1976 United States presidential election in Virginia
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 County and Independent City Results
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| Elections in Virginia |
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The 1976 United States presidential election in Virginia took place on November 2, 1976. All 50 states and the District of Columbia were part of the 1976 United States presidential election. Virginia voters chose twelve electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president of the United States.
Virginia had voted Republican at all but one of the previous six presidential elections, largely due to its large white Washington and Richmond suburbs that received large-scale in-migration from the Northeast,[1] alongside the Shenandoah Valley,[2] being amongst the first traditionally Democratic areas of the former Confederacy to turn Republican at both the presidential level and in federal congressional elections.[3] After the collapse of the Byrd Organization and the expansion of the state's formerly small electorate via the Voting Rights Act, these trends intensified except in the heavily unionised coalfields of Southwest Virginia, where unlike elsewhere in the Confederacy, many newly registered poor whites voted Democratic. The statewide Democratic party was severely divided into conservative, moderate and liberal factions,[4] so that in addition to voting Republican in five of six presidential elections, Virginia's Congressional delegation would gain a Republican majority as early as the 91st Congress, although it was 1970 before significant GOP gains occurred in the state legislature.
It was generally acknowledged that President Nixon offered no support to down-ballot Republican candidates,[5] but the division in the state Democrats was so bad that they did not nominate a candidate for governor in 1973 — with most of the party supporting populist Henry Howell.[6] However, the Democrats did regain a dozen seats in the state legislature in 1975.
Carter did do relatively well in many rural sections of Virginia – for instance he is the solitary Democratic presidential nominee to top forty percent in traditionally arch-Republican Floyd County since Grover Cleveland in 1892. As of the 2020 presidential election[update], this is the last occasion a Democratic presidential nominee has carried Amelia County, Bedford County, Botetourt County, Charlotte County, Cumberland County, Fluvanna County, Gloucester County, Goochland County, Grayson County, Halifax County, King George County, New Kent County, Nottoway County, Patrick County, Prince George County, Rappahannock County, Rockbridge County, Scott County, Spotsylvania County, Warren County, Bristol City and Salem City, while Stafford County would not vote for the Democratic nominee again until 2020.[7] It is also the last occasion Virginia voted to the left of Connecticut, Illinois, Vermont or Washington state.
Campaign
During the fall campaign, Virginia was the scene of debates between Carter and Ford in the third week of October. They would have their final debate of the whole campaign at the College of William and Mary.[8]
