1976 United States presidential election in Virginia

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1976 United States presidential election in Virginia
Flag of Virginia.svg
  1972 November 2, 1976 1980  
  Gerald Ford presidential portrait (cropped 2).jpg Jimmy Carter 1977 cropped.jpg
Nominee Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter
Party Republican Democratic
Home state Michigan Georgia
Running mate Bob Dole Walter Mondale
Electoral vote120
Popular vote836,554813,896
Percentage49.29%47.96%

Virginia Presidential Election Results 1976.svg
County and Independent City Results

President before election

Gerald Ford
Republican

Elected President

Jimmy Carter
Democratic

The 1976 United States presidential election in Virginia took place on November 2, 1976. All 50 states and the District of Columbia were part of the 1976 United States presidential election. Virginia voters chose twelve electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president of the United States.

Contents

Virginia had voted Republican at all but one of the previous six presidential elections, largely due to its large white Washington and Richmond suburbs that received large-scale in-migration from the Northeast, [1] alongside the Shenandoah Valley, [2] being amongst the first traditionally Democratic areas of the former Confederacy to turn Republican at both the presidential level and in federal congressional elections. [3] After the collapse of the Byrd Organization and the expansion of the state's formerly small electorate via the Voting Rights Act, these trends intensified except in the heavily unionised coalfields of Southwest Virginia, where unlike elsewhere in the Confederacy, many newly registered poor whites voted Democratic. The statewide Democratic party was severely divided into conservative, moderate and liberal factions, [4] so that in addition to voting Republican in five of six presidential elections, Virginia's Congressional delegation would gain a Republican majority as early as the 91st Congress, although it was 1970 before significant GOP gains occurred in the state legislature.

It was generally acknowledged that President Nixon offered no support to down-ballot Republican candidates, [5] but the division in the state Democrats was so bad that they did not nominate a candidate for governor in 1973 — with most of the party supporting populist Henry Howell. [6] However, the Democrats did regain a dozen seats in the state legislature in 1975.

Carter did do relatively well in many rural sections of Virginia – for instance he is the solitary Democratic presidential nominee to top forty percent in traditionally arch-Republican Floyd County since Grover Cleveland in 1892. As of the 2020 presidential election , this is the last occasion a Democratic presidential nominee has carried Amelia County, Bedford County, Botetourt County, Charlotte County, Cumberland County, Fluvanna County, Gloucester County, Goochland County, Grayson County, Halifax County, King George County, New Kent County, Nottoway County, Patrick County, Prince George County, Rappahannock County, Rockbridge County, Scott County, Spotsylvania County, Warren County, Bristol City and Salem City, while Stafford County would not vote for the Democratic nominee again until 2020. [7]

Campaign

During the fall campaign, Virginia was the scene of debates between Carter and Ford in the third week of October. They would have their final debate of the whole campaign at the College of William and Mary. [8] The debate was moderated by Barbara Walters from ABC News and was sponsored by the League of Women Voters. [9]

56% of white voters supported Ford while 40% supported Carter. [10] [11] Virginia was the only southern state to support Ford. [12]

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
Simpson's Leader-Times [13] TossupOctober 16, 1976
The Sentinel [8] TossupOctober 18, 1976
Daily Press [14] Lean ROctober 24, 1976
Kansas City Times [15] Lean ROctober 24, 1976
Daily News [16] Likely ROctober 27, 1976
Austin American-Statesman [17] TossupOctober 31, 1976
New York Times [18] Lean RNovember 1, 1976

Results

1976 United States presidential election in Virginia [19]
PartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes
Republican Gerald Ford (inc.)836,55449.29%12
Democratic Jimmy Carter 813,89647.96%0
Socialist Workers Peter Camejo 17,8021.05%0
American Thomas J. Anderson 16,6860.98%0
U.S. Labor Lyndon LaRouche 7,5080.44%0
Libertarian Roger MacBride 4,6480.27%0
Totals1,697,094100.00%12

