796 – December 19, 1799 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1798 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 12 | James Monroe (1758–1831) | December 19, 1799 – December 29, 1802 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1799 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 12 | James Monroe (1758–1831) | December 19, 1799 – December 29, 1802 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1800 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 12 | James Monroe (1758–1831) | December 19, 1799 – December 29, 1802 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1801 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 13 | John Page (1743–1808) | December 29, 1802 – December 11, 1805 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1802 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 13 | John Page (1743–1808) | December 29, 1802 – December 11, 1805 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1803 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 13 | John Page (1743–1808) | December 29, 1802 – December 11, 1805 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1804 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 14 | William H. Cabell (1772–1853) | December 11, 1805 – December 12, 1808 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1805 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 14 | William H. Cabell (1772–1853) | December 11, 1805 – December 12, 1808 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1806 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 14 | William H. Cabell (1772–1853) | December 11, 1805 – December 12, 1808 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1807 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 15 | John Tyler Sr. (1747–1813) | December 12, 1808 – January 15, 1811 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1808 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 15 | John Tyler Sr. (1747–1813) | December 12, 1808 – January 15, 1811 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1809 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 15 | John Tyler Sr. (1747–1813) | December 12, 1808 – January 15, 1811 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1810 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| — | George William Smith (1762–1811) | January 15, 1811 – January 19, 1811 (lost election) | Democratic- Republican | Senior member of Governor's Council acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 16 | James Monroe (1758–1831) | January 19, 1811 – April 3, 1811 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1811 (special) | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 17 | George William Smith (1762–1811) | April 3, 1811 – December 26, 1811 (died in office) | Democratic- Republican | Senior member of Governor's Council acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 17 | George William Smith (1762–1811) | April 3, 1811 – December 26, 1811 (died in office) | Democratic- Republican | 1811 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| — | Peyton Randolph (1779–1828) | December 26, 1811 – January 4, 1812 (successor took office) | Democratic- Republican | Senior member of Governor's Council acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 18 | James Barbour (1775–1842) | January 4, 1812 – December 11, 1814 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | Jan. 1812 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 18 | James Barbour (1775–1842) | January 4, 1812 – December 11, 1814 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1812 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 18 | James Barbour (1775–1842) | January 4, 1812 – December 11, 1814 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1813 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 19 | Wilson Cary Nicholas (1761–1820) | December 11, 1814 – December 11, 1816 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1814 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 19 | Wilson Cary Nicholas (1761–1820) | December 11, 1814 – December 11, 1816 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1815 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 20 | James Patton Preston (1774–1843) | December 11, 1816 – December 11, 1819 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1816 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 20 | James Patton Preston (1774–1843) | December 11, 1816 – December 11, 1819 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1817 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 20 | James Patton Preston (1774–1843) | December 11, 1816 – December 11, 1819 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1818 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 21 | Thomas Mann Randolph Jr. (1768–1828) | December 11, 1819 – December 11, 1822 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1819 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 21 | Thomas Mann Randolph Jr. (1768–1828) | December 11, 1819 – December 11, 1822 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1820 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 21 | Thomas Mann Randolph Jr. (1768–1828) | December 11, 1819 – December 11, 1822 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1821 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 22 | James Pleasants (1769–1836) | December 11, 1822 – December 11, 1825 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1822 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 