2009 Virginia gubernatorial election
The Virginia gubernatorial election of 2009 took place in Virginia on November 3, 2009. The incumbent Governor, Democrat Tim Kaine, was not eligible to run due to term limits established by the Virginia Constitution, though others in the state's executive branch were not restricted. Republican Bob McDonnell was elected as Governor as part of a Republican sweep. Republican Bill Bolling was reelected as Lieutenant Governor, and Republican Ken Cuccinelli was elected as Attorney General. The winners were inaugurated on January 16, 2010, and were scheduled to serve until January 11, 2014.
State Senator Creigh Deeds was selected as the Democratic nominee, having defeated former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe and former state Delegate Brian Moran in the Democratic primary election. This was the first contested Democratic primary in two decades. McDonnell, a former state Attorney General, was selected at his party's nominating convention. He defeated Deeds in the general election by a margin of 59%-41%. As of 2020, this is the most recent election in which a Republican was elected Governor of Virginia, and the last time a Republican won a statewide race.
Democratic candidates
, who ran for Attorney General of Virginia in 2005, announced on December 13, 2007, that he would run for the Democratic nomination. State Delegate Brian Moran, brother of Congressman Jim Moran, joined Deeds on January 4, 2008, when he established a political action committee. Additionally, McLean resident Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and chairman of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign announced on January 3, 2009, that he was running. The Democratic primary, which took place on June 9, 2009, was the first contested in over twenty years.Republican candidate
first announced his intention to run at American Legion's Boy's State of Virginia 2007. This is the sixth consecutive Virginian gubernatorial election in which an Attorney General has run. McDonnell was the only Republican candidate to file with the election board before the November 2008 deadline. As a result, there was no Republican Party primary. McDonnell accepted the Republican nomination at a state convention on May 30, 2009, in Richmond. Chairman of the Republican National Committee Michael Steele had said that the election for governor of Virginia is one of the most important elections for the Republican Party.Democratic primary
The Democratic primary campaign for governor unofficially began in December 2007 when State Senator Creigh Deeds announced his candidacy for governor. He was joined one month later by State Delegate Brian Moran. For the following year, Deeds and Moran squared off picking up endorsements, and raising money.Moran received many endorsements from members of the State Democratic Party as well as the mayors of the Hampton Roads area. Deeds picked up support from Northern and Western Virginia, such as the endorsement from U.S. Congressman Rick Boucher. The area of strength for Deeds was concentrated in Western and Southern Virginia, and the area of strength for Moran consisted mostly of Eastern Virginia with both reaching out to Northern Virginian voters.`
The race was close from the beginning, with McAuliffe considered to be a semi "front-runner" due to his lead in the polls and big campaign war chest. However, in the last few weeks of the race, Deeds began to surge up in the polls. By election night, June 9, Deeds swept to victory. Creigh Deeds spent $14.49 for each vote on the Democratic primary election. Terry McAuliffe spent $68.25 for each vote on the Democratic primary election.
Endorsements
Several endorsements were given in the Democratic primary:;Endorsements for Creigh Deeds
;Endorsements for Terry McAuliffe
;Endorsements for Brian Moran
Fundraising
Fundraising totals through June 30, 2009, from the .| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on Hand |
| Creigh Deeds | $6,207,528 | $3,486,179 | $2,721,350 |
| Terry McAuliffe | $8,250,507 | $8,250,205 | $304 |
| Bob McDonnell | $73,981 | $3,360 | $920,623 |
| Brian Moran | $4,057,882 | $4,034,070 | $23,816 |
Polling
Election results
General election
Deeds and McDonnell both ran for Attorney General of Virginia in 2005. McDonnell won by just over 300 votes, in the same election in which Tim Kaine was elected Governor with 52% of the vote.The main themes of the election were the economy, transportation, and jobs.
The first debate was in Hot Springs, Virginia on July 25.
Vice President Joe Biden campaigned for Deeds in Henrico County, Virginia, a suburb of Richmond, Virginia on July 16. Also attending were Richmond Mayor Dwight Clinton Jones, state Senator A. Donald McEachin, and Virginia first lady Anne Holton.
On August 6, President Barack Obama and Governor Tim Kaine campaigned for Deeds in McLean, Virginia.
Deeds is from Bath County, Virginia, a rural area of less than 5,000 people, where John McCain received over 55% of the vote. McDonnell is from Virginia Beach, which McCain won with 49.9%.
