1791 Virginia gubernatorial election

1791 Virginia gubernatorial election

←  1790 November 2, 1791 1792  →

Nominee Henry Lee III James Wood Robert Harvey Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan 1st ballot 87 50 20

Governor before election Beverley Randolph Nonpartisan Elected Governor Henry Lee III Nonpartisan

A gubernatorial election was held in Virginia on November 2, 1791. The former delegate to the Confederation Congress Henry Lee III defeated the member of the Council of State James Wood and Robert Harvey. ^[1]

The incumbent governor Beverley Randolph was ineligible for re-election due to term limits established by the Constitution of Virginia. ^[2] The election was conducted by the Virginia General Assembly in joint session. Randolph defeated Wood and Harvey on the first ballot. ^[1]

General election

1791 Virginia gubernatorial election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	First ballot
			Count	Percent
	Nonpartisan	Henry Lee III	87	50.96
	Nonpartisan	James Wood	50	31.85
	Nonpartisan	Robert Harvey	20	12.74
Total			157	100.00

Notes

1. Lampi 2012.
2. Sobel & Raimo 1978, p. 1623.

Bibliography

• Lampi, Philip J. (2012). "Virginia 1791 Governor". A New Nation Votes. American Antiquarian Society. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
• Sobel, Robert; Raimo, John (1978). Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789–1978. Vol. 4. Westport, CT: Meckler Books.