Results by county or independent city

County/City [20] Gerald Ford
Republican
Jimmy Carter
Democratic
Peter Camejo
Socialist Workers
Thomas Anderson
American
Lyndon LaRouche
U.S. Labor
Roger MacBride
Libertarian
MarginTotal votes cast
#%#%#%#%#%#%#%
Accomack 4,49447.13%4,80750.41%870.91%900.94%400.42%180.19%-313-3.28%9,536
Albemarle 9,08454.62%7,31043.95%220.13%580.35%490.29%1090.66%1,77410.67%16,632
Alexandria 16,88044.53%19,85852.38%5681.50%3710.98%1090.29%1240.33%-2,978-7.85%37,910
Alleghany 1,75641.17%2,46257.73%140.33%190.45%90.21%50.12%-706-16.56%4,265
Amelia 1,63447.25%1,71549.60%90.26%561.62%361.04%80.23%-81-2.35%3,458
Amherst 3,95650.87%3,67547.26%230.30%440.57%490.63%290.37%2813.61%7,776
Appomattox 1,96450.84%1,70244.06%792.05%802.07%290.75%90.23%2626.78%3,863
Arlington 30,97247.95%32,53650.37%3530.55%3870.60%1210.19%2300.36%-1,564-2.42%64,599
Augusta 8,45257.53%5,62638.29%2071.41%3152.14%590.40%330.22%2,82619.24%14,692
Bath 88845.96%1,02953.26%20.10%80.41%30.16%20.10%-141-7.30%1,932
Bedford 4,18945.31%4,76651.55%1211.31%1351.46%240.26%110.12%-577-6.24%9,246
Bedford City 1,04345.47%1,12248.91%672.92%512.22%60.26%50.22%-79-3.44%2,294
Bland 1,04751.91%96147.65%10.05%50.25%20.10%10.05%864.26%2,017
Botetourt 3,34344.14%4,02153.10%831.10%700.92%380.50%180.24%-678-8.96%7,573
Bristol 2,94346.27%3,34352.55%100.16%230.36%250.39%170.27%-400-6.28%6,361
Brunswick 2,38742.11%3,07154.18%560.99%410.72%591.04%540.95%-684-12.07%5,668
Buchanan 3,85035.89%5,79153.98%5925.52%3673.42%1040.97%240.22%-1,941-18.09%10,728
Buckingham 1,48739.57%2,17957.98%200.53%270.72%300.80%150.40%-692-18.41%3,758
Buena Vista 77141.61%99353.59%613.22%532.80%130.69%30.16%-222-11.98%1,853
Campbell 7,44260.78%4,35435.56%1561.27%1991.63%650.53%290.24%3,08825.22%12,245
Caroline 1,64834.36%3,06463.89%230.48%210.44%270.56%130.27%-1,416-29.53%4,796
Carroll 4,82053.75%4,01044.71%150.17%480.54%580.65%170.19%8109.04%8,968
Charles City 43922.50%1,45574.58%180.92%120.62%190.97%80.41%-1,016-52.08%1,951
Charlotte 2,02346.04%2,31252.62%120.27%340.77%100.23%30.07%-289-6.58%4,394
Charlottesville 6,67348.11%6,84649.36%1100.79%1050.76%540.39%810.58%-173-1.25%13,869
Chesapeake 12,85139.96%17,65154.89%8702.71%5761.79%1430.44%660.21%-4,800-14.93%32,157
Chesterfield 27,81265.54%14,12633.29%670.16%1680.40%1530.36%1100.26%13,68632.25%42,436
Clarke 1,44051.54%1,27645.67%140.50%190.68%341.22%110.39%1645.87%2,794
Clifton Forge 77040.68%99352.46%613.22%532.80%130.69%30.16%-223-11.78%1,893
Colonial Heights 4,29161.88%2,40934.74%460.66%1331.92%390.56%160.23%1,88227.14%6,934
Covington 1,17337.06%1,82057.50%1033.25%471.48%180.57%40.13%-647-20.44%3,165
Craig 54632.75%1,10366.17%110.66%10.06%60.36%00.00%-557-33.42%1,667