56% of white voters supported Ford while 40% supported Carter.[9][10] Virginia was the only southern state to support Ford.[11]
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Simpson's Leader-Times[12] | Tossup | October 16, 1976 |
| The Sentinel[8] | Tossup | October 18, 1976 |
| Daily Press[13] | Lean R | October 24, 1976 |
| Kansas City Times[14] | Lean R | October 24, 1976 |
| Daily News[15] | Likely R | October 27, 1976 |
| Austin American-Statesman[16] | Tossup | October 31, 1976 |
| New York Times[17] | Lean R | November 1, 1976 |
Results
| 1976 United States presidential election in Virginia[18] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Electoral votes | |
| Republican | Gerald Ford (inc.) | 836,554 | 49.29% | 12 | |
| Democratic | Jimmy Carter | 813,896 | 47.96% | 0 | |
| Socialist Workers | Peter Camejo | 17,802 | 1.05% | 0 | |
| American | Thomas J. Anderson | 16,686 | 0.98% | 0 | |
| U.S. Labor | Lyndon LaRouche | 7,508 | 0.44% | 0 | |
| Libertarian | Roger MacBride | 4,648 | 0.27% | 0 | |
| Totals | 1,697,094 | 100.00% | 12 | ||
Results by county or independent city
| 1976 United States presidential election in Virginia by county or independent city[19] | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald Rudolph Ford Republican |
James Earl Carter Democratic |
Peter Camejo Guanche Socialist Workers |
Thomas Jefferson Anderson American |
Lyndon Hermyle LaRouche U.S. Labor |
Roger Lea MacBride Libertarian |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||||||
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Accomack County | 4,494 | 47.13% | 4,807 | 50.41% | 87 | 0.91% | 90 | 0.94% | 40 | 0.42% | 18 | 0.19% | -313 | -3.28% | 9,536 |
| Albemarle County | 9,084 | 54.62% | 7,310 | 43.95% | 22 | 0.13% | 58 | 0.35% | 49 | 0.29% | 109 | 0.66% | 1,774 | 10.67% | 16,632 |
| Alleghany County | 1,756 | 41.17% | 2,462 | 57.73% | 14 | 0.33% | 19 | 0.45% | 9 | 0.21% | 5 | 0.12% | -706 | -16.55% | 4,265 |
| Amelia County | 1,634 | 47.25% | 1,715 | 49.60% | 9 | 0.26% | 56 | 1.62% | 36 | 1.04% | 8 | 0.23% | -81 | -2.34% | 3,458 |
| Amherst County | 3,956 | 50.87% | 3,675 | 47.26% | 23 | 0.30% | 44 | 0.57% | 49 | 0.63% | 29 | 0.37% | 281 | 3.61% | 7,776 |
| Appomattox County | 1,964 | 50.84% | 1,702 | 44.06% | 79 | 2.05% | 80 | 2.07% | 29 | 0.75% | 9 | 0.23% | 262 | 6.78% | 3,863 |
| Arlington County | 30,972 | 47.95% | 32,536 | 50.37% | 353 | 0.55% | 387 | 0.60% | 121 | 0.19% | 230 | 0.36% | -1,564 | -2.42% | 64,599 |
| Augusta County | 8,452 | 57.53% | 5,626 | 38.29% | 207 | 1.41% | 315 | 2.14% | 59 | 0.40% | 33 | 0.22% | 2,826 | 19.23% | 14,692 |
| Bath County | 888 | 45.96% | 1,029 | 53.26% | 2 | 0.10% | 8 | 0.41% | 3 | 0.16% | 2 | 0.10% | -141 | -7.30% | 1,932 |
| Bedford County | 4,189 | 45.31% | 4,766 | 51.55% | 121 | 1.31% | 135 | 1.46% | 24 | 0.26% | 11 | 0.12% | -577 | -6.24% | 9,246 |
| Bland County | 1,047 | 51.91% | 961 | 47.65% | 1 | 0.05% | 5 | 0.25% | 2 | 0.10% | 1 | 0.05% | 86 | 4.26% | 2,017 |
| Botetourt County | 3,343 | 44.14% | 4,021 | 53.10% | 83 | 1.10% | 70 | 0.92% | 38 | 0.50% | 18 | 0.24% | -678 | -8.95% | 7,573 |
| Brunswick County | 2,387 | 42.11% | 3,071 | 54.18% | 56 | 0.99% | 41 | 0.72% | 59 | 1.04% | 54 | 0.95% | -684 | -12.07% | 5,668 |
