1997 Virginia gubernatorial election
← 1993 November 4, 1997 2001 →
Turnout49.5% (voting eligible)[1]
 
Nominee Jim Gilmore Don Beyer
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 969,062 738,971
Percentage 55.8% 42.6%
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

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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.

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 2024, this is the last time in which the Republicans won the governorship for two consecutive terms.

General election

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 with.[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 source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Don
Beyer (D) 		Jim
Gilmore (R) 		Other Undecided
Washington Post October 19–21, 1997 1,005 ± 3.0% 41% 48% 4% 11%
Washington Post September 12–16, 1997 808 ± 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.[11] It was not until the final weeks that polls showed movement towards Gilmore, who ultimately won the race.[12] Gilmore's opposition to the car tax was a major factor in his victory, and polls showed this was a factor in his support.[13] 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.[12] This was the first time a sweep of the three statewide offices had occurred since Reconstruction.[14]

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.[15] Beyer also was unable to secure the endorsement of former Governor Douglas L. Wilder, which was seen by many as a rebuke towards his campaign, and was believed to hurt his ability to mobilize Black voters.[16] 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[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jim Gilmore 969,062 55.81% -2.46%
Democratic Don Beyer 738,971 42.56% +1.67%
Reform Sue Harris DeBauche 25,955 1.49%
Write-ins 2,326 0.13%
Majority 230,091 13.25% -4.13%
Turnout 1,736,314
Republican hold Swing