Fundraising
Predictions
Polling
Deeds (D) vs. McDonnell (R)
Pre-primary hypotheticals
| Source | Dates Administered | Terry McAuliffe | Bob McDonnell |
| May 31 – June 2, 2009 | 40% | 47% | |
| May 18–20, 2009 | 34% | 44% | |
| May 19, 2009 | 40% | 46% | |
| April 27, 2009 | 39% | 46% | |
| April 15, 2009 | 33% | 45% | |
| April 8, 2009 | 33% | 40% | |
| February 4, 2009 | 35% | 42% | |
| December 4, 2008 | 36% | 41% |
Results
| County | McDonnell | Votes | Deeds | Votes | Others | Votes |
| Accomack | 62.4% | 5,400 | 37.6% | 3,249 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Albemarle | 50.5% | 15,767 | 49.4% | 15,433 | 0.1% | 35 |
| Alexandria | 37.0% | 13,050 | 62.8% | 22,108 | 0.2% | 71 |
| Alleghany | 38.7% | 2,017 | 61.2% | 3,190 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Amelia | 71.1% | 2,878 | 28.9% | 1,168 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Amherst | 67.9% | 5,976 | 32.1% | 2,827 | 0.0% | 4 |
| Appomattox | 74.3% | 3,397 | 25.6% | 1,172 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Arlington | 34.3% | 19,325 | 65.5% | 36,949 | 0.2% | 141 |
| Augusta | 77.4% | 15,661 | 22.5% | 4,558 | 0.1% | 16 |
| Bath | 36.5% | 666 | 63.5% | 1,159 | 0.1% | 1 |
| Bedford County | 77.1% | 16,881 | 22.9% | 5,009 | 0.1% | 14 |
| Bedford | 64.8% | 1,016 | 35.2% | 553 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Bland | 75.9% | 1,394 | 24.1% | 442 | 0.1% | 1 |
| Botetourt | 71.3% | 7,726 | 28.6% | 3,097 | 0.2% | 19 |
| Bristol | 72.4% | 2,760 | 27.5% | 1,047 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Brunswick | 50.5% | 2,107 | 49.4% | 2,062 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Buchanan | 63.2% | 3,261 | 36.7% | 1,895 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Buckingham | 63.4% | 2,313 | 36.6% | 1,335 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Buena Vista | 60.9% | 824 | 39.1% | 528 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Campbell | 76.9% | 11,611 | 22.9% | 3,457 | 0.2% | 26 |
| Caroline | 56.5% | 3,709 | 43.5% | 2,855 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Carroll | 73.0% | 5,229 | 27.0% | 1,932 | 0.1% | 5 |
| Charles City | 41.4% | 890 | 58.5% | 1,259 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Charlotte | 66.6% | 2,347 | 33.2% | 1,171 | 0.1% | 5 |
| Charlottesville | 26.2% | 2,636 | 73.6% | 7,406 | 0.1% | 14 |
| Chesapeake | 60.3% | 32,518 | 39.6% | 21,376 | 0.1% | 43 |
| Chesterfield | 66.3% | 59,558 | 33.6% | 30,161 | 0.2% | 156 |
| Clarke | 63.3% | 2,744 | 36.6% | 1,586 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Colonial Heights | 83.1% | 4,333 | 16.8% | 877 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Covington | 34.1% | 507 | 65.8% | 979 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Craig | 67.8% | 1,091 | 32.2% | 518 | 0.1% | 1 |
| Culpeper | 70.3% | 7,253 | 29.6% | 3,057 | 0.1% | 14 |
| Cumberland | 64.1% | 1,728 | 35.9% | 967 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Danville | 55.0% | 6,001 | 44.9% | 4,906 | 0.1% | 11 |
| Dickenson | 60.5% | 2,176 | 39.5% | 1,420 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Dinwiddie | 62.6% | 4,461 | 37.3% | 2,661 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Emporia | 52.4% | 690 | 47.6% | 627 | 0.1% | 1 |
