1997 Virginia gubernatorial election

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1997 Virginia gubernatorial election
Flag of Virginia.svg
  1993 November 4, 1997 2001  
Turnout49.5% (voting eligible) [1]
  Jim Gilmore by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg Donald S Beyer Jr ambassador (cropped).jpg
Nominee Jim Gilmore Don Beyer
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote969,062738,971
Percentage55.8%42.6%

1997 Virginia gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County and independent city results
Gilmore:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Beyer:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election

George Allen
Republican

Elected Governor

Jim Gilmore
Republican

The 1997 Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1997. The incumbent Governor, George Allen, was barred from seeking a second term due to Virginia's unique term limits law. The Republican candidate, Jim Gilmore, the Attorney General of Virginia defeated the Democratic nominee, Don Beyer, the incumbent Lieutenant Governor.

Contents

Coupled with Republican gains in the House of Delegates in 1999, Republicans won a trifecta in the state for the first time since 1870. As of 2025, this is the last time in which the Republicans won the governorship for two consecutive terms.

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Gilmore and Beyer were the two most prominent statewide officials for their parties, with Gilmore having been first elected Attorney General in 1993, and Beyer having been first elected in 1989, and re-elected in 1993, the only Democrat to win a statewide contest that year. Consequently, both candidates were seen as their respective party's heir apparent to replace term-limited Governor George Allen. The field was cleared for both candidates, allowing them time to fundraise and begin attacks on one another. [2]

Among the earliest attacks was against Gilmore's hesitancy to resign as Attorney General to campaign for governor. Doing so was seen as tradition, and also as a way to avoid any appearance of impropriety from receiving campaign funds from companies the Attorney General's office might be involved with. Thus, Gilmore's reluctance to resign was the subject of criticism from Beyer. [3] Ultimately, Gilmore announced his intent to resign on April 3, and his resignation became effective June 11. [4]

Moreover, Beyer tried to attack Gilmore for his social conservatism. He attacked Gilmore for his stances and comments against abortion, in an attempt to court women voters, with whom he had an advantage. [5] [6] He also attacked Gilmore for his ties to Pat Robertson and the religious right, launching television ads highlighting the fact that Robertson had donated $100,000 to the Gilmore campaign. [7]

But as the election came closer, Gilmore shifted his campaign's focus against the state's tax on personal vehicles. The tax was strongly disliked by Virginians, per polling by the Gilmore camp, and thus it became a central focus of his campaign. [8] Beyer attacked the plan to remove the tax as a gimmick and as a fraud that would take away an estimated $1 billion from schools, but nevertheless, put forth a more moderate tax cut of his own, owing to how salient the issue had become. [9] [10]

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Don
Beyer (D)
Jim
Gilmore (R)
OtherUndecided
The Washington Post [11] October 19–21, 19971,005± 3.0%41%48%4%11%
The Washington Post [12] September 12–16, 1997808± 3.5%44%43%4%9%

Results

The election was hard-fought and a dead heat, with polls from the summer into September showing little movement between either candidate. [13] It was not until the final weeks that polls showed movement towards Gilmore, who ultimately won the race. [14] Gilmore's opposition to the car tax was a major factor in his victory, and polls showed this was a factor in his support. [15] His win was also in part due to his strength in rural and suburban areas, while performing relatively well in more populated urban areas. [8] His victory also helped to flip the Lieutenant Governor's race and hold the Attorney General's race for Republicans. [14] This was the first time a sweep of the three statewide offices had occurred since Reconstruction. [16]

Beyer also was seen by some as having run an underwhelming campaign, and struggled in many respects. [6] As taxes grew to become a major issue, Beyer's attacks on Gilmore's abortion stance seemed to become secondary, and failed to move support away from Gilmore. [5] Moreover, his shift on the tax issue from opposition to proposing a tax cut of his own drew criticism from Gilmore. [17] Beyer also was unable to secure the endorsement of former Governor L. Douglas Wilder, which was seen by many as a rebuke towards his campaign, and was believed to hurt his ability to mobilize Black voters. [18] After the election, Beyer would stay out of elected office, until making a political comeback, going on to represent Virginia's 8th Congressional District in Congress, being first elected in 2014.