| Buchanan County | 3,850 | 35.89% | 5,791 | 53.98% | 592 | 5.52% | 367 | 3.42% | 104 | 0.97% | 24 | 0.22% | -1,941 | -18.09% | 10,728 |
| Buckingham County | 1,487 | 39.57% | 2,179 | 57.98% | 20 | 0.53% | 27 | 0.72% | 30 | 0.80% | 15 | 0.40% | -692 | -18.41% | 3,758 |
| Campbell County | 7,442 | 60.78% | 4,354 | 35.56% | 156 | 1.27% | 199 | 1.63% | 65 | 0.53% | 29 | 0.24% | 3,088 | 25.22% | 12,245 |
| Caroline County | 1,648 | 34.36% | 3,064 | 63.89% | 23 | 0.48% | 21 | 0.44% | 27 | 0.56% | 13 | 0.27% | -1,416 | -29.52% | 4,796 |
| Carroll County | 4,820 | 53.75% | 4,010 | 44.71% | 15 | 0.17% | 48 | 0.54% | 58 | 0.65% | 17 | 0.19% | 810 | 9.03% | 8,968 |
| Charles City County | 439 | 22.50% | 1,455 | 74.58% | 18 | 0.92% | 12 | 0.62% | 19 | 0.97% | 8 | 0.41% | -1,016 | -52.08% | 1,951 |
| Charlotte County | 2,023 | 46.04% | 2,312 | 52.62% | 12 | 0.27% | 34 | 0.77% | 10 | 0.23% | 3 | 0.07% | -289 | -6.58% | 4,394 |
| Chesterfield County | 27,812 | 65.54% | 14,126 | 33.29% | 67 | 0.16% | 168 | 0.40% | 153 | 0.36% | 110 | 0.26% | 13,686 | 32.25% | 42,436 |
| Clarke County | 1,440 | 51.54% | 1,276 | 45.67% | 14 | 0.50% | 19 | 0.68% | 34 | 1.22% | 11 | 0.39% | 164 | 5.87% | 2,794 |
| Craig County | 546 | 32.75% | 1,103 | 66.17% | 11 | 0.66% | 1 | 0.06% | 6 | 0.36% | 0 | 0.00% | -557 | -33.41% | 1,667 |
| Culpeper County | 3,659 | 54.64% | 2,892 | 43.19% | 46 | 0.69% | 56 | 0.84% | 22 | 0.33% | 21 | 0.31% | 767 | 11.45% | 6,696 |
| Cumberland County | 1,284 | 46.57% | 1,302 | 47.23% | 78 | 2.83% | 55 | 1.99% | 16 | 0.58% | 22 | 0.80% | -18 | -0.65% | 2,757 |
| Dickenson County | 3,471 | 42.28% | 4,583 | 55.83% | 21 | 0.26% | 51 | 0.62% | 73 | 0.89% | 10 | 0.12% | -1,112 | -13.55% | 8,209 |
| Dinwiddie County | 2,413 | 37.28% | 3,873 | 59.83% | 52 | 0.80% | 32 | 0.49% | 76 | 1.17% | 27 | 0.42% | -1,460 | -22.56% | 6,473 |
| Essex County | 1,380 | 50.55% | 1,306 | 47.84% | 10 | 0.37% | 19 | 0.70% | 12 | 0.44% | 3 | 0.11% | 74 | 2.71% | 2,730 |
| Fairfax County | 110,424 | 53.62% | 92,037 | 44.69% | 1,269 | 0.62% | 1,258 | 0.61% | 323 | 0.16% | 646 | 0.31% | 18,387 | 8.93% | 205,957 |
| Fauquier County | 4,715 | 51.75% | 4,002 | 43.92% | 179 | 1.96% | 162 | 1.78% | 31 | 0.34% | 22 | 0.24% | 713 | 7.83% | 9,111 |
| Floyd County | 2,071 | 52.76% | 1,728 | 44.03% | 22 | 0.56% | 44 | 1.12% | 47 | 1.20% | 13 | 0.33% | 343 | 8.74% | 3,925 |
| Fluvanna County | 1,296 | 46.79% | 1,415 | 51.08% | 11 | 0.40% | 10 | 0.36% | 23 | 0.83% | 15 | 0.54% | -119 | -4.30% | 2,770 |
| Franklin County | 3,532 | 34.63% | 6,439 | 63.13% | 66 | 0.65% | 5 | 0.05% | 70 | 0.69% | 37 | 0.36% | -2,907 | -28.50% | 10,199 |
| Frederick County | 5,162 | 59.52% | 3,389 | 39.08% | 15 | 0.17% | 54 | 0.62% | 30 | 0.35% | 22 | 0.25% | 1,773 | 20.45% | 8,672 |
| Giles County | 2,731 | 40.53% | 3,779 | 56.08% | 81 | 1.20% | 71 | 1.05% | 55 | 0.82% | 22 | 0.33% | -1,048 | -15.55% | 6,739 |
| Gloucester County | 3,025 | 47.24% | 3,156 | 49.28% | 104 | 1.62% | 61 | 0.95% | 39 | 0.61% | 19 | 0.30% | -131 | -2.05% | 6,404 |
| Goochland County | 2,104 | 47.23% | 2,259 | 50.71% | 33 | 0.74% | 20 | 0.45% | 22 | 0.49% | 17 | 0.38% | -155 | -3.48% | 4,455 |
