The following is a list of the Governors of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Virginia's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Virginia General Assembly, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.
The first constitution of 1776 created the office of governor, to be elected annually by the state legislature. The governor could serve up to three years at a time, and once out of office, could not serve again for four years. The 1830 constitution changed the thrice renewable one-year term length to a non-renewable three-year term, and set the start date at the first day in January following an election. This constitution also prevented governors from succeeding themselves, a prohibition that exists to the present day. The 1851 constitution increased terms to four years and made the office elected by the people, rather than the legislature. The commencement of the governor's term was moved to the first day in February by the 1902 constitution, and then to the Saturday after the second Wednesday in January by the 1971 and current constitution.
If the office of governor is vacant due to disqualification, death, or resignation, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1851. Prior to that a Council of State existed; it chose from among its members a president who would be "Lieutenant-Governor" and would act as governor when there was a vacancy in that office.
Officially there have been 72 governors of Virginia; the acting governors are not counted.
Colonial Governors
President of the Committee for Public Safety
- Parties
  No party
List of Governors
- Parties
  Democratic   Federalist   Democratic-Republican   Whig   Republican   Independent
Living former governors of Virginia
As of January 2017, there are nine former governors of Virginia currently living, the oldest being A. Linwood Holton, Jr. (served 1970â€"1974, born 1923). The most recent governor of Virginia to die was Mills E. Godwin, Jr. (served 1966â€"1970 and 1974â€"1978, born 1914), on January 30, 1999. The most recently serving governor of Virginia to die was John N. Dalton (served 1978â€"1982, born 1931), on July 30, 1986.
- Living former Governors
Other high offices held
- *Â Denotes those offices which the governor resigned to take.
This is a table of congressional, confederate and other federal offices held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Virginia except where noted.
Birth places
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- These numbers reflect place of residence when taking office, not birth place
References
- General
- Virginia State Government Website
- Congressional Quarterly
- Virginia governors. (2000). In Congressional Quarterly (Ed.), American political leaders 1789â€"2000. Washington: CQ Press. Retrieved January 10, 2006, from CQ Electronic Library, CQ Voting and Elections Collection, . Document ID: amldrs-147-7136-390228. (Requires Subscription)
- Thorpe, F.N. (1909). The Federal and State Constitutions: Virginia-Wyoming. Scholarly Press. p. 3852. Retrieved 2015-11-03.Â
- National Governors Association's list of Virginia Governors
- Constitutions
- "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia". Virginia General Assembly. 1971. Archived from the original on May 30, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-17.Â
- Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Scholarly Press. 1902. Retrieved 2008-06-17.Â
- Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Scholarly Press. 1870. Retrieved 2008-06-17.Â
- Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Scholarly Press. 1864. Retrieved 2008-06-17.Â
- Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Scholarly Press. 1851. Retrieved 2008-06-17.Â
- "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia". West Virginia Division of Culture and History. 1830. Retrieved 2008-06-17.Â
- "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia". Avalon Project. 1776. Retrieved 2008-06-17.Â
- Specific