Results by county and city

County Gilmore Votes Beyer Votes DeBauche Votes Others Votes
Accomack 62.3% 4,529 34.5% 2,511 3.2% 234 0.0% 0
Albemarle 54.4% 13,287 44.2% 10,784 1.3% 319 0.1% 26
Alexandria 37.6% 11,115 61.4% 18,144 0.8% 251 0.1% 31
Alleghany 56.8% 2,337 41.5% 1,708 1.7% 72 0.0% 0
Amelia 62.3% 1,947 35.3% 1,101 2.4% 75 0.0% 0
Amherst 56.4% 4,571 42.0% 3,400 1.6% 131 0.0% 0
Appomattox 55.0% 2,177 43.1% 1,707 1.9% 76 0.0% 0
Arlington 36.8% 18,252 62.0% 30,736 1.1% 568 0.0% 24
Augusta 71.8% 11,789 26.9% 4,416 1.3% 214 0.0% 0
Bath 54.6% 807 42.8% 632 2.6% 38 0.1% 1
Bedford County 66.2% 10,989 31.9% 5,300 1.8% 304 0.0% 0
Bedford 50.2% 833 47.2% 784 2.6% 44 0.0% 0
Bland 66.3% 1,180 31.7% 564 2.0% 35 0.0% 0
Botetourt 66.0% 6,378 32.5% 3,136 1.5% 148 0.0% 0
Bristol 58.8% 2,172 40.6% 1,499 0.6% 21 0.1% 3
Brunswick 45.5% 1,946 51.9% 2,220 2.6% 113 0.0% 0
Buchanan 47.5% 2,941 50.4% 3,120 2.1% 129 0.0% 1
Buckingham 52.4% 1,799 45.1% 1,548 2.6% 89 0.0% 0
Buena Vista 57.0% 846 42.0% 623 1.0% 15 0.0% 0
Campbell 65.0% 9,230 33.4% 4,744 1.5% 216 0.0% 2
Caroline 47.7% 2,600 50.1% 2,731 2.1% 115 0.0% 0
Carroll 66.4% 4,549 31.2% 2,136 2.4% 164 0.0% 1
Charles City 35.5% 743 62.6% 1,311 1.9% 40 0.0% 0
Charlotte 61.4% 2,184 36.1% 1,285 2.5% 88 0.0% 0
Charlottesville 37.7% 3,354 60.2% 5,352 1.6% 142 0.5% 44
Chesapeake 57.0% 25,636 41.2% 18,509 1.3% 571 0.5% 221
Chesterfield 67.2% 46,779 31.1% 21,621 1.1% 779 0.6% 394
Clarke 56.3% 1,800 42.1% 1,347 1.6% 50 0.0% 0
Clifton Forge 43.5% 589 54.9% 744 1.6% 21 0.0% 0
Colonial Heights 75.1% 4,622 23.5% 1,446 1.3% 83 0.1% 7
Covington 47.0% 857 51.3% 935 1.6% 30 0.1% 1
Craig 59.8% 1,180 37.3% 736 2.8% 56 0.0% 0
Culpeper 64.5% 5,095 34.3% 2,708 1.2% 97 0.0% 1
Cumberland 62.1% 1,549 35.9% 896 2.0% 50 0.0% 0
Danville 59.1% 7,165 39.8% 4,828 1.1% 134 0.0% 0
Dickenson 48.5% 2,326 49.6% 2,379 2.0% 94 0.0% 0
Dinwiddie 58.6% 3,554 38.3% 2,321 3.1% 190 0.0% 0
Emporia 57.5% 855 38.5% 573 4.0% 60 0.0% 0
Essex 56.8% 1,499 40.9% 1,079 2.3% 62 0.0% 0
Fairfax County 52.5% 129,038 46.7% 114,697 0.8% 1,922 0.0% 121
Fairfax 52.5% 3,451 46.4% 3,047 1.0% 66 0.1% 4
Falls Church 34.2% 1,396 65.1% 2,655 0.6% 26 0.0% 2
Fauquier 65.2% 9,293 33.6% 4,792 1.1% 160 0.1% 14
Floyd 61.0% 2,288 36.0% 1,350 3.0% 111 0.0% 0
Fluvanna 64.0% 3,337 34.3% 1,790 1.6% 84 0.0% 1
Franklin County 58.5% 7,134 39.0% 4,760 2.5% 299 0.0% 0
Franklin 47.3% 1,134 50.3% 1,207 2.5% 59 0.0% 0
Frederick 68.8% 9,672 30.2% 4,246 1.0% 146 0.0% 0
Fredericksburg 44.1% 1,952 54.0% 2,394 1.5% 66 0.4% 19
Galax 58.4% 853 40.2% 588 1.4% 20 0.0% 0
Giles 55.9% 2,582 42.3% 1,951 1.8% 83 0.0% 1
Gloucester 62.3% 5,513 34.8% 3,074 2.9% 255 0.0% 1
Goochland 60.8% 3,929 37.1% 2,395 2.1% 136 0.0% 0
Grayson 60.6% 2,803 36.7% 1,696 2.7% 125 0.0% 0
Greene 68.9% 2,233 28.7% 930 2.3% 75 0.1% 2
Greensville 44.0% 1,201 54.4% 1,483 1.6% 43 0.0% 0
Halifax 62.0% 5,756 35.8% 3,328 2.2% 206 0.0% 0
Hampton 47.1% 15,432 51.5% 16,850 1.3% 435 0.1% 28
Hanover 70.5% 19,187 28.2% 7,679 1.3% 354 0.0% 7
Harrisonburg 60.3% 3,793 38.6% 2,429 1.0% 66 0.0% 1
Henrico 59.2% 46,367 39.1% 30,661 1.2% 912 0.5% 424
Henry 54.4% 8,014 42.3% 6,233 3.2% 477 0.0% 0
Highland 64.9% 630 33.4% 324 1.6% 16 0.0% 0
Hopewell 63.0% 3,100 35.0% 1,723 2.0% 97 0.0% 1
Isle of Wight 56.9% 4,647 41.8% 3,411 1.2% 100 0.1% 9
James City 58.3% 8,984 40.4% 6,218 1.2% 180 0.1% 16
King and Queen 49.8% 1,032 47.7% 988 2.5% 51 0.0% 0
King George 56.9% 2,063 41.4% 1,502 1.5% 55 0.1% 5
King William 60.4% 2,277 38.0% 1,430 1.6% 59 0.1% 2
Lancaster 62.0% 2,523 36.0% 1,464 1.8% 74 0.1% 6
Lee 60.1% 4,460 36.1% 2,676 3.8% 282 0.0% 0
Lexington 46.0% 703 52.8% 808 1.1% 17 0.1% 1
Loudoun 59.7% 20,997 39.0% 13,697 1.2% 407 0.1% 44
Louisa 56.0% 3,832 41.0% 2,806 2.9% 200 0.0% 0
Lunenburg 58.8% 2,230 39.6% 1,502 1.5% 58 0.0% 0
Lynchburg 55.5% 9,724 43.6% 7,634 0.8% 144 0.1% 15
Madison 63.1% 2,386 34.7% 1,312 2.2% 84 0.0% 0
Manassas 61.3% 4,277 37.4% 2,611 1.2% 87 0.0% 1