Culpeper 3,65954.64%2,89243.19%460.69%560.84%220.33%210.31%76711.45%6,696
Cumberland 1,28446.57%1,30247.23%782.83%551.99%160.58%220.80%-18-0.66%2,757
Danville 10,23559.46%6,42537.33%1981.15%2311.34%950.55%280.16%3,81022.13%17,212
Dickenson 3,47142.28%4,58355.83%210.26%510.62%730.89%100.12%-1,112-13.55%8,209
Dinwiddie 2,41337.28%3,87359.83%520.80%320.49%761.17%270.42%-1,460-22.55%6,473
Emporia 1,05552.23%89944.50%130.64%130.64%301.49%100.50%1567.73%2,020
Essex 1,38050.55%1,30647.84%100.37%190.70%120.44%30.11%742.71%2,730
Fairfax 110,42453.62%92,03744.69%1,2690.62%1,2580.61%3230.16%6460.31%18,3878.93%205,957
Fairfax City 4,17453.36%3,46444.28%680.87%841.07%90.12%240.31%7109.08%7,823
Falls Church 2,32350.63%2,20247.99%90.20%270.59%90.20%180.39%1212.64%4,588
Fauquier 4,71551.75%4,00243.92%1791.96%1621.78%310.34%220.24%7137.83%9,111
Floyd 2,07152.76%1,72844.03%220.56%441.12%471.20%130.33%3438.73%3,925
Fluvanna 1,29646.79%1,41551.08%110.40%100.36%230.83%150.54%-119-4.29%2,770
Franklin 3,53234.63%6,43963.13%660.65%50.05%700.69%370.36%-2,907-28.50%10,199
Franklin City 1,12749.21%1,11648.73%70.31%100.44%190.83%110.48%110.48%2,290
Frederick 5,16259.52%3,38939.08%150.17%540.62%300.35%220.25%1,77320.44%8,672
Fredericksburg 2,52749.07%2,55049.51%100.19%110.21%330.64%190.37%-23-0.44%5,150
Galax 1,12847.59%1,21851.39%50.21%80.34%60.25%50.21%-90-3.80%2,370
Giles 2,73140.53%3,77956.08%811.20%711.05%550.82%220.33%-1,048-15.55%6,739
Gloucester 3,02547.24%3,15649.28%1041.62%610.95%390.61%190.30%-131-2.04%6,404
Goochland 2,10447.23%2,25950.71%330.74%200.45%220.49%170.38%-155-3.48%4,455
Grayson 3,02148.33%3,14650.33%170.27%50.08%360.58%60.10%-125-2.00%6,251
Greene 1,09551.41%89542.02%552.58%582.72%130.61%140.66%2009.39%2,130
Greensville 1,13731.18%2,41366.18%250.69%260.71%360.99%90.25%-1,276-35.00%3,646
Halifax 4,04546.51%4,35250.04%1081.24%1031.18%700.80%190.22%-307-3.53%8,697
Hampton 15,02141.67%19,20253.27%1,0332.85%5831.61%1170.32%920.25%-4,001-11.60%36,048
Hanover 11,55964.72%6,06933.98%250.14%920.52%770.43%370.21%5,49030.74%17,859
Harrisonburg 3,37663.01%1,80333.65%530.99%861.61%190.35%210.39%1,57329.36%5,358
Henrico 45,40565.82%21,72931.50%6270.91%9091.32%1620.23%1490.22%23,67634.32%68,981
Henry 5,61235.02%9,68060.41%3792.37%2331.45%950.59%250.16%-4,068-25.39%16,024
Highland 62955.57%49343.55%10.09%70.62%10.09%10.09%13612.02%1,132
Hopewell 3,76448.21%3,69147.28%1792.29%991.27%530.68%210.27%730.93%7,807
Isle of Wight 2,71838.78%4,14559.14%400.57%400.57%500.71%160.23%-1,427-20.36%7,009
James City 3,18649.36%3,00046.48%1592.46%671.04%230.36%190.29%1862.88%6,454
King and Queen 77839.06%1,11155.77%271.36%190.95%391.96%180.90%-333-16.71%1,992
