Virginia gubernatorial election, 2017

Virginia gubernatorial election, 2017

November 7, 2017

Party Democratic Republican

Incumbent Governor Terry McAuliffe Democratic

The Virginia gubernatorial election of 2017 will take place on November 7, 2017. The incumbent Governor, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, is not eligible to run for re-election due to term limits established by the Virginia Constitution. Virginia is the only state that prohibits its Governor from serving consecutive terms.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Ralph Northam, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia^[1][2]

Potential

• Gerry Connolly, U.S. Representative^[2][3]
• Brian Moran, Virginia Secretary of Public Safety, former State Delegate and candidate for Governor in 2009^[4]

Declined

• Mark Herring, Attorney General of Virginia (running for re-election)^[5]
• Tim Kaine, United States Senator, former Governor and nominee for Vice President of the United States in 2016^[6]
• Mark Warner, United States Senator and former Governor^[6]

Endorsements

Ralph Northam
Mark Herring, Attorney General of Virginia[7] Tim Kaine, U.S. Senator and Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States in 2016[7] Terry McAuliffe, incumbent Governor[7] Mark Warner, U.S. Senator[7]

Polling

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Ed Gillespie, former Chairman of the Republican National Committee and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2014^[8]
• Corey Stewart, Chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2013^[9]
• Frank Wagner, State Senator^[10]
• Rob Wittman, U.S. Representative^[11]

Potential

• Bill Bolling, former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia^[12]
• Eric Cantor, former Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and former U.S. Representative^[13][14][15]
• Randy Forbes, U.S. Representative^[16][17]
• Shak Hill, financial consultant and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014^[18]
• Jeff McWaters, State Senator^[19][20][21]
• Bill Stanley, State Senator^[19][22]

Declined

• Ken Cuccinelli, former Attorney General of Virginia and nominee for Governor in 2013^[18]
• Thomas Garrett, Jr., State Senator^[23]
• Mark Obenshain, State Senator and nominee for Attorney General in 2013 (endorsed Gillespie)^[24]
• Pete Snyder, technology executive and candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2013 (endorsed Gillespie)^[19][22][25]

Endorsements

Ed Gillespie

Dave Albo, State Delegate[26] Terry Austin, State Delegate[26] Richard Bell, State Delegate[26] Kathy Byron, State Delegate[26] Jeff Campbell, State Delegate[26] Bill Carrico, State Senator[26] Ben Chafin, State Senator[26] Chris Collins, State Delegate[26] John Cosgrove, State Senator[26] Kirk Cox, Majority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates[26] Glenn Davis, State Delegate[26] Mark Dudenhefer, State Delegate[26] Siobhan Dunnavant, State Senator[26] Peter Farrell, State Delegate[26] Scott Garrett, State Delegate[26] Todd Gilbert, State Delegate[26] Tag Greason, State Delegate[26] Chris Head, State Delegate[26] Jill Holtzman Vogel, State Senator[26] William Howell, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates[26] Tim Hugo, State Delegate[26] Riley Ingram, State Delegate[26] Chris Jones, State Delegate[26] Jerry Kilgore, former Attorney General of Virginia and nominee for Governor in 2005[26] Terry Kilgore, State Delegate[26] Alan Krasnoff, Mayor of Chesapeake[26] Steve Landes, State Delegate[26] James LeMunyon, State Delegate[26] Jay Leftwich, State Delegate[26] Scott Lingamfelter, State Delegate and candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2013[26] Manoli Loupassi, State Delegate[26] Danny Marshall, State Delegate[26] Randy Minchew, State Delegate[26] Jason Miyares, State Delegate[26] Will Morefield, State Delegate[26] Tommy Norment, Majority Leader of the Virginia Senate[26] John O'Bannon, State Delegate[26] Israel O'Quinn, State Delegate[26] Mark Obenshain, State Senator and nominee for Attorney General in 2013[26] Todd Pillion, State Delegate[26] Charles Poindexter, State Delegate[26] David Ramadan, former State Delegate[26] Roxann Robinson, State Delegate[26] Frank Ruff, State Senator[26] Ralph Smith, former State Senator[26] Pete Snyder[25] Chris Stolle, State Delegate[26] Glen Sturtevant, State Senator[26] Ron Villanueva, State Delegate[26] Michael Webert, State Delegate[26] Tony Wilt, State Delegate[26] Frank Wolf, former U.S. Representative[26] Joseph Yost, State Delegate[26] Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard[27]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Ed Gillespie	Corey Stewart	Frank Wagner	Rob Wittman	Undecided
Public Opinion Strategies	September 18–21, 2016	800	± 3.46%	38%	5%	4%	12%	40%
Public Policy Polling	June 13–15, 2016	1,032	± 3.1%	29%	13%	—	16%	41%

