United States gubernatorial elections were held 6 November 1973, in two states.
In Virginia, former Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr., who was elected in the 1965 gubernatorial election as a Democrat, ran and won as a Republican. He defeated Henry Howell, who was also a former Democrat.
In New Jersey, the moderate incumbent Republican William T. Cahill was defeated in the primary by Charles W. Sandman Jr. Cahill did not campaign for Sandman, and Brendan Byrne defeated Sandman handily.
Closest races
States where the margin of victory was under 5%:
- Virginia, 1.44%
New Jersey
The 1973 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1973. Incumbent Governor William T. Cahill ran for reelection, but was defeated in the Republican primary by Charles W. Sandman Jr. In the general election, Democratic nominee Brendan Byrne defeated Sandman with 66.67% of the vote.
Virginia
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.