22 | James Pleasants (1769–1836) | December 11, 1822 – December 11, 1825 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1823 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 22 | James Pleasants (1769–1836) | December 11, 1822 – December 11, 1825 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1824 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 23 | John Tyler (1790–1862) | December 11, 1825 – March 4, 1827 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1825 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 24 | William Branch Giles (1762–1830) | March 4, 1827 – March 4, 1830 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1827 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 24 | William Branch Giles (1762–1830) | March 4, 1827 – March 4, 1830 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1828 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 24 | William Branch Giles (1762–1830) | March 4, 1827 – March 4, 1830 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1829 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 25 | John Floyd (1783–1837) | March 4, 1830 – March 31, 1834 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1830 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 25 | John Floyd (1783–1837) | March 4, 1830 – March 31, 1834 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1831 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 26 | Littleton Waller Tazewell (1774–1860) | March 31, 1834 – March 30, 1836 (resigned) | Democratic | 1834 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| — | Wyndham Robertson (1803–1888) | March 30, 1836 – March 31, 1837 (successor took office) | Whig | Senior member of Governor's Council acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 27 | David Campbell (1779–1859) | March 31, 1837 – March 31, 1840 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1837 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 28 | Thomas Walker Gilmer (1802–1844) | March 31, 1840 – March 20, 1841 (resigned) | Whig | 1840 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| — | John M. Patton (1797–1858) | March 20, 1841 – March 31, 1841 (successor took office) | Whig | Senior member of Governor's Council acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| — | John Rutherfoord (1792–1866) | March 31, 1841 – March 31, 1842 (successor took office) | Democratic | Senior member of Governor's Council acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| — | John Munford Gregory (1804–1884) | March 31, 1842 – January 5, 1843 (successor took office) | Whig | Senior member of Governor's Council acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 29 | James McDowell (1775–1851) | January 5, 1843 – January 1, 1846 (term-limited) | Whig | 1842 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 30 | William Smith (1797–1887) | January 1, 1846 – January 1, 1849 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1845 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 31 | John B. Floyd (1806–1863) | January 1, 1849 – January 1, 1852 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1848 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 32 | Joseph Johnson (1785–1877) | January 1, 1852 – January 1, 1856 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1851 | | Shelton Leake |
| 33 | Henry A. Wise (1806–1876) | January 1, 1856 – January 1, 1860 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1855 | | Elisha W. McComas (resigned December 7, 1857) |
| 33 | Henry A. Wise (1806–1876) | January 1, 1856 – January 1, 1860 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1855 | | William Lowther Jackson |
| 34 | John Letcher (1813–1884) | January 1, 1860 – January 1, 1864 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1859 | | Robert Latane Montague |
| — | William Smith (1797–1887) | January 1, 1864 – May 9, 1865 (government disestablished) | Democratic | 1863 (Confederate) | | Samuel Price |
| 35 | Francis Harrison Pierpont (1814–1889) | June 20, 1861 – April 4, 1868 (removed) | Union | 1861 (Union) | | Daniel Polsley |
| Vacant ||
| 35 | Francis Harrison Pierpont (1814–1889) | June 20, 1861 – April 4, 1868 (removed) | Union | 1863 (Union) | | Leopold Copeland Parker Cowper |
| — | Henry H. Wells (1823–1900) | April 4, 1868 – September 21, 1869 (resigned) | Military occupation | Military occupation | Vacant | Vacant |
| 36 | Gilbert Carlton Walker (1833–1885) | September 21, 1869 – January 1, 1874 (term-limited) | Installed by military occupation | Installed by military occupation | | John F. Lewis |
| 36 | Gilbert Carlton Walker (1833–1885) | September 21, 1869 – January 1, 1874 (term-limited) | Republican | 1869 | | John Lawrence Marye Jr. |
| 37 | James L. Kemper (1823–1895) | January 1, 1874 – January 1, 1878 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1873 | | Robert E. Withers (resigned March 1, 1875) |
| 37 | James L. Kemper (1823–1895) | January 1, 1874 – January 1, 1878 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1873 | | Henry Wirtz Thomas |
| 38 | Frederick W. M. Holliday (1828–1899) | January 1, 1878 – January 1, 1882 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1877 | | James A. Walker |
| 39 | William E. Cameron (1842–1927) | January 1, 1882 – January 1, 1886 (term-limited) | Readjuster | 1881 | | John F. Lewis |
| 40 | Fitzhugh Lee (1835–1905) | January 1, 1886 – January 1, 1890 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1885 | | John E. Massey |