| Grayson County | 3,021 | 48.33% | 3,146 | 50.33% | 17 | 0.27% | 5 | 0.08% | 36 | 0.58% | 6 | 0.10% | -125 | -2.00% | 6,251 |
| Greene County | 1,095 | 51.41% | 895 | 42.02% | 55 | 2.58% | 58 | 2.72% | 13 | 0.61% | 14 | 0.66% | 200 | 9.39% | 2,130 |
| Greensville County | 1,137 | 31.18% | 2,413 | 66.18% | 25 | 0.69% | 26 | 0.71% | 36 | 0.99% | 9 | 0.25% | -1,276 | -35.00% | 3,646 |
| Halifax County | 4,045 | 46.51% | 4,352 | 50.04% | 108 | 1.24% | 103 | 1.18% | 70 | 0.80% | 19 | 0.22% | -307 | -3.53% | 8,697 |
| Hanover County | 11,559 | 64.72% | 6,069 | 33.98% | 25 | 0.14% | 92 | 0.52% | 77 | 0.43% | 37 | 0.21% | 5,490 | 30.74% | 17,859 |
| Henrico County | 45,405 | 65.82% | 21,729 | 31.50% | 627 | 0.91% | 909 | 1.32% | 162 | 0.23% | 149 | 0.22% | 23,676 | 34.32% | 68,981 |
| Henry County | 5,612 | 35.02% | 9,680 | 60.41% | 379 | 2.37% | 233 | 1.45% | 95 | 0.59% | 25 | 0.16% | -4,068 | -25.39% | 16,024 |
| Highland County | 629 | 55.57% | 493 | 43.55% | 1 | 0.09% | 7 | 0.62% | 1 | 0.09% | 1 | 0.09% | 136 | 12.01% | 1,132 |
| Isle of Wight County | 2,718 | 38.78% | 4,145 | 59.14% | 40 | 0.57% | 40 | 0.57% | 50 | 0.71% | 16 | 0.23% | -1,427 | -20.36% | 7,009 |
| James City County | 3,186 | 49.36% | 3,000 | 46.48% | 159 | 2.46% | 67 | 1.04% | 23 | 0.36% | 19 | 0.29% | 186 | 2.88% | 6,454 |
| King and Queen County | 778 | 39.06% | 1,111 | 55.77% | 27 | 1.36% | 19 | 0.95% | 39 | 1.96% | 18 | 0.90% | -333 | -16.72% | 1,992 |
| King George County | 1,383 | 46.75% | 1,513 | 51.15% | 9 | 0.30% | 24 | 0.81% | 16 | 0.54% | 13 | 0.44% | -130 | -4.39% | 2,958 |
| King William County | 1,597 | 50.60% | 1,501 | 47.56% | 6 | 0.19% | 11 | 0.35% | 22 | 0.70% | 19 | 0.60% | 96 | 3.04% | 3,156 |
| Lancaster County | 2,381 | 58.44% | 1,581 | 38.81% | 40 | 0.98% | 40 | 0.98% | 26 | 0.64% | 6 | 0.15% | 800 | 19.64% | 4,074 |
| Lee County | 4,679 | 45.50% | 5,415 | 52.65% | 34 | 0.33% | 38 | 0.37% | 97 | 0.94% | 21 | 0.20% | -736 | -7.16% | 10,284 |
| Loudoun County | 9,192 | 51.79% | 7,995 | 45.05% | 205 | 1.16% | 262 | 1.48% | 47 | 0.26% | 47 | 0.26% | 1,197 | 6.74% | 17,748 |
| Louisa County | 2,151 | 41.89% | 2,857 | 55.64% | 19 | 0.37% | 21 | 0.41% | 69 | 1.34% | 18 | 0.35% | -706 | -13.75% | 5,135 |
| Lunenburg County | 1,816 | 49.73% | 1,739 | 47.62% | 30 | 0.82% | 54 | 1.48% | 8 | 0.22% | 5 | 0.14% | 77 | 2.11% | 3,652 |
| Madison County | 1,710 | 52.97% | 1,466 | 45.42% | 19 | 0.59% | 21 | 0.65% | 6 | 0.19% | 6 | 0.19% | 264 | 7.56% | 3,228 |
| Mathews County | 1,908 | 57.77% | 1,309 | 39.63% | 21 | 0.64% | 31 | 0.94% | 26 | 0.79% | 8 | 0.24% | 599 | 18.14% | 3,303 |
| Mecklenburg County | 4,423 | 50.44% | 4,076 | 46.48% | 77 | 0.88% | 85 | 0.97% | 78 | 0.89% | 30 | 0.34% | 347 | 3.96% | 8,769 |
| Middlesex County | 1,608 | 52.91% | 1,312 | 43.17% | 38 | 1.25% | 50 | 1.65% | 18 | 0.59% | 13 | 0.43% | 296 | 9.74% | 3,039 |
| Montgomery County | 7,971 | 50.64% | 7,539 | 47.89% | 43 | 0.27% | 53 | 0.34% | 64 | 0.41% | 72 | 0.46% | 432 | 2.74% | 15,742 |
| Nelson County | 1,516 | 37.65% | 2,426 | 60.24% | 12 | 0.30% | 20 | 0.50% | 34 | 0.84% | 19 | 0.47% | -910 | -22.60% | 4,027 |
| New Kent County | 1,259 | 47.62% | 1,338 | 50.61% | 9 | 0.34% | 14 | 0.53% | 17 | 0.64% | 7 | 0.26% | -79 | -2.99% | 2,644 |
