1786 Virginia gubernatorial election

1786 Virginia gubernatorial election

November 7, 1786
 
Nominee Edmund Randolph Theodorick Bland Richard Henry Lee
Party Federalists Anti-Federalists Anti-Federalists

Governor before election

Patrick Henry
Anti-Federalists

Elected Governor

Edmund Randolph
Federalists

A gubernatorial election was held in Virginia on November 7, 1786.[1] The attorney general of Virginia Edmund Randolph defeated the member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Prince George County Theodorick Bland and the U.S. congressional delegate from Virginia Richard Henry Lee.[2]

The incumbent governor of Virginia Patrick Henry declined to seek re-election.[3] Randolph was a supporter of the Annapolis Convention and was considered a likely candidate to succeed Henry when the legislature met in October.[4] Bland was "an ally of Henry and an Antifederalist," while Randolph was aligned with the nationalist faction headed by James Madison.[5]

The election was conducted by the Virginia General Assembly in joint session. Randolph was elected by a large majority on the first ballot.[2]

General election

1786 Virginia gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate First ballot
Count Percent
Federalists Edmund Randolph **
Anti-Federalists Theodorick Bland **
Anti-Federalists Richard Henry Lee **
Total
**
100.00

Notes

  1. 1 2 Reardon 1975, p. 87.
  2. 1 2 Risjord & DenBoer 1974, p. 967.
  3. ↑ Campbell 1969, p. 320.
  4. ↑ Reardon 1975, pp. 87–88.
  5. ↑ Risjord & DenBoer 1974, pp. 966–67.

Bibliography

  • Campbell, Norine Dickson (1969). Patrick Henry: Patriot and Statesman. New York: Devin-Adair Company.
  • Reardon, John J. (1975). Edmund Randolph: A Biography. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Risjord, Norman K.; DenBoer, Gordon (March 1974). "The Evolution of Political Parties in Virginia, 1782-1800". Journal of American History. 60 (4): 961–84.