How does Virginia’s governor election work and how is it different from other states?

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- With only a month away until the June 17 primaries, many Virginians question the state's unique rules for gubernatorial terms and elections. Since Virginia governors are not allowed to serve consecutive terms, Virginians are raising a common question: How does Virginia's governor election work, and how is it different from other states?

Unlike most states, Virginia prohibits its governors from serving consecutive terms, making its gubernatorial elections different from other states. This is due to Virginia's governor being prohibited from serving consecutive terms, so they cannot run for reelection to serve another consecutive term.l

What does it take to become governor?

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Qualifications to become governor

Before the primaries or choosing a Democratic nominee or Republican nominee for governor, to get on the ballot, each candidate must file 10,000 signatures, including at least 400 qualified voter signatures from each of the 11 congressional districts in the Commonwealth, the Code of Virginia states.

According to Article V, Section 3 of the Virginia Constitution, candidates for governor must:

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be at least thirty years old
• Be a resident and a registered voter in the Commonwealth of Virginia for at least five years before the election

Powers and duties

The governor, like other state governors, acts as the commander-in-chief of the state's armed forces and fills vacancies in state offices, according to Article V, Section 7 of the state Constitution. With legislative power, the governor can veto bills, and with judicial powers, such as granting pardons and commuting sentences.

Article V, Section 12 states that the governor can commute or reduce capital punishment. The governor has judicial powers, including the ability to grant pardons, reprieves and commute sentences, except in cases prosecuted. The section also said that he must communicate to the General Assembly at each regular session and discuss the specifics of each case. This could mean anything from fines, penalties, reprieves or pardons and punishment commutation. As per Article V, Section 6, the governor can either sign or veto a bill returned to him from a reconvened session

In the Code of Virginia, it states that the governor can also issue executive orders to control, restrict, allocate or regulate the use of essential goods. 

Term limits

Virginia is one of the few states that hold major statewide elections in "off-off" years, meaning odd-numbered years, which means they do not coincide with federal elections. The U.S. presidential election took place on Nov. 5, 2024, and the next U.S. presidential election will occur on Nov. 7, 2028.

Gubernatorial elections are held during "off-off" years often experience lower voter turnout in off-year elections.

The Virginia governor is limited to serving only one four-year term. Other states may have term limits, but they often allow governors to serve multiple terms, either consecutively or non-consecutively. This differs from the lieutenant governor, who serves a four-year term but without a limit on the number of terms they serve, since the governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately.

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Mills Godwin was one of the only governors of Virginia who served two non-consecutive terms, once as a Democrat and once as a Republican.

The following are the other respective term limits and the states which follow them:

• Two consecutive four-year terms:
  • Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia
• Two terms in total limit, regardless of whether it is consecutive:
  • Arkansas, California, Delaware, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma
• Cannot serve more than 8 out of any 12 years:
  • Indiana, Oregon and Wyoming
• Cannot serve more than 8 out of any 16 years:
  • Montana
• Unlimited amount of time with no restrictions:
  • Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin

Spanberger vs Earle-Sears 2025

Early voting for the June 17 primary elections began on May 2. The Virginia gubernatorial election will be held on Nov. 4, 2025, to elect the next governor.

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During an open primary or caucus, voters do not have to be registered with a political party to take part in its primary or caucus.

There are multiple primary election processes, including open, closed. semi-open and semi-closed. The following is what each of those mean:

• Open Primaries:
  • Only voters registered with that party can take part and vote.
• Closed Primaries:
  • Only voters registered with that party can take part and vote.
• Semi-Open Primaries:
  • Voters can choose to participate in any party's primary but must publicly declare their choice and receive that party's ballot.
• Semi-Closed Primaries:
  • Registered party members can only vote in their party's primary.

Virginia uses open primaries.

As of the time of reporting, former U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger secured the Democratic nominee on April 3, while Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears secured the Republican nominee on April 5.

If elected, either Spanberger or Earle-Sears would become Virginia's first female governor.

To find your polling place, check your registration status or request an absentee ballot, click here.