1808 Virginia gubernatorial election

1808 Virginia gubernatorial election

←  1807 December 9, 1808 1809  →

Nominee John Tyler Sr. Hugh Nelson 1st ballot 113 82

Governor before election William H. Cabell Democratic-Republican Elected Governor John Tyler Sr. Democratic-Republican [a]

A gubernatorial election was held in Virginia on December 9, 1808. ^[4] The judge of the General Court of Virginia John Tyler Sr. defeated the speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Hugh Nelson. ^[1]

The incumbent governor of Virginia William H. Cabell was ineligible for re-election due to term limits established by the Constitution of Virginia. The election was conducted by the Virginia General Assembly in joint session. ^[3] Tyler was elected with a majority on the first ballot. ^[1]

General election

1805 Virginia gubernatorial election ^[1]

Candidate	First ballot
	Count	Percent
John Tyler Sr.	113	57.95
Hugh Nelson	82	43.05
Total	195	100.00

Notes

1. Lampi lists no parties for this election. ^[1] Both Kallenbach and Kallenbach ^[2] and Sobel and Raimo ^[3] list Tyler as a Democratic-Republican during his tenure.

1. Lampi 2012.
2. Kallenbach & Kallenbach 1977, p. 613.
3. Sobel & Raimo 1978, p. 1629.
4. "Legislature of Virginia". Enquirer. December 10, 1808.

Bibliography

• Kallenbach, Joseph E.; Kallenbach, Jessamine S. (1977). American State Governors, 1776–1976. Vol. 1. Dobbs Ferry, NY: Oceana Publications.
• Lampi, Philip J. (2012). "Virginia 1808 Governor". A New Nation Votes. American Antiquarian Society. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
• Sobel, Robert; Raimo, John (1978). Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789–1978. Vol. 4. Westport, CT: Meckler Books.