King George 1,38346.75%1,51351.15%90.30%240.81%160.54%130.44%-130-4.40%2,958
King William 1,59750.60%1,50147.56%60.19%110.35%220.70%190.60%963.04%3,156
Lancaster 2,38158.44%1,58138.81%400.98%400.98%260.64%60.15%80019.63%4,074
Lee 4,67945.50%5,41552.65%340.33%380.37%970.94%210.20%-736-7.15%10,284
Lexington 1,02750.47%94546.44%321.57%221.08%40.20%50.25%824.03%2,035
Loudoun 9,19251.79%7,99545.05%2051.16%2621.48%470.26%470.26%1,1976.74%17,748
Louisa 2,15141.89%2,85755.64%190.37%210.41%691.34%180.35%-706-13.75%5,135
Lunenburg 1,81649.73%1,73947.62%300.82%541.48%80.22%50.14%772.11%3,652
Lynchburg 14,56461.18%8,22734.56%4121.73%4551.91%940.39%520.22%6,33726.62%23,804
Madison 1,71052.97%1,46645.42%190.59%210.65%60.19%60.19%2647.55%3,228
Manassas 1,99253.30%1,64644.05%501.34%370.99%50.13%70.19%3469.25%3,737
Manassas Park 44437.34%70959.63%70.59%191.60%100.84%00.00%-265-22.29%1,189
Martinsville 3,14745.38%3,49150.34%1442.08%1011.46%340.49%180.26%-344-4.96%6,935
Mathews 1,90857.77%1,30939.63%210.64%310.94%260.79%80.24%59918.14%3,303
Mecklenburg 4,42350.44%4,07646.48%770.88%850.97%780.89%300.34%3473.96%8,769
Middlesex 1,60852.91%1,31243.17%381.25%501.65%180.59%130.43%2969.74%3,039
Montgomery 7,97150.64%7,53947.89%430.27%530.34%640.41%720.46%4322.75%15,742
Nelson 1,51637.65%2,42660.24%120.30%200.50%340.84%190.47%-910-22.59%4,027
New Kent 1,25947.62%1,33850.61%90.34%140.53%170.64%70.26%-79-2.99%2,644
Newport News 20,91447.01%23,05851.83%760.17%1730.39%1860.42%850.19%-2,144-4.82%44,492
Norfolk 28,09939.91%39,29555.82%1,5432.19%9861.40%3080.44%1710.24%-11,196-15.91%70,402
Northampton 2,04343.15%2,45951.93%1162.45%671.41%310.65%190.40%-416-8.78%4,735
Northumberland 2,16752.52%1,81443.97%591.43%410.99%320.78%130.32%3538.55%4,126
Norton 57740.35%81156.71%171.19%140.98%60.42%50.35%-234-16.36%1,430
Nottoway 2,48647.61%2,55848.99%771.47%621.19%290.56%100.19%-72-1.38%5,222
Orange 2,54949.39%2,30944.74%1272.46%1001.94%490.95%270.52%2404.65%5,161
Page 3,78051.52%3,40146.35%290.40%490.67%470.64%310.42%3795.17%7,337
Patrick 2,34943.69%2,74050.96%1041.93%1312.44%470.87%60.11%-391-7.27%5,377
Petersburg 5,04138.53%7,85260.02%310.24%590.45%700.54%290.22%-2,811-21.49%13,082
Pittsylvania 9,17351.21%7,92944.26%3331.86%3151.76%1290.72%340.19%1,2446.95%17,913
Poquoson 1,46155.34%1,14043.18%50.19%140.53%130.49%70.27%32112.16%2,640
Portsmouth 12,87235.51%22,83763.01%800.22%1690.47%2160.60%720.20%-9,965-27.50%36,246
Powhatan 2,01055.28%1,52842.02%90.25%461.27%310.85%120.33%48213.26%3,636
Prince Edward 2,73450.36%2,44845.09%861.58%711.31%621.14%280.52%2865.27%5,429
Prince George 2,25445.44%2,63053.02%190.38%180.36%270.54%120.24%-376-7.58%4,960
Prince William 15,44649.00%15,21548.26%3231.02%4051.28%540.17%810.26%2310.74%31,524