| Essex | 60.8% | 1,631 | 39.2% | 1,051 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Fairfax County | 50.7% | 138,655 | 49.1% | 134,189 | 0.2% | 438 |
| Fairfax | 53.0% | 3,285 | 46.9% | 2,909 | 0.1% | 7 |
| Falls Church | 34.9% | 1,463 | 64.9% | 2,718 | 0.1% | 6 |
| Fauquier | 68.8% | 12,309 | 31.1% | 5,566 | 0.1% | 23 |
| Floyd | 65.8% | 2,951 | 34.1% | 1,529 | 0.2% | 7 |
| Fluvanna | 63.4% | 4,850 | 36.5% | 2,791 | 0.1% | 10 |
| Franklin County | 68.8% | 10,283 | 31.1% | 4,656 | 0.1% | 12 |
| Franklin | 45.4% | 1,013 | 54.5% | 1,216 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Frederick | 74.8% | 13,274 | 25.1% | 4,456 | 0.1% | 25 |
| Fredericksburg | 48.9% | 2,231 | 50.8% | 2,318 | 0.2% | 10 |
| Galax | 62.4% | 818 | 37.4% | 490 | 0.2% | 3 |
| Giles | 63.3% | 2,916 | 36.6% | 1,683 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Gloucester | 72.1% | 8,126 | 27.8% | 3,130 | 0.1% | 16 |
| Goochland | 70.8% | 5,837 | 29.1% | 2,401 | 0.1% | 10 |
| Grayson | 70.3% | 3,026 | 29.7% | 1,279 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Greene | 72.5% | 3,514 | 27.4% | 1,326 | 0.1% | 5 |
| Greensville | 47.4% | 1,283 | 52.6% | 1,426 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Halifax | 61.5% | 5,453 | 38.3% | 3,390 | 0.2% | 19 |
| Hampton | 42.0% | 13,559 | 57.9% | 18,696 | 0.1% | 47 |
| Hanover | 76.2% | 26,401 | 23.6% | 8,180 | 0.1% | 46 |
| Harrisonburg | 57.7% | 3,816 | 42.2% | 2,790 | 0.2% | 11 |
| Henrico | 56.2% | 49,462 | 43.7% | 38,420 | 0.1% | 114 |
| Henry | 63.0% | 8,160 | 37.0% | 4,791 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Highland | 55.1% | 619 | 44.9% | 505 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Hopewell | 62.4% | 2,926 | 37.4% | 1,753 | 0.2% | 11 |
| Isle of Wight | 65.8% | 7,684 | 34.1% | 3,981 | 0.1% | 8 |
| James City | 65.6% | 15,193 | 34.3% | 7,945 | 0.1% | 25 |
| King and Queen | 58.9% | 1,175 | 41.0% | 819 | 0.1% | 2 |
| King George | 70.2% | 3,839 | 29.7% | 1,624 | 0.1% | 7 |
| King William | 71.5% | 3,411 | 28.4% | 1,354 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Lancaster | 64.6% | 3,051 | 35.2% | 1,661 | 0.3% | 12 |
| Lee | 74.3% | 3,755 | 25.7% | 1,300 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Lexington | 39.3% | 592 | 60.5% | 911 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Loudoun | 61.0% | 39,996 | 38.8% | 25,430 | 0.1% | 95 |
| Louisa | 65.3% | 5,713 | 34.6% | 3,023 | 0.1% | 7 |
| Lunenburg | 62.5% | 2,040 | 37.5% | 1,222 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Lynchburg | 61.8% | 12,503 | 38.1% | 7,713 | 0.1% | 26 |
| Madison | 69.5% | 2,892 | 30.5% | 1,268 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Manassas | 61.9% | 4,266 | 38.0% | 2,618 | 0.1% | 5 |
| Manassas Park | 60.2% | 1,006 | 39.8% | 666 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Martinsville | 48.2% | 1,565 | 51.7% | 1,678 | 0.2% | 5 |
| Mathews | 69.9% | 2,490 | 30.0% | 1,067 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Mecklenburg | 67.7% | 4,872 | 32.3% | 2,327 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Middlesex | 69.5% | 2,652 | 30.4% | 1,161 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Montgomery | 54.5% | 11,378 | 45.3% | 9,455 | 0.2% | 35 |
