1997 Virginia gubernatorial election
November 4, 1997
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| Turnout | 49.5% (voting eligible) | ||||||||||||||||
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Gilmore: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Beyer: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Virginia |
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The 1997 Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1997, to elect the next governor of Virginia. The election was held concurrently with other elections for Virginia's statewide offices, the House of Delegates, and other United States' offices. Incumbent Republican governor George Allen, was ineligible to run for re-election, as the Constitution of Virginia prohibits its governors from serving consecutive terms. 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 2026, this is the last time in which the Republicans won the governorship for two consecutive terms.