Pulaski 4,76444.84%5,54652.20%870.82%1061.00%960.90%250.24%-782-7.36%10,624
Radford 1,84444.74%2,24054.34%120.29%60.15%140.34%60.15%-396-9.60%4,122
Rappahannock 88144.47%1,07154.06%80.40%110.56%50.25%50.25%-190-9.59%1,981
Richmond 1,39160.80%86437.76%80.35%110.48%110.48%30.13%52723.04%2,288
Richmond City 37,17644.73%44,68753.77%2530.30%2550.31%4300.52%3090.37%-7,511-9.04%83,110
Roanoke 13,58750.42%13,12048.69%250.09%1000.37%570.21%590.22%4671.73%26,948
Roanoke City 14,73841.00%20,69657.57%1410.39%1620.45%1370.38%750.21%-5,958-16.57%35,949
Rockbridge 2,15743.66%2,52551.11%1162.35%1002.02%310.63%110.22%-368-7.45%4,940
Rockingham 9,76861.87%5,34933.88%1951.24%3442.18%770.49%560.35%4,41927.99%15,789
Russell 4,28740.19%6,01456.38%1851.73%1241.16%480.45%90.08%-1,727-16.19%10,667
Salem 4,19648.29%4,40450.68%110.13%470.54%190.22%130.15%-208-2.39%8,690
Scott 4,31345.43%4,49647.36%3193.36%2792.94%740.78%130.14%-183-1.93%9,494
Shenandoah 6,29664.05%3,36434.22%270.27%620.63%540.55%270.27%2,93229.83%9,830
Smyth 5,03247.29%5,24649.30%1441.35%1641.54%390.37%160.15%-214-2.01%10,641
South Boston 1,38956.97%1,00141.06%40.16%100.41%220.90%120.49%38815.91%2,438
Southampton 2,36640.18%3,39957.72%170.29%330.56%611.04%130.22%-1,033-17.54%5,889
Spotsylvania 3,21042.46%4,21055.69%160.21%380.50%730.97%130.17%-1,000-13.23%7,560
Stafford 4,45146.84%4,90051.57%190.20%540.57%550.58%230.24%-449-4.73%9,502
Staunton 4,68159.53%2,95137.53%891.13%951.21%280.36%190.24%1,73022.00%7,863
Suffolk 6,06638.86%9,24659.24%490.31%680.44%1470.94%330.21%-3,180-20.38%15,609
Surry 92932.79%1,82964.56%260.92%140.49%190.67%160.56%-900-31.77%2,833
Sussex 1,36033.22%2,49760.99%1122.74%731.78%451.10%70.17%-1,137-27.77%4,094
Tazewell 5,56541.41%7,56556.29%940.70%1050.78%920.68%180.13%-2,000-14.88%13,439
Virginia Beach 34,59354.46%25,82440.66%1,6072.53%1,1431.80%1750.28%1760.28%8,76913.80%63,518
Warren 2,98545.80%3,22149.42%1392.13%1091.67%450.69%180.28%-236-3.62%6,517
Washington 6,86548.98%6,54746.71%2872.05%1991.42%950.68%220.16%3182.27%14,015
Waynesboro 3,52859.64%2,20937.35%751.27%801.35%140.24%90.15%1,31922.29%5,915
Westmoreland 1,90941.79%2,35551.55%1523.33%1112.43%320.70%90.20%-446-9.76%4,568
Williamsburg 1,65451.77%1,46845.95%200.63%270.85%70.22%190.59%1865.82%3,195
Winchester 4,07562.85%2,34636.18%90.14%280.43%170.26%90.14%1,72926.67%6,484
Wise 5,69142.63%7,13453.43%2331.75%1811.36%900.67%220.16%-1,443-10.80%13,351
Wythe 4,23151.34%3,57843.42%1852.24%1591.93%790.96%90.11%6537.92%8,241
York 5,60353.61%4,73645.32%160.15%370.35%330.32%260.25%8678.29%10,451
Totals836,55449.29%813,89647.96%17,8021.05%16,6860.98%7,5080.44%4,6480.27%22,6581.33%1,697,094