Virginia gubernatorial election, 1997 [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Jim Gilmore 969,062 55.81% −2.46%
Democratic Don Beyer 738,97142.56%+1.67%
Reform Sue Harris DeBauche25,9551.49%
Write-ins2,3260.13%
Majority230,09113.25%−4.13%
Turnout 1,736,314
Republican hold Swing

Results by county and city

CountyGilmoreVotesBeyerVotesDeBaucheVotesOthersVotes
Accomack 62.3%4,52934.5%2,5113.2%2340.0%0
Albemarle 54.4%13,28744.2%10,7841.3%3190.1%26
Alexandria 37.6%11,11561.4%18,1440.8%2510.1%31
Alleghany 56.8%2,33741.5%1,7081.7%720.0%0
Amelia 62.3%1,94735.3%1,1012.4%750.0%0
Amherst 56.4%4,57142.0%3,4001.6%1310.0%0
Appomattox 55.0%2,17743.1%1,7071.9%760.0%0
Arlington 36.8%18,25262.0%30,7361.1%5680.0%24
Augusta 71.8%11,78926.9%4,4161.3%2140.0%0
Bath 54.6%80742.8%6322.6%380.1%1
Bedford County 66.2%10,98931.9%5,3001.8%3040.0%0
Bedford 50.2%83347.2%7842.6%440.0%0
Bland 66.3%1,18031.7%5642.0%350.0%0
Botetourt 66.0%6,37832.5%3,1361.5%1480.0%0
Bristol 58.8%2,17240.6%1,4990.6%210.1%3
Brunswick 45.5%1,94651.9%2,2202.6%1130.0%0
Buchanan 47.5%2,94150.4%3,1202.1%1290.0%1
Buckingham 52.4%1,79945.1%1,5482.6%890.0%0
Buena Vista 57.0%84642.0%6231.0%150.0%0
Campbell 65.0%9,23033.4%4,7441.5%2160.0%2
Caroline 47.7%2,60050.1%2,7312.1%1150.0%0
Carroll 66.4%4,54931.2%2,1362.4%1640.0%1
Charles City 35.5%74362.6%1,3111.9%400.0%0
Charlotte 61.4%2,18436.1%1,2852.5%880.0%0
Charlottesville 37.7%3,35460.2%5,3521.6%1420.5%44
Chesapeake 57.0%25,63641.2%18,5091.3%5710.5%221
Chesterfield 67.2%46,77931.1%21,6211.1%7790.6%394
Clarke 56.3%1,80042.1%1,3471.6%500.0%0
Clifton Forge 43.5%58954.9%7441.6%210.0%0
Colonial Heights 75.1%4,62223.5%1,4461.3%830.1%7
Covington 47.0%85751.3%9351.6%300.1%1
Craig 59.8%1,18037.3%7362.8%560.0%0
Culpeper 64.5%5,09534.3%2,7081.2%970.0%1
Cumberland 62.1%1,54935.9%8962.0%500.0%0
Danville 59.1%7,16539.8%4,8281.1%1340.0%0
Dickenson 48.5%2,32649.6%2,3792.0%940.0%0
Dinwiddie 58.6%3,55438.3%2,3213.1%1900.0%0
Emporia 57.5%85538.5%5734.0%600.0%0
Essex 56.8%1,49940.9%1,0792.3%620.0%0
Fairfax County 52.5%129,03846.7%114,6970.8%1,9220.0%121
Fairfax 52.5%3,45146.4%3,0471.0%660.1%4
Falls Church 34.2%1,39665.1%2,6550.6%260.0%2
Fauquier 65.2%9,29333.6%4,7921.1%1600.1%14
Floyd 61.0%2,28836.0%1,3503.0%1110.0%0
Fluvanna 64.0%3,33734.3%1,7901.6%840.0%1
Franklin County 58.5%7,13439.0%4,7602.5%2990.0%0
Franklin 47.3%1,13450.3%1,2072.5%590.0%0
Frederick 68.8%9,67230.2%4,2461.0%1460.0%0
Fredericksburg 44.1%1,95254.0%2,3941.5%660.4%19
Galax 58.4%85340.2%5881.4%200.0%0
Giles 55.9%2,58242.3%1,9511.8%830.0%1
Gloucester 62.3%5,51334.8%3,0742.9%2550.0%1
Goochland 60.8%3,92937.1%2,3952.1%1360.0%0
Grayson 60.6%2,80336.7%1,6962.7%1250.0%0
Greene 68.9%2,23328.7%9302.3%750.1%2
Greensville 44.0%1,20154.4%1,4831.6%430.0%0
Halifax 62.0%5,75635.8%3,3282.2%2060.0%0
Hampton 47.1%15,43251.5%16,8501.3%4350.1%28
Hanover 70.5%19,18728.2%7,6791.3%3540.0%7
Harrisonburg 60.3%3,79338.6%2,4291.0%660.0%1
Henrico 59.2%46,36739.1%30,6611.2%9120.5%424
Henry 54.4%8,01442.3%6,2333.2%4770.0%0
Highland 64.9%63033.4%3241.6%160.0%0
Hopewell 63.0%3,10035.0%1,7232.0%970.0%1
