User:Ebn uva/1985-election

Virginia gubernatorial election, 1985
	The results of the 1985 Virginia gubernatorial election, Red counties represent Durette, and blue represents Baililes.
Governor before election; Charles Robb; Democratic	Elected Governor ; Doug Wilder; Democratic

The Virginia gubernatorial election of 1985 saw two historic firsts for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Douglas Wilder was elected to serve as Lieutenant Governor. Wilder was the first African-American to win a state-wide election in Virginia. Mary Sue Terry was elected as Commonwealth's Attorney; she was the first woman elected in a state-wide race in the Commonwealth. Gerald L. Baliles won the race for Governor. All three candidates were members of the Democratic Party.

The Republican Party nominated Wyatt Durrette for Governor, John Chichester for Lieutenant Governor, and W.R. "Buster" O'Brien for Commonwealth's Attorney.

Governor's Race

Virginia gubernatorial election, 1985
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Gerald Baililes	896,936	50.19
	Republican	Wyatt Durette	890,195	49.81

Lieutenant Governor's Race

Virginia Lieutenant Governor, 1985
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	L. Douglas Wilder	896,936	50.19
	Republican	John Chichester	890,195	49.81

Wilder's margin of victory was the slimmest of the three candidates. His position as Lueitenant Govenor positioned him to become a the first African American ever elected Governor of a U.S. State and just second to serve at such post. He briefly sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992, and later served as Mayor of Richmond from 2005 to 2009.

Attorney General's Race

Virginia Lieutenant Governor, 1985
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mary Sue Terry	896,936	50.19
	Republican	W.A. "Buster" O'Brien	890,195	49.81

File:What the below graph indicates is that while Wilder and Baililes had near parity for each locality, the issue separating voting results was more likely gender.

References

Election results

Category:1985 elections in the United States 1985