1837 Virginia gubernatorial election

1837 Virginia gubernatorial election

←  1834 January 20, 1837 1840  →

Nominee David Campbell William Daniel William H. Roane Party Democratic Democratic Democratic 1st ballot 88 33 21

Governor before election Wyndham Robertson Whig Elected Governor David Campbell Democratic

A gubernatorial election was held in Virginia on January 20, 1837. ^[1] The Democratic former member of the Virginia Senate from Washington County David Campbell defeated the Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates William Daniel and the Democratic member of the Executive Council William H. Roane. ^[2]

The previous governor of Virginia Littleton Waller Tazewell resigned on March 30, 1836. Wyndham Robertson succeeded to office in his capacity as the senior member of the Executive Council and acted as governor for the remainder of Tazewell's unexpired term. ^[3]

The Democratic members of the legislature held a caucus in advance of the election. Several prospective candidates were considered for the nomination, including the member of the House of Delegates from Albemarle County Thomas Jefferson Randolph, the Democratic floor leader Joseph Watkins, and the speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Linn Banks. Campbell lacked the statewide reputation of the other candidates, but emerged as a compromise choice in the crowded field. Campbell, Roane, and Daniel were nominated on the day of the caucus. Daniel declined consideration, after which Campbell was nominated on the third ballot. ^[4]

The election was conducted by the Virginia General Assembly in joint session. Campbell was elected with a majority on the first ballot. ^[5]

General election

1837 Virginia gubernatorial election ^[6]

Party		Candidate	First ballot
			Count	Percent
	Democratic	David Campbell	88	57.14
	Democratic	William Daniel	33	21.43
	Democratic	William H. Roane	21	13.64
	Democratic	James B. Mallory	4	2.60
	Whig	Wyndham Robertson	3	1.95
	Whig	Benjamin Watkins Leigh	2	1.30
	Whig	Joseph Carrington Cabell	1	0.65
	Whig	William F. Gordon	1	0.65
	Whig	John Tyler	1	0.65
Total			154	100.00

References

1. Virginia 1836, p. 115.
2. Dent 1974, p. 218.
3. Sobel & Raimo 1978, p. 1,637.
4. Dent 1974, pp. 217–18.
5. Virginia 1836, p. 116.
6. Virginia 1836, p. 218.

Bibliography

• Dent, Lynwood Miller (1974). The Virginia Democratic Party, 1824-1847. (Volumes I and II) (PhD thesis). [Baton Rouge]: Louisiana State University.
• Sobel, Robert; Raimo, John (1978). Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789–1978. Vol. 4. Westport, CT: Meckler Books.
• Virginia (1836). Journal of the House of Delegates [...]. Richmond.

Further reading

• For a list of members of the Virginia General Assembly by party, see Simms, Henry H. (1929). The Rise of the Whigs in Virginia, 1824–1840. Richmond: William Byrd Press. pp. 167–192.