Isle of Wight 56.9%4,64741.8%3,4111.2%1000.1%9
James City 58.3%8,98440.4%6,2181.2%1800.1%16
King and Queen 49.8%1,03247.7%9882.5%510.0%0
King George 56.9%2,06341.4%1,5021.5%550.1%5
King William 60.4%2,27738.0%1,4301.6%590.1%2
Lancaster 62.0%2,52336.0%1,4641.8%740.1%6
Lee 60.1%4,46036.1%2,6763.8%2820.0%0
Lexington 46.0%70352.8%8081.1%170.1%1
Loudoun 59.7%20,99739.0%13,6971.2%4070.1%44
Louisa 56.0%3,83241.0%2,8062.9%2000.0%0
Lunenburg 58.8%2,23039.6%1,5021.5%580.0%0
Lynchburg 55.5%9,72443.6%7,6340.8%1440.1%15
Madison 63.1%2,38634.7%1,3122.2%840.0%0
Manassas 61.3%4,27737.4%2,6111.2%870.0%1
Manassas Park 70.1%75428.1%3021.8%190.0%0
Martinsville 46.7%2,20650.4%2,3772.8%1330.1%3
Mathews 61.9%2,18435.0%1,2363.1%1100.0%1
Mecklenburg 61.7%4,22635.1%2,4083.2%2170.0%0
Middlesex 59.9%2,27936.8%1,4013.2%1220.0%0
Montgomery 53.5%9,44544.7%7,8821.7%3080.0%3
Nelson 47.5%2,01449.9%2,1132.6%1100.0%1
New Kent 62.7%2,85635.1%1,5991.7%780.5%21
Newport News 52.7%20,03345.4%17,2371.9%7320.0%4
Norfolk 40.1%17,10157.9%24,6791.7%7360.3%126
Northampton 48.9%1,75548.7%1,7472.3%840.1%4
Northumberland 63.1%2,40935.0%1,3371.6%620.2%7
Norton 44.3%64753.2%7772.5%360.0%0
Nottoway 54.8%2,20143.7%1,7541.5%600.0%0
Orange 61.8%4,12436.6%2,4431.7%1110.0%0
Page 62.3%3,22036.6%1,8900.7%380.4%19
Patrick 60.2%2,72637.1%1,6792.7%1230.0%0
Petersburg 30.3%2,46067.4%5,4752.4%1920.0%1
Pittsylvania 67.8%10,44530.6%4,7201.6%2430.0%2
Poquoson 70.5%2,59228.6%1,0530.8%310.1%3
Portsmouth 41.5%10,64157.0%14,6131.4%3630.1%32
Powhatan 71.4%4,18626.7%1,5671.9%1090.0%0
Prince Edward 52.1%2,47646.0%2,1861.8%860.0%0
Prince George 65.1%4,46133.6%2,3051.2%790.1%7
Prince William 63.1%32,04935.6%18,1101.3%6510.0%10
Pulaski 58.4%5,16239.8%3,5221.8%1590.0%3
Radford 49.0%1,46649.2%1,4711.7%520.1%2
Rappahannock 56.2%1,30142.4%9821.3%300.1%2
Richmond County 63.3%1,21134.0%6512.6%500.0%0
Richmond 35.7%17,54462.3%30,6432.0%9670.0%17
Roanoke County 62.5%18,38436.0%10,5761.5%4390.0%4
Roanoke 48.3%11,62849.2%11,8572.5%5980.0%5
Rockbridge 62.4%3,33936.2%1,9371.5%780.0%1
Rockingham 73.1%12,07425.6%4,2241.3%2140.0%3
Russell 49.1%3,67549.2%3,6871.7%1250.0%0
Salem 59.1%4,44539.0%2,9341.8%1390.0%0
Scott 64.7%4,05033.3%2,0872.0%1250.0%0
Shenandoah 71.2%7,06927.4%2,7181.2%1220.1%14
Smyth 59.3%5,36638.8%3,5101.9%1750.0%0
Southampton 51.0%2,34545.8%2,1053.3%1510.0%0
Spotsylvania 60.1%10,74738.4%6,8721.5%2760.0%1
Stafford 60.2%11,41638.1%7,2241.6%2950.1%18
Staunton 60.3%3,70738.3%2,3521.4%850.0%0
Suffolk 53.8%8,39844.6%6,9591.6%2570.0%3
Surry 42.5%94455.3%1,2292.2%500.0%0
Sussex 46.3%1,37151.1%1,5122.6%770.0%0
Tazewell 55.4%5,51542.6%4,2352.0%1940.0%3
Virginia Beach 59.1%51,94538.7%34,0361.7%1,5110.5%475
Warren 60.5%4,13938.4%2,6281.0%700.1%4
Washington 60.3%7,52838.1%4,7611.6%1980.1%7
Waynesboro 63.6%3,18835.1%1,7581.3%670.0%2
Westmoreland 53.4%2,14844.8%1,8011.8%740.0%0
Williamsburg 44.7%1,20653.8%1,4511.4%390.0%0
Winchester 58.7%3,11440.2%2,1311.1%590.0%0
Wise 52.2%4,83446.3%4,2921.5%1420.0%0
Wythe 62.1%4,40135.5%2,5122.1%1490.3%22
York 62.9%9,62835.7%5,4691.3%2000.1%14

