Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia is the head of government of the U.S. state of Virginia. The governor is head of the executive branch of the state government. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of the Virginia National Guard and Virginia Defense Force.[2]
| Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Government of Virginia | |
| Style |
|
| Residence | Virginia Executive Mansion |
| Seat | Richmond, Virginia |
| Term length | Four years, non-consecutively |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Virginia |
| Formation | July 5, 1776 |
| First holder | Patrick Henry |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Virginia |
| Salary | $175,000 (2013)[1] |
| Website | Lua error in Module:Official_website at line 90: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
.jpg)
Abigail Spanberger is the 75th and current governor of Virginia, in office since January 2026.[3]
Eligibility & requirements
Section 3 of the state's constitution states for a person to serve as governor must:
- be at least thirty years old.
- be a United States citizen.
- be a registered voter and resident of Virginia for at least five years.[4]
Election process and terms
The governor is elected to a four-year term on a separate ticket. The candidate must have the majority of the popular vote in order to win the election.
Under the state's constitution, the governor is prevented from elected consecutive terms.[5]
Power and duties
The governor has a duty to enforce state laws and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the General Assembly, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.[6]
List of governors
List of living former governors
Chuck Robb
1982–1986
26 June 1939 (aged 86)
Douglas Wilder
1990–1994
17 January 1931 (aged 95)
George Allen
1994–1998
8 March 1952 (aged 74)
Jim Gilmore
1998–2002
6 October 1949 (aged 76)
Mark Warner
2002–2006
15 December 1954 (aged 71)
Tim Kaine
2006–2010
26 February 1958 (aged 68)
Bob McDonnell
2010–2014
15 June 1954 (aged 71)
Terry McAuliffe
2014–2018
9 February 1957 (aged 69)
Ralph Northam
2018–2022
13 September 1959 (aged 66)
Glenn Youngkin
2022–2026
9 December 1966 (aged 59)
.jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
Governor Of Virginia Media
The Governor's Mansion in Virginia, 1905
The reconstructed colonial Governor's Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia
Executive Mansion of Virginia (Governor's Mansion) in Richmond, (adjacent to the Virginia State Capitol, also the second capitol of the southern Confederacy), at the end of the American Civil War, 1865
.jpg)
References
- ↑ CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries (June 25, 2013)The Council of State Governments. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
- ↑ Governor of Virginia (in en). www.governor.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
- ↑ About the Governor (in en). www.governor.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
- ↑ Constitution of Virginia - Article V. Executive. law.lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
- ↑ Constitution of Virginia - Article V. Executive. law.lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
- ↑ Dinan, John J.. The Virginia State Constitution (in en) (2014)Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-935572-3.