Counties and independent cities that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Results by congressional district

Ford won 6 of 10 congressional districts. Ford and Carter each won four districts won by the other party. [21]

DistrictFordCarterRepresentative
1st 47%50% Thomas N. Downing
Paul Trible
2nd 47%49% G. William Whitehurst
3rd 56%42% David E. Satterfield III
4th 40%57% Robert Daniel
5th 51%46% Dan Daniel
6th 49%48% M. Caldwell Butler
7th 54%44% J. Kenneth Robinson
8th 51%47% Herbert Harris
9th 45%51% William C. Wampler Jr.
10th 51%47% Joseph L. Fisher

References

  1. Heinemann, Ronald L. (2008). Old Dominion, New Commonwealth: A History of Virginia, 1607-2007. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press. p. 357. ISBN   978-0813927695.
  2. Phillips, Kevin P. (1969). The Emerging Republican Majority. pp. 260–266. ISBN   0870000586.
  3. Atkinson, Frank B. (2006). The Dynamic Dominion: Realignment and the Rise of Two-party Competition in Virginia, 1945-1980. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN   9780742552098.
  4. Bass, Jack; De Vries, Walter (1995). The Transformation of Southern Politics: Social Change and Political Consequence Since 1945. pp. 347–353.
  5. Evans, Rowland; Novak, Robert (October 16, 1972). "Consider Virginia: McGovern, Nixon Creating a No-Party System in South". The Miami Herald . pp. 7–A.
  6. Bass; De Vries. The Transformation of Southern Politics, p. 360
  7. Sullivan, Robert David; ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016
  8. 1 2 "Scene of Final Debate: In Virginia, Ford and Carter Even". The Sentinel . Carlisle, Pennsylvania. October 18, 1976. p. 5.
  9. "1976 Debates". The Commission on presidential Debates. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  10. Black & Black 1992, p. 295.
  11. Black & Black 1992, p. 335.
  12. Black & Black 1992, p. 334.
  13. Lambert, Robert (October 16, 1976). "Opinion Divided on Result of Old Dominion Balloting". Simpson's Leader-Times. Kittanning, Pennsylvania. p. 4.
  14. "Ford Pads Lead in Virginia Poll". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. October 24, 1976. p. 1.
  15. Lastelic, Joseph A. (October 26, 1976). "Mid-South Favours Carter". Kansas City Times . Kansas City, Missouri. p. 10.
  16. "Convention Wounds Remain". Daily News . New York City. October 27, 1976. p. C 23.
  17. "Electoral Votes: A Photo Finish — Polls". Austin American-Statesman . October 31, 1976. pp. A1, A6.
  18. Apple Jr., R.W. (November 1, 1976). "Presidential Race Called Very Close On Eve Of The Vote". The New York Times. ProQuest   122965968.
  19. "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 1976" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives. p. 49.
  20. "VA US President Race, November 02, 1976". Our Campaigns.
  21. Politics in America (Report). Congressional Quarterly, inc. 1981. pp. 1234–1251.

Works cited