References

  1. Virginia Department of Elections (2016). "Registration/Turnout Statistics". The Commonwealth of Virginia. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  2. Gearan, Anne (March 11, 1996). Governor candidates dashing around the state. The Free Lance-Star. pp. A8.
  3. Gilmore deciding whether to step down for campaign. Fredericksburg, Virginia: The Free Lance-Star. March 17, 1997. pp. C6.
  4. Anderson, Lucia (April 3, 1997). City visit precedes Gilmore resignation. Fredericksburg, Virginia: The Free Lance-Star. pp. C1.
  5. 1 2 O'Dell, Larry (October 30, 1997). Abortion not the issue of choice in '97. The Free Lance-Star. pp. C10.
  6. 1 2 Anderson, Lucia (October 27, 1997). Race dims Beyers style. The Free Lance-Star. pp. A1.
  7. O'Dell, Larry (October 2, 1997). Beyer attacks Gilmore's Robertson ties. Fredericksburg, Virginia: The Free Lance-Star. pp. C5.
  8. 1 2 "1997 Governor's Race". The Virginia Public Access Project. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  9. O'Dell, Larry (October 25, 1997). Beyer attacks Gilmore's car plan as 'gimmick'. Fredericksburg, Virginia: The Free Lance-Star. pp. B1.
  10. Allen, Mike (November 2, 1997). "CAR-TAX ISSUE DRIVES GILMORE'S CAMPAIGN WHILE BEYER'S STALLS". The Washington Post . ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  11. Washington Post
  12. Washington Post
  13. Poll shows Beyer, Gilmore in dead heat for governor. The Free Lance-Star. September 16, 1997. pp. C8.
  14. 1 2 "AllPolitics - Gilmore Takes Virginia Governor's Race - Nov. 4, 1997". www.cnn.com. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  15. Terrell, Gaynell (October 29, 1997). Poll credits Gilmore's tax-cut plan. Fredericksburg, Virginia: The Free Lance-Star. pp. C3.
  16. "GOVERNOR: GILMORE'S CAR-TAX PLAN WINS VOTERS; NOW HE MUST WOO ASSEMBLY GILMORE CARRIES ALL MAJOR AREAS OF THE STATE". scholar.lib.vt.edu. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  17. Beyer joins Gilmore in rejecting new taxes. Fredericksburg, Virginia: The Free Lance-Star. April 9, 1997. pp. C10.
  18. O'Dell, Larry (October 21, 1997). Wilder won't endorse either candidate. Fredericksburg, Virginia: The Free Lance-Star. pp. C1.
  19. "Virginia Elections Database - 1997 Governor General Election". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved October 31, 2019.