General election

Polling

with Ed Gillespie

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Ralph Northam (D)	Ed Gillespie (R)	Other	Undecided
University of Mary Washington	September 6–12, 2016	685 LV	± 4.4%	36%	43%	1%	16%
		852 RV	± 3.9%	36%	41%	1%	18%
Public Policy Polling	September 9–11, 2016	878	± 3.3%	37%	37%	—	26%
Public Policy Polling	June 13–15, 2016	1,032	± 3.1%	36%	37%	—	28%
Gravis Marketing	May 24, 2016	1,728	± 2.0%	38%	40%	—	22%
University of Mary Washington	November 4–9, 2015	656 LV	± 4.3%	32%	44%	1%	16%
		814 RV	± 3.9%	33%	40%	1%	18%
Public Policy Polling	July 13–15, 2015	1,170	± 2.9%	30%	40%	—	32%

with Corey Stewart

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Ralph Northam (D)	Corey Stewart (R)	Other	Undecided
University of Mary Washington	September 6–12, 2016	685 LV	± 4.4%	39%	39%	1%	18%
		852 RV	± 3.9%	39%	37%	1%	19%
Public Policy Polling	September 9–11, 2016	878	± 3.3%	39%	31%	—	30%
Public Policy Polling	June 13–15, 2016	1,032	± 3.1%	34%	32%	—	34%

with Rob Wittman

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Ralph Northam (D)	Rob Wittman (R)	Other	Undecided
University of Mary Washington	September 6–12, 2016	685 LV	± 4.4%	38%	38%	1%	18%
		852 RV	± 3.9%	39%	37%	1%	19%
Public Policy Polling	September 9–11, 2016	878	± 3.3%	38%	33%	—	29%
Public Policy Polling	June 13–15, 2016	1,032	± 3.1%	34%	34%	—	32%

with Frank Wagner

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Ralph Northam (D)	Frank Wagner (R)	Other	Undecided
University of Mary Washington	September 6–12, 2016	685 LV	± 4.4%	39%	40%	1%	17%
		852 RV	± 3.9%	39%	39%	1%	18%
Public Policy Polling	September 9–11, 2016	878	± 3.3%	37%	32%	—	32%

with Eric Cantor

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Ralph Northam (D)	Eric Cantor (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	July 13–15, 2015	1,170	± 2.9%	33%	35%	—	32%

See also

• Virginia gubernatorial election, 2013
• Governors of Virginia
• Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2017
• Virginia Attorney General election, 2017

References

1. Vozzella, Laura (February 24, 2015). "Ralph Northam confirms he's running to become next Va. governor". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
2. Vozzella, Laura (November 17, 2015). "Virginia's lieutenant governor makes it official: He's seeking state's top job". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
3. Portnoy, Jenna; Vozzella, Laura (September 2, 2015). "Va. attorney general to seek reelection, won't run for governor in 2017". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
4. Hoeft, J.R. (April 22, 2016). "Moran Back at Wakefield". Bearing Drift. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
5. Schmidt, Markus (September 2, 2015). "AG Mark Herring to run for re-election instead of governor". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
6. Nolan, Jim (June 18, 2016). "Northam gets endorsements as Dems meet in Richmond for state convention". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
7. "McAuliffe and statewide Democrats endorse Northam for governor". Washington Post. June 18, 2016.
8. Vozzella, Laura (October 2, 2015). "Gillespie confirms he is running for Va. governor". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
9. Baker, Michelle (May 4, 2016). "Stewart Launches Bid". Prince William Times. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
10. Wilson, Patrick (August 29, 2016). "Sen. Frank Wagner from Virginia Beach announces run for GOP nomination for governor of Virginia". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
11. Portnoy, Jenna (December 12, 2015). "GOP Congressman Rob Wittman readies to jump into Va. governor's race". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
12. Cain, Andrew (November 10, 2014). "Gillespie says he's not interested in running for governor". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
13. Wong, Scott (September 2, 2014). "Cantor's next act: GOP power broker?". The Hill. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
14. Steinberg, David (January 23, 2015). "Was Strange Cantor Event Prelude to 'Cantor for Virginia Governor 2017′?". PJ Media. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
15. Sullivan, Peter (January 29, 2015). "Cantor heads to Harvard". The Hill. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
16. Fredericks, John (January 21, 2014). "Forbes Eyes 2017 Gov. Bid". The John Fredericks Show. Archived from the original on January 29, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
17. Pershing, Ben (October 29, 2014). "What Is Ed Gillespie's Backup Plan?". National Journal. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
18. Portnoy, Jenna (April 30, 2016). "Ken Cuccinelli will not run for Virginia governor in 2017, he says". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
19. Vozzella, Laura; Portnoy, Jenna (October 3, 2015). "In a year of outsider politics, Gillespie faces GOP skeptics". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
20. Wilson, Patrick (February 26, 2015). "Virginia Beach Sen. Jeff McWaters won't seek re-election". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
21. Wilson, Patrick (September 14, 2015). "Jeff McWaters considers political future after Virginia Senate". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
22. Martin, Jeanine (December 17, 2014). "Morning Line Odds on Virginia State Wide Races – 2017 by Guest Poster John Fredericks". The Bull Elephant. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
23. Rohr, Alex (May 6, 2016). "Despite owning website name, Garrett rules out run for governor". The News & Advance. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
24. Portnoy, Jenna (September 28, 2015). "Obenshain will not run for Virginia governor; Gillespie will enter race". Washington Post. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
25. Vozzella, Laura (September 29, 2016). "Republican Pete Snyder will not run in 2017, endorses Gillespie for Va. governor". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
26. Kenney, Shaun (January 15, 2016). "Gillespie Rolls Out Massive Endorsement List". Bearing Drift. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
27. "GOP buzzing about Fiorina as RNC head". Politico. August 9, 2016.

External links

• Ralph Northam (D) for Governor
• Ed Gillespie (R) for Governor
• Corey Stewart (R) for Governor
• Frank Wagner (R) for Governor