| Northampton County | 2,043 | 43.15% | 2,459 | 51.93% | 116 | 2.45% | 67 | 1.41% | 31 | 0.65% | 19 | 0.40% | -416 | -8.79% | 4,735 |
| Northumberland County | 2,167 | 52.52% | 1,814 | 43.97% | 59 | 1.43% | 41 | 0.99% | 32 | 0.78% | 13 | 0.32% | 353 | 8.56% | 4,126 |
| Nottoway County | 2,486 | 47.61% | 2,558 | 48.99% | 77 | 1.47% | 62 | 1.19% | 29 | 0.56% | 10 | 0.19% | -72 | -1.38% | 5,222 |
| Orange County | 2,549 | 49.39% | 2,309 | 44.74% | 127 | 2.46% | 100 | 1.94% | 49 | 0.95% | 27 | 0.52% | 240 | 4.65% | 5,161 |
| Page County | 3,780 | 51.52% | 3,401 | 46.35% | 29 | 0.40% | 49 | 0.67% | 47 | 0.64% | 31 | 0.42% | 379 | 5.17% | 7,337 |
| Patrick County | 2,349 | 43.69% | 2,740 | 50.96% | 104 | 1.93% | 131 | 2.44% | 47 | 0.87% | 6 | 0.11% | -391 | -7.27% | 5,377 |
| Pittsylvania County | 9,173 | 51.21% | 7,929 | 44.26% | 333 | 1.86% | 315 | 1.76% | 129 | 0.72% | 34 | 0.19% | 1,244 | 6.94% | 17,913 |
| Powhatan County | 2,010 | 55.28% | 1,528 | 42.02% | 9 | 0.25% | 46 | 1.27% | 31 | 0.85% | 12 | 0.33% | 482 | 13.26% | 3,636 |
| Prince Edward County | 2,734 | 50.36% | 2,448 | 45.09% | 86 | 1.58% | 71 | 1.31% | 62 | 1.14% | 28 | 0.52% | 286 | 5.27% | 5,429 |
| Prince George County | 2,254 | 45.44% | 2,630 | 53.02% | 19 | 0.38% | 18 | 0.36% | 27 | 0.54% | 12 | 0.24% | -376 | -7.58% | 4,960 |
| Prince William County | 15,446 | 49.00% | 15,215 | 48.26% | 323 | 1.02% | 405 | 1.28% | 54 | 0.17% | 81 | 0.26% | 231 | 0.73% | 31,524 |
| Pulaski County | 4,764 | 44.84% | 5,546 | 52.20% | 87 | 0.82% | 106 | 1.00% | 96 | 0.90% | 25 | 0.24% | -782 | -7.36% | 10,624 |
| Rappahannock County | 881 | 44.47% | 1,071 | 54.06% | 8 | 0.40% | 11 | 0.56% | 5 | 0.25% | 5 | 0.25% | -190 | -9.59% | 1,981 |
| Richmond County | 1,391 | 60.80% | 864 | 37.76% | 8 | 0.35% | 11 | 0.48% | 11 | 0.48% | 3 | 0.13% | 527 | 23.03% | 2,288 |
| Roanoke County | 13,587 | 50.42% | 13,120 | 48.69% | 25 | 0.09% | 100 | 0.37% | 57 | 0.21% | 59 | 0.22% | 467 | 1.73% | 26,948 |
| Rockbridge County | 2,157 | 43.66% | 2,525 | 51.11% | 116 | 2.35% | 100 | 2.02% | 31 | 0.63% | 11 | 0.22% | -368 | -7.45% | 4,940 |
| Rockingham County | 9,768 | 61.87% | 5,349 | 33.88% | 195 | 1.24% | 344 | 2.18% | 77 | 0.49% | 56 | 0.35% | 4,419 | 27.99% | 15,789 |
| Russell County | 4,287 | 40.19% | 6,014 | 56.38% | 185 | 1.73% | 124 | 1.16% | 48 | 0.45% | 9 | 0.08% | -1,727 | -16.19% | 10,667 |
| Scott County | 4,313 | 45.43% | 4,496 | 47.36% | 319 | 3.36% | 279 | 2.94% | 74 | 0.78% | 13 | 0.14% | -183 | -1.93% | 9,494 |
| Shenandoah County | 6,296 | 64.05% | 3,364 | 34.22% | 27 | 0.27% | 62 | 0.63% | 54 | 0.55% | 27 | 0.27% | 2,932 | 29.83% | 9,830 |
| Smyth County | 5,032 | 47.29% | 5,246 | 49.30% | 144 | 1.35% | 164 | 1.54% | 39 | 0.37% | 16 | 0.15% | -214 | -2.01% | 10,641 |
| Southampton County | 2,366 | 40.18% | 3,399 | 57.72% | 17 | 0.29% | 33 | 0.56% | 61 | 1.04% | 13 | 0.22% | -1,033 | -17.54% | 5,889 |
| Spotsylvania County | 3,210 | 42.46% | 4,210 | 55.69% | 16 | 0.21% | 38 | 0.50% | 73 | 0.97% | 13 | 0.17% | -1,000 | -13.23% | 7,560 |
| Stafford County | 4,451 | 46.84% | 4,900 | 51.57% | 19 | 0.20% | 54 | 0.57% | 55 | 0.58% | 23 | 0.24% | -449 | -4.73% | 9,502 |
| Surry County | 929 | 32.79% | 1,829 | 64.56% | 26 | 0.92% | 14 | 0.49% | 19 | 0.67% | 16 | 0.56% | -900 | -31.77% | 2,833 |
