In the 1973 Virginia gubernatorial election, incumbent Governor A. Linwood Holton, Jr., a Republican, was unable to seek re-election due to term limits. Mills E. Godwin, Jr., former Democratic Governor of Virginia, was nominated by the Republican Party to run against Independent Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Henry Howell. The Democrats did not field a candidate, mostly choosing to support Howell's candidacy.
This was the last time until 2013 in which a member of the incumbent President's party was elected Governor of Virginia. It was also the last time a non-Democrat won the city of Alexandria.
General election
Candidates
- Mills E. Godwin, Jr., former Governor of Virginia (Republican)
- Henry Howell, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and candidate for Governor in 1969 (Independent)
Results
Results by county or independent city
Counties and independent cities that flipped from Democratic to Independent
- Accomack
- Bath
- Brunswick
- Buchanan
- Buckingham
- Caroline
- Charles City
- Craig
- Cumberland
- Dinwiddie
- Franklin
- Giles
- Greensville
- Henry
- King and Queen
- James City (no municipalities)
- Lee
- Nelson
- New Kent
- Northampton
- Patrick
- Prince George
- Russell
- Spotsylvania
- Surry
- Tazewell
- Wise
- Chesapeake (independent city)
- Charlottesville (independent city)
- Covington (independent city)
- Fredericksburg (independent city)
- Falls Church (independent city)
- Norfolk (independent city)
- Norton (independent city)
- Petersburg (independent city)
- Portsmouth (independent city)
Counties and independent cities that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Albemarle
- Amelia
- Amherst
- Appomattox
- Charlotte
- Clarke
- Essex
- Fauquier
- Goochland
- Halifax
- King William
- Loudoun
- Mecklenberg
- Nottoway
- Pittsylvania
- Powhatan
- Prince Edward
- Rappahannock
- Southampton
- Westmoreland
- Bedford (independent city)
- Bristol (independent city)
- Danville (independent city)
- Emporia (independent city)
- Martinsville (independent city)
- Williamsburg (independent city)
Counties and independent cities that flipped from Republican to Independent
- Alleghany
- Arlington
- Botetourt
- Dickenson
- Greene
- Grayson
- Isle of Wight
- Lousia
- Montgomery
- Nansemond
- Page
- Pulaski
- Rockbridge
- Scott
- Smyth
- Stafford
- Sussex
- Warren
- Washington
- York
- Alexandria (independent city)
- Clifton Forge (independent city)
- Buena Vista (independent city)
- Hampton (independent city)
- Newport News (independent city)
- Richmond (independent city)
- Roanoke (independent city)
- Virginia Beach (independent city)