| 41 | Philip W. McKinney (1832–1899) | January 1, 1890 – January 1, 1894 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1889 | | James H. Tyler |
| 42 | Charles Triplett O'Ferrall (1840–1905) | January 1, 1894 – January 1, 1898 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1893 | | Robert C. Kent |
| 43 | James Hoge Tyler (1846–1925) | January 1, 1898 – January 1, 1902 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1897 | | Edward Echols |
| 44 | Andrew Jackson Montague (1862–1937) | January 1, 1902 – February 1, 1906 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1901 | | Joseph Edward Willard |
| 45 | Claude A. Swanson (1862–1939) | February 1, 1906 – February 1, 1910 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1905 | | James Taylor Ellyson |
| 46 | William Hodges Mann (1843–1927) | February 1, 1910 – February 1, 1914 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1909 | | James Taylor Ellyson |
| 47 | Henry Carter Stuart (1855–1933) | February 1, 1914 – February 1, 1918 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1913 | | James Taylor Ellyson |
| 48 | Westmoreland Davis (1859–1942) | February 1, 1918 – February 1, 1922 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1917 | | Benjamin Franklin Buchanan |
| 49 | Elbert Lee Trinkle (1876–1939) | February 1, 1922 – February 1, 1926 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1921 | | Junius Edgar West |
| 50 | Harry F. Byrd (1887–1966) | February 1, 1926 – January 15, 1930 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1925 | | Junius Edgar West |
| 51 | John Garland Pollard (1871–1937) | January 15, 1930 – January 16, 1934 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1929 | | James Hubert Price |
| 52 | George C. Peery (1873–1952) | January 17, 1934 – January 18, 1938 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1933 | | James Hubert Price |
| 53 | James Hubert Price (1878–1943) | January 19, 1938 – January 20, 1942 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1937 | | Saxon W. Holt (died March 31, 1940) |
| Vacant ||
| 54 | Colgate Darden (1897–1981) | January 21, 1942 – January 15, 1946 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1941 | | William M. Tuck |
| 55 | William M. Tuck (1896–1983) | January 16, 1946 – January 17, 1950 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1945 | | Lewis Preston Collins II (died September 20, 1952) |
| 56 | John S. Battle (1890–1972) | January 18, 1950 – January 19, 1954 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1949 | | Lewis Preston Collins II (died September 20, 1952) |
| Vacant ||
| 56 | John S. Battle (1890–1972) | January 18, 1950 – January 19, 1954 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1949 | | Allie Edward Stakes Stephens (elected December 2, 1952) |
| 57 | Thomas B. Stanley (1890–1970) | January 20, 1954 – January 11, 1958 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1953 | | Allie Edward Stakes Stephens (elected December 2, 1952) |
| 58 | J. Lindsay Almond (1898–1986) | January 11, 1958 – January 13, 1962 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1957 | | Allie Edward Stakes Stephens (elected December 2, 1952) |
| 59 | Albertis Harrison (1907–1995) | January 13, 1962 – January 15, 1966 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1961 | | Mills Godwin |
| 60 | Mills Godwin (1914–1999) | January 15, 1966 – January 17, 1970 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1965 | | Fred G. Pollard |
| 61 | Linwood Holton (1923–2021) | January 17, 1970 – January 12, 1974 (term-limited) | Republican | 1969 | | J. Sargeant Reynolds (died June 13, 1971) |
| Vacant ||
| 61 | Linwood Holton (1923–2021) | January 17, 1970 – January 12, 1974 (term-limited) | Republican | 1969 | | Henry Howell (elected December 4, 1971) |
| 62 | Mills Godwin (1914–1999) | January 12, 1974 – January 14, 1978 (term-limited) | Republican | 1973 | | John N. Dalton |
| 63 | John N. Dalton (1931–1986) | January 14, 1978 – January 16, 1982 (term-limited) | Republican | 1977 | | Chuck Robb |
| 64 | Chuck Robb (b. 1939) | January 16, 1982 – January 11, 1986 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1981 | | Gerald L. Baliles |
| 65 | Gerald Baliles (1940–2019) | January 11, 1986 – January 13, 1990 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1985 | | Douglas Wilder |
| 66 | Douglas Wilder (b. 1931) | January 13, 1990 – January 15, 1994 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1989 | | Don Beyer |
| 67 | George Allen (b. 1952) | January 15, 1994 – January 17, 1998 (term-limited) | Republican | 1993 | | Don Beyer |
| 68 | Jim Gilmore (b. 1949) | January 17, 1998 – January 12, 2002 (term-limited) | Republican | 1997 | | John H. Hager |
| 69 | Mark Warner (b. 1954) | January 12, 2002 – January 14, 2006 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2001 | | Tim Kaine |
| 70 | Tim Kaine (b. 1958) | January 14, 2006 – January 16, 2010 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2005 | | Bill Bolling |
| 71 | Bob McDonnell (b. 1954) | January 16, 2010 – January 11, 2014 (term-limited) | Republican | 2009 | | Bill Bolling |
| 72 | Terry McAuliffe (b. 1957) | January 11, 2014 – January 13, 2018 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2013 | | Ralph Northam |
| 73 | Ralph Northam (b. 1959) | January 13, 2018 – January 15, 2022 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2017 | | Justin Fairfax |
| 74 | Glenn Youngkin (b. 1966) | January 15, 2022 – Incumbent | Republican | 2021 | | Winsome Sears |