| Sussex County | 1,360 | 33.22% | 2,497 | 60.99% | 112 | 2.74% | 73 | 1.78% | 45 | 1.10% | 7 | 0.17% | -1,137 | -27.77% | 4,094 |
| Tazewell County | 5,565 | 41.41% | 7,565 | 56.29% | 94 | 0.70% | 105 | 0.78% | 92 | 0.68% | 18 | 0.13% | -2,000 | -14.88% | 13,439 |
| Warren County | 2,985 | 45.80% | 3,221 | 49.42% | 139 | 2.13% | 109 | 1.67% | 45 | 0.69% | 18 | 0.28% | -236 | -3.62% | 6,517 |
| Washington County | 6,865 | 48.98% | 6,547 | 46.71% | 287 | 2.05% | 199 | 1.42% | 95 | 0.68% | 22 | 0.16% | 318 | 2.27% | 14,015 |
| Westmoreland County | 1,909 | 41.79% | 2,355 | 51.55% | 152 | 3.33% | 111 | 2.43% | 32 | 0.70% | 9 | 0.20% | -446 | -9.76% | 4,568 |
| Wise County | 5,691 | 42.63% | 7,134 | 53.43% | 233 | 1.75% | 181 | 1.36% | 90 | 0.67% | 22 | 0.16% | -1,443 | -10.81% | 13,351 |
| Wythe County | 4,231 | 51.34% | 3,578 | 43.42% | 185 | 2.24% | 159 | 1.93% | 79 | 0.96% | 9 | 0.11% | 653 | 7.92% | 8,241 |
| York County | 5,603 | 53.61% | 4,736 | 45.32% | 16 | 0.15% | 37 | 0.35% | 33 | 0.32% | 26 | 0.25% | 867 | 8.30% | 10,451 |
| Alexandria City | 16,880 | 44.53% | 19,858 | 52.38% | 568 | 1.50% | 371 | 0.98% | 109 | 0.29% | 124 | 0.33% | -2,978 | -7.86% | 37,910 |
| Bedford City | 1,043 | 45.47% | 1,122 | 48.91% | 67 | 2.92% | 51 | 2.22% | 6 | 0.26% | 5 | 0.22% | -79 | -3.44% | 2,294 |
| Bristol City | 2,943 | 46.27% | 3,343 | 52.55% | 10 | 0.16% | 23 | 0.36% | 25 | 0.39% | 17 | 0.27% | -400 | -6.29% | 6,361 |
| Buena Vista City | 771 | 41.61% | 993 | 53.59% | 61 | 3.22% | 53 | 2.80% | 13 | 0.69% | 3 | 0.16% | -222 | -11.98% | 1,853 |
| Charlottesville City | 6,673 | 48.11% | 6,846 | 49.36% | 110 | 0.79% | 105 | 0.76% | 54 | 0.39% | 81 | 0.58% | -173 | -1.25% | 13,869 |
| Chesapeake City | 12,851 | 39.96% | 17,651 | 54.89% | 870 | 2.71% | 576 | 1.79% | 143 | 0.44% | 66 | 0.21% | -4,800 | -14.93% | 32,157 |
| Clifton Forge City | 770 | 40.68% | 993 | 52.46% | 61 | 3.22% | 53 | 2.80% | 13 | 0.69% | 3 | 0.16% | -223 | -11.78% | 1,893 |
| Colonial Heights City | 4,291 | 61.88% | 2,409 | 34.74% | 46 | 0.66% | 133 | 1.92% | 39 | 0.56% | 16 | 0.23% | 1,882 | 27.14% | 6,934 |
| Covington City | 1,173 | 37.06% | 1,820 | 57.50% | 103 | 3.25% | 47 | 1.48% | 18 | 0.57% | 4 | 0.13% | -647 | -20.44% | 3,165 |
| Danville City | 10,235 | 59.46% | 6,425 | 37.33% | 198 | 1.15% | 231 | 1.34% | 95 | 0.55% | 28 | 0.16% | 3,810 | 22.14% | 17,212 |
| Emporia City | 1,055 | 52.23% | 899 | 44.50% | 13 | 0.64% | 13 | 0.64% | 30 | 1.49% | 10 | 0.50% | 156 | 7.72% | 2,020 |
| Fairfax City | 4,174 | 53.36% | 3,464 | 44.28% | 68 | 0.87% | 84 | 1.07% | 9 | 0.12% | 24 | 0.31% | 710 | 9.08% | 7,823 |
| Falls Church City | 2,323 | 50.63% | 2,202 | 47.99% | 9 | 0.20% | 27 | 0.59% | 9 | 0.20% | 18 | 0.39% | 121 | 2.64% | 4,588 |
| Franklin City | 1,127 | 49.21% | 1,116 | 48.73% | 7 | 0.31% | 10 | 0.44% | 19 | 0.83% | 11 | 0.48% | 11 | 0.48% | 2,290 |
| Fredericksburg City | 2,527 | 49.07% | 2,550 | 49.51% | 10 | 0.19% | 11 | 0.21% | 33 | 0.64% | 19 | 0.37% | -23 | -0.45% | 5,150 |
| Galax City | 1,128 | 47.59% | 1,218 | 51.39% | 5 | 0.21% | 8 | 0.34% | 6 | 0.25% | 5 | 0.21% | -90 | -3.80% | 2,370 |
