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| Elections in Virginia |
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A gubernatorial election was held in Virginia on December 6, 1799. The Democratic-Republican former U.S. minister to France James Monroe defeated the Federalist member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Botetourt County James Breckinridge. [1]
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Monroe had been a possible candidate for governor in 1797, but declined to challenge the incumbent governor James Wood. With Wood ineligible for re-election due to term limits established by the Constitution of Virginia, the state's Democratic-Republican leaders nominated Monroe to succeed the retiring incumbent. The nomination was a public vote of confidence in Monroe, who was known for his strong opposition to the national Adams Administration and the hated Alien and Sedition Acts. The election attracted little comment from the press, in spite of the Federalist effort to disparage Monroe's diplomatic record. The support of the majority party in the highly-partisan environment of the Virginia General Assembly made Monroe's election a foregone conclusion. [2]
The election was conducted by the Virginia General Assembly in joint session. [3] Monroe was elected with a majority on the first ballot. [1]