Manassas Park 70.1% 754 28.1% 302 1.8% 19 0.0% 0
Martinsville 46.7% 2,206 50.4% 2,377 2.8% 133 0.1% 3
Mathews 61.9% 2,184 35.0% 1,236 3.1% 110 0.0% 1
Mecklenburg 61.7% 4,226 35.1% 2,408 3.2% 217 0.0% 0
Middlesex 59.9% 2,279 36.8% 1,401 3.2% 122 0.0% 0
Montgomery 53.5% 9,445 44.7% 7,882 1.7% 308 0.0% 3
Nelson 47.5% 2,014 49.9% 2,113 2.6% 110 0.0% 1
New Kent 62.7% 2,856 35.1% 1,599 1.7% 78 0.5% 21
Newport News 52.7% 20,033 45.4% 17,237 1.9% 732 0.0% 4
Norfolk 40.1% 17,101 57.9% 24,679 1.7% 736 0.3% 126
Northampton 48.9% 1,755 48.7% 1,747 2.3% 84 0.1% 4
Northumberland 63.1% 2,409 35.0% 1,337 1.6% 62 0.2% 7
Norton 44.3% 647 53.2% 777 2.5% 36 0.0% 0
Nottoway 54.8% 2,201 43.7% 1,754 1.5% 60 0.0% 0
Orange 61.8% 4,124 36.6% 2,443 1.7% 111 0.0% 0
Page 62.3% 3,220 36.6% 1,890 0.7% 38 0.4% 19
Patrick 60.2% 2,726 37.1% 1,679 2.7% 123 0.0% 0
Petersburg 30.3% 2,460 67.4% 5,475 2.4% 192 0.0% 1
Pittsylvania 67.8% 10,445 30.6% 4,720 1.6% 243 0.0% 2
Poquoson 70.5% 2,592 28.6% 1,053 0.8% 31 0.1% 3
Portsmouth 41.5% 10,641 57.0% 14,613 1.4% 363 0.1% 32
Powhatan 71.4% 4,186 26.7% 1,567 1.9% 109 0.0% 0
Prince Edward 52.1% 2,476 46.0% 2,186 1.8% 86 0.0% 0
Prince George 65.1% 4,461 33.6% 2,305 1.2% 79 0.1% 7
Prince William 63.1% 32,049 35.6% 18,110 1.3% 651 0.0% 10
Pulaski 58.4% 5,162 39.8% 3,522 1.8% 159 0.0% 3
Radford 49.0% 1,466 49.2% 1,471 1.7% 52 0.1% 2
Rappahannock 56.2% 1,301 42.4% 982 1.3% 30 0.1% 2
Richmond County 63.3% 1,211 34.0% 651 2.6% 50 0.0% 0
Richmond 35.7% 17,544 62.3% 30,643 2.0% 967 0.0% 17
Roanoke County 62.5% 18,384 36.0% 10,576 1.5% 439 0.0% 4
Roanoke 48.3% 11,628 49.2% 11,857 2.5% 598 0.0% 5
Rockbridge 62.4% 3,339 36.2% 1,937 1.5% 78 0.0% 1
Rockingham 73.1% 12,074 25.6% 4,224 1.3% 214 0.0% 3
Russell 49.1% 3,675 49.2% 3,687 1.7% 125 0.0% 0
Salem 59.1% 4,445 39.0% 2,934 1.8% 139 0.0% 0
Scott 64.7% 4,050 33.3% 2,087 2.0% 125 0.0% 0
Shenandoah 71.2% 7,069 27.4% 2,718 1.2% 122 0.1% 14
Smyth 59.3% 5,366 38.8% 3,510 1.9% 175 0.0% 0
Southampton 51.0% 2,345 45.8% 2,105 3.3% 151 0.0% 0
Spotsylvania 60.1% 10,747 38.4% 6,872 1.5% 276 0.0% 1
Stafford 60.2% 11,416 38.1% 7,224 1.6% 295 0.1% 18
Staunton 60.3% 3,707 38.3% 2,352 1.4% 85 0.0% 0
Suffolk 53.8% 8,398 44.6% 6,959 1.6% 257 0.0% 3
Surry 42.5% 944 55.3% 1,229 2.2% 50 0.0% 0
Sussex 46.3% 1,371 51.1% 1,512 2.6% 77 0.0% 0
Tazewell 55.4% 5,515 42.6% 4,235 2.0% 194 0.0% 3
Virginia Beach 59.1% 51,945 38.7% 34,036 1.7% 1,511 0.5% 475
Warren 60.5% 4,139 38.4% 2,628 1.0% 70 0.1% 4
Washington 60.3% 7,528 38.1% 4,761 1.6% 198 0.1% 7
Waynesboro 63.6% 3,188 35.1% 1,758 1.3% 67 0.0% 2
Westmoreland 53.4% 2,148 44.8% 1,801 1.8% 74 0.0% 0
Williamsburg 44.7% 1,206 53.8% 1,451 1.4% 39 0.0% 0
Winchester 58.7% 3,114 40.2% 2,131 1.1% 59 0.0% 0
Wise 52.2% 4,834 46.3% 4,292 1.5% 142 0.0% 0
Wythe 62.1% 4,401 35.5% 2,512 2.1% 149 0.3% 22
York 62.9% 9,628 35.7% 5,469 1.3% 200 0.1% 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. ^ a b O'Dell, Larry (October 30, 1997). Abortion not the issue of choice in '97. The Free Lance-Star. pp. C10.
  6. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  11. ^ Poll shows Beyer, Gilmore in dead heat for governor. The Free Lance-Star. September 16, 1997. pp. C8.
  12. ^ a b "AllPolitics - Gilmore Takes Virginia Governor's Race - Nov. 4, 1997". www.cnn.com. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  13. ^ Terrell, Gaynell (October 29, 1997). Poll credits Gilmore's tax-cut plan. Fredericksburg, Virginia: The Free Lance-Star. pp. C3.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ Beyer joins Gilmore in rejecting new taxes. Fredericksburg, Virginia: The Free Lance-Star. April 9, 1997. pp. C10.
  16. ^ O'Dell, Larry (October 21, 1997). Wilder won't endorse either candidate. Fredericksburg, Virginia: The Free Lance-Star. pp. C1.
  17. ^ "Virginia Elections Database - 1997 Governor General Election". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
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