| Hampton City | 15,021 | 41.67% | 19,202 | 53.27% | 1,033 | 2.85% | 583 | 1.61% | 117 | 0.32% | 92 | 0.25% | -4,001 | -11.60% | 36,048 |
| Harrisonburg City | 3,376 | 63.01% | 1,803 | 33.65% | 53 | 0.99% | 86 | 1.61% | 19 | 0.35% | 21 | 0.39% | 1,573 | 29.36% | 5,358 |
| Hopewell City | 3,764 | 48.21% | 3,691 | 47.28% | 179 | 2.29% | 99 | 1.27% | 53 | 0.68% | 21 | 0.27% | 73 | 0.94% | 7,807 |
| Lexington City | 1,027 | 50.47% | 945 | 46.44% | 32 | 1.57% | 22 | 1.08% | 4 | 0.20% | 5 | 0.25% | 82 | 4.03% | 2,035 |
| Lynchburg City | 14,564 | 61.18% | 8,227 | 34.56% | 412 | 1.73% | 455 | 1.91% | 94 | 0.39% | 52 | 0.22% | 6,337 | 26.62% | 23,804 |
| Manassas City | 1,992 | 53.30% | 1,646 | 44.05% | 50 | 1.34% | 37 | 0.99% | 5 | 0.13% | 7 | 0.19% | 346 | 9.26% | 3,737 |
| Manassas Park City | 444 | 37.34% | 709 | 59.63% | 7 | 0.59% | 19 | 1.60% | 10 | 0.84% | 0 | 0.00% | -265 | -22.29% | 1,189 |
| Martinsville City | 3,147 | 45.38% | 3,491 | 50.34% | 144 | 2.08% | 101 | 1.46% | 34 | 0.49% | 18 | 0.26% | -344 | -4.96% | 6,935 |
| Newport News City | 20,914 | 47.01% | 23,058 | 51.83% | 76 | 0.17% | 173 | 0.39% | 186 | 0.42% | 85 | 0.19% | -2,144 | -4.82% | 44,492 |
| Norfolk City | 28,099 | 39.91% | 39,295 | 55.82% | 1,543 | 2.19% | 986 | 1.40% | 308 | 0.44% | 171 | 0.24% | -11,196 | -15.90% | 70,402 |
| Norton City | 577 | 40.35% | 811 | 56.71% | 17 | 1.19% | 14 | 0.98% | 6 | 0.42% | 5 | 0.35% | -234 | -16.36% | 1,430 |
| Petersburg City | 5,041 | 38.53% | 7,852 | 60.02% | 31 | 0.24% | 59 | 0.45% | 70 | 0.54% | 29 | 0.22% | -2,811 | -21.49% | 13,082 |
| Poquoson City | 1,461 | 55.34% | 1,140 | 43.18% | 5 | 0.19% | 14 | 0.53% | 13 | 0.49% | 7 | 0.27% | 321 | 12.16% | 2,640 |
| Portsmouth City | 12,872 | 35.51% | 22,837 | 63.01% | 80 | 0.22% | 169 | 0.47% | 216 | 0.60% | 72 | 0.20% | -9,965 | -27.49% | 36,246 |
| Radford City | 1,844 | 44.74% | 2,240 | 54.34% | 12 | 0.29% | 6 | 0.15% | 14 | 0.34% | 6 | 0.15% | -396 | -9.61% | 4,122 |
| Richmond City | 37,176 | 44.73% | 44,687 | 53.77% | 253 | 0.30% | 255 | 0.31% | 430 | 0.52% | 309 | 0.37% | -7,511 | -9.04% | 83,110 |
| Roanoke City | 14,738 | 41.00% | 20,696 | 57.57% | 141 | 0.39% | 162 | 0.45% | 137 | 0.38% | 75 | 0.21% | -5,958 | -16.57% | 35,949 |
| Salem City | 4,196 | 48.29% | 4,404 | 50.68% | 11 | 0.13% | 47 | 0.54% | 19 | 0.22% | 13 | 0.15% | -208 | -2.39% | 8,690 |
| South Boston City | 1,389 | 56.97% | 1,001 | 41.06% | 4 | 0.16% | 10 | 0.41% | 22 | 0.90% | 12 | 0.49% | 388 | 15.91% | 2,438 |
| Staunton City | 4,681 | 59.53% | 2,951 | 37.53% | 89 | 1.13% | 95 | 1.21% | 28 | 0.36% | 19 | 0.24% | 1,730 | 22.00% | 7,863 |
| Suffolk City | 6,066 | 38.86% | 9,246 | 59.24% | 49 | 0.31% | 68 | 0.44% | 147 | 0.94% | 33 | 0.21% | -3,180 | -20.37% | 15,609 |
| Virginia Beach City | 34,593 | 54.46% | 25,824 | 40.66% | 1,607 | 2.53% | 1,143 | 1.80% | 175 | 0.28% | 176 | 0.28% | 8,769 | 13.81% | 63,518 |
| Waynesboro City | 3,528 | 59.64% | 2,209 | 37.35% | 75 | 1.27% | 80 | 1.35% | 14 | 0.24% | 9 | 0.15% | 1,319 | 22.30% | 5,915 |
| Williamsburg City | 1,654 | 51.77% | 1,468 | 45.95% | 20 | 0.63% | 27 | 0.85% | 7 | 0.22% | 19 | 0.59% | 186 | 5.82% | 3,195 |
| Winchester City | 4,075 | 62.85% | 2,346 | 36.18% | 9 | 0.14% | 28 | 0.43% | 17 | 0.26% | 9 | 0.14% | 1,729 | 26.67% | 6,484 |
