1825 Virginia gubernatorial election

1825 Virginia gubernatorial election

←  1824 December 10, 1825 1826  →

Nominee John Tyler John Floyd 1st ballot 131 81

Governor before election James Pleasants Democratic-Republican Elected Governor John Tyler Democratic-Republican [a]

A gubernatorial election was held in Virginia on December 10, 1825. The member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Charles City County John Tyler defeated the U.S. representative from Virginia's 20th congressional district John Floyd. ^[6]

The incumbent governor of Virginia James Pleasants was ineligible for re-election due to term limits established by the Constitution of Virginia. ^[7] The election was conducted by the Virginia General Assembly in joint session. Tyler, a Crawford Republican and a supporter of the congressional nominating caucus, ran without the support of a powerful political party, a circumstance which would later hinder his efficacy as governor. ^[8] Floyd's nomination was greeted with surprise by several of his allies in the legislature, who had believed the congressman did not intend to offer himself as a candidate. Tyler was elected with a majority on the first ballot. ^[2]

General election

1825 Virginia gubernatorial special election ^[1]

Candidate	First ballot
	Count	Percent
John Tyler	131	61.21
John Floyd	81	37.85
Others	2	0.93
Total	214	100.00

Notes

1. Official records published by the Richmond, Virginia Enquirer ^[1] and Alexandria, Virginia Phenix Gazette ^[2] do not list parties for this election. Chitwood states that Tyler as governor "did not have behind him in the legislature a dominant and well-disciplined party;" ^[3] Sobel and Raimo say that Tyler served in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democratic-Republican; ^[4] while Kallenbach and Kallenbach list Tyler as a Jeffersonian Republican during his tenure. ^[5]

1. "Election of Governor". Enquirer. December 13, 1825.
2. "Virginia Legislature". Phenix Gazette. December 16, 1825.
3. Chitwood 1964, p. 64.
4. Sobel & Raimo 1978, p. 1634.
5. Kallenbach & Kallenbach 1977, p. 613.
6. Chitwood 1964, pp. 62–63.
7. Kallenbach & Kallenbach 1977, p. 609; Sobel & Raimo 1978, p. 1633.
8. Chitwood 1964, p. 60–64.

Bibliography

• Chitwood, Oliver Perry (1964). John Tyler: Champion of the Old South. New York: Russell and Russell.
• Kallenbach, Joseph E.; Kallenbach, Jessamine S. (1977). American State Governors, 1776–1976. Vol. 1. Dobbs Ferry, NY: Oceana Publications.
• Sobel, Robert; Raimo, John (1978). Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789–1978. Vol. 4. Westport, CT: Meckler Books.