1965 Virginia gubernatorial election

Virginia gubernatorial election, 1965

November 2, 1965

File:Mills Godwin.jpg Nominee Mills E. Godwin, Jr. A. Linwood Holton, Jr. William J. Story Jr. Party Democratic Republican Conservative Popular vote 269,526 212,207 75,307 Percentage 47.89% 37.71% 13.38%

Governor before election Albertis S. Harrison, Jr. Democratic Elected Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr. Democratic

In the 1965 Virginia gubernatorial election, incumbent Governor Albertis S. Harrison, Jr., a Democrat, was unable to seek re-election due to term limits. A. Linwood Holton, Jr., an attorney from Roanoke, was nominated by the Republican Party to run against Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Mills E. Godwin, Jr..

George Lincoln Rockwell, an avowed White Supremacist and founder/leader of the American Nazi Party, ran as an independent candidate.

Candidates

• Mills E. Godwin, Jr., Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (D)
• A. Linwood Holton, Jr., attorney from Roanoke (R)
• William J. Story, Jr., (C)
• George Lincoln Rockwell, Independent

Results

Virginia gubernatorial election, 1965

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mills E. Godwin, Jr.	296,526	47.89%	−15.96%
	Republican	A. Linwood Holton, Jr.	212,207	37.71%	+1.56%
	Conservative	William J. Story Jr.	75,307	13.38%	+13.38%
	Independent	George Lincoln Rockwell	5,730	1.02%
	Write-ins		19	<0.01%
Majority			84,319	14.98%	−12.73%
Turnout			562,789
	Democratic hold		Swing