| Totals | 836,554 | 49.29% | 813,896 | 47.96% | 17,802 | 1.05% | 16,686 | 0.98% | 7,508 | 0.44% | 4,648 | 0.27% | 22,658 | 1.34% | 1,697,094 |
Results by congressional district
Ford won 6 of 10 congressional districts. Ford won four districts held by Democrats, whilst three of Carter's four districts were held by Republicans, and another was gained by a Republican after the incumbent Democrat retired.[20]
| District | Ford | Carter | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 47% | 50% | Thomas N. Downing |
| Paul Trible | |||
| 2nd | 47% | 49% | G. William Whitehurst |
| 3rd | 56% | 42% | David E. Satterfield III |
| 4th | 40% | 57% | Robert Daniel |
| 5th | 51% | 46% | Dan Daniel |
| 6th | 49% | 48% | M. Caldwell Butler |
| 7th | 54% | 44% | J. Kenneth Robinson |
| 8th | 51% | 47% | Herbert Harris |
| 9th | 45% | 51% | William C. Wampler Jr. |
| 10th | 51% | 47% | Joseph L. Fisher |
References
- ^ Heinemann, Ronald L. (2008). Old Dominion, New Commonwealth: A History of Virginia, 1607-2007. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press. p. 357. ISBN 0813927692.
- ^ Phillips, Kevin P. (1969). The Emerging Republican Majority. pp. 260–266. ISBN 0870000586.
- ^ Atkinson, Frank B. (2006). The Dynamic Dominion: Realignment and the Rise of Two-party Competition in Virginia, 1945-1980. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780742552098.
- ^ Bass, Jack; De Vries, Walter (1995). The Transformation of Southern Politics: Social Change and Political Consequence Since 1945. pp. 347–353.
- ^ Evans, Rowland; Novak, Robert (October 16, 1972). "Consider Virginia: McGovern, Nixon Creating a No-Party System in South". The Miami Herald. pp. 7-A.
- ^ Bass; De Vries. The Transformation of Southern Politics, p. 360
- ^ Sullivan, Robert David; ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016
- ^ a b "Scene of Final Debate: In Virginia, Ford and Carter Even". The Sentinel. Carlisle, Pennsylvania. October 18, 1976. p. 5.
- ^ Black & Black 1992, p. 295.
- ^ Black & Black 1992, p. 335.
- ^ Black & Black 1992, p. 334.
- ^ Lambert, Robert (October 16, 1976). "Opinion Divided on Result of Old Dominion Balloting". Simpson's Leader-Times. Kittanning, Pennsylvania. p. 4.
- ^ "Ford Pads Lead in Virginia Poll". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. October 24, 1976. p. 1.
- ^ Lastelic, Joseph A. (October 26, 1976). "Mid-South Favours Carter". Kansas City Times. Kansas City, Missouri. p. 10.
- ^ "Convention Wounds Remain". Daily News. New York City. October 27, 1976. p. C 23.
- ^ "Electoral Votes: A Photo Finish — Polls". Austin American-Statesman. October 31, 1976. pp. A1, A6.
- ^ Apple Jr., R.W. (November 1, 1976). "Presidential Race Called Very Close On Eve Of The Vote". The New York Times. ProQuest 122965968.
- ^ "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 1976" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives. p. 49.
- ^ "VA US President Race, November 02, 1976". Our Campaigns.
- ^ Politics in America (Report). Congressional Quarterly, inc. 1981. pp. 1234–1251.
Works cited
- Black, Earl; Black, Merle (1992). The Vital South: How Presidents Are Elected. Harvard University Press. ISBN 0674941306.