| Nelson | 53.7% | 2,683 | 46.2% | 2,311 | 0.1% | 5 |
| New Kent | 74.4% | 4,526 | 25.5% | 1,549 | 0.1% | 6 |
| Newport News | 49.9% | 18,401 | 50.0% | 18,415 | 0.1% | 41 |
| Norfolk | 39.8% | 15,913 | 60.1% | 24,025 | 0.1% | 50 |
| Northampton | 51.0% | 1,976 | 48.9% | 1,892 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Northumberland | 65.4% | 3,167 | 34.4% | 1,665 | 0.2% | 10 |
| Norton | 60.6% | 568 | 39.3% | 369 | 0.1% | 1 |
| Nottoway | 58.3% | 2,415 | 41.6% | 1,723 | 0.1% | 6 |
| Orange | 67.3% | 6,248 | 32.7% | 3,033 | 0.1% | 6 |
| Page | 70.1% | 5,245 | 29.7% | 2,223 | 0.1% | 9 |
| Patrick | 70.0% | 3,383 | 29.9% | 1,442 | 0.1% | 5 |
| Petersburg | 19.0% | 1,221 | 81.0% | 5,214 | 0.0% | 3 |
| Pittsylvania | 71.5% | 11,739 | 28.5% | 4,689 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Poquoson | 80.2% | 3,737 | 19.8% | 922 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Portsmouth | 40.2% | 8,824 | 59.8% | 13,124 | 0.1% | 15 |
| Powhatan | 79.8% | 7,287 | 20.0% | 1,828 | 0.1% | 11 |
| Prince Edward | 55.0% | 2,752 | 44.9% | 2,250 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Prince George | 68.9% | 5,846 | 31.0% | 2,634 | 0.1% | 7 |
| Prince William | 58.7% | 43,993 | 41.2% | 30,847 | 0.1% | 100 |
| Pulaski | 65.1% | 5,689 | 34.8% | 3,044 | 0.0% | 3 |
| Radford | 54.6% | 1,554 | 45.3% | 1,291 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Rappahannock | 57.7% | 1,664 | 42.2% | 1,217 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Richmond County | 68.3% | 1,525 | 31.7% | 708 | 0.0% | 1 |
| Richmond | 30.5% | 13,785 | 69.2% | 31,241 | 0.2% | 101 |
| Roanoke County | 68.0% | 20,617 | 31.8% | 9,643 | 0.1% | 45 |
| Roanoke | 48.0% | 9,929 | 51.9% | 10,731 | 0.1% | 21 |
| Rockbridge | 58.1% | 3,964 | 41.9% | 2,859 | 0.0% | 3 |
| Rockingham | 78.1% | 16,519 | 21.8% | 4,599 | 0.1% | 22 |
| Russell | 62.4% | 4,812 | 37.6% | 2,895 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Salem | 66.5% | 4,706 | 33.4% | 2,365 | 0.2% | 11 |
| Scott | 78.8% | 4,370 | 21.1% | 1,172 | 0.1% | 3 |
| Shenandoah | 74.9% | 9,129 | 25.0% | 3,049 | 0.1% | 18 |
| Smyth | 73.5% | 5,424 | 26.4% | 1,946 | 0.1% | 7 |
| Southampton | 59.8% | 2,992 | 40.2% | 2,011 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Spotsylvania | 68.4% | 17,831 | 31.5% | 8,220 | 0.1% | 36 |
| Stafford | 67.4% | 19,164 | 32.4% | 9,226 | 0.2% | 46 |
| Staunton | 58.5% | 3,715 | 41.4% | 2,627 | 0.1% | 4 |
| Suffolk | 55.7% | 11,095 | 44.2% | 8,798 | 0.1% | 14 |
| Surry | 46.2% | 1,105 | 53.6% | 1,283 | 0.2% | 5 |
| Sussex | 52.4% | 1,528 | 47.6% | 1,386 | 0.0% | 0 |
| Tazewell | 73.4% | 7,588 | 26.6% | 2,749 | 0.1% | 7 |
| Virginia Beach | 63.7% | 63,964 | 36.2% | 36,303 | 0.1% | 96 |
| Warren | 68.6% | 5,604 | 31.3% | 2,559 | 0.1% | 8 |
| Washington | 74.9% | 10,348 | 25.1% | 3,469 | 0.0% | 5 |
| Waynesboro | 68.9% | 3,447 | 31.0% | 1,549 | 0.1% | 6 |
| Westmoreland | 58.6% | 2,422 | 41.4% | 1,711 | 0.0% | 2 |
| Williamsburg | 45.3% | 1,579 | 54.6% | 1,905 | 0.1% | 5 |
| Winchester | 60.7% | 3,215 | 39.2% | 2,076 | 0.2% | 8 |
| Wise | 70.3% | 5,538 | 29.6% | 2,327 | 0.1% | 9 |
| Wythe | 72.6% | 5,650 | 27.2% | 2,119 | 0.1% | 10 |
| York | 69.6% | 13,420 | 30.3% | 5,839 | 0.1% | 23 |