A gubernatorial election was held in Virginia on December 12, 1848. The Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Washington County John B. Floyd defeated the Democratic judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia George W. Thompson.
The incumbent governor of Virginia William Smith was ineligible for re-election due to term limits established by the Constitution of Virginia. Floyd attracted support based on his stance favoring internal improvements for Western Virginia, as well as from Whigs who considered him the most acceptable of the Democratic candidates.
The election was conducted by the Virginia General Assembly in joint session. No candidate had a majority on the first ballot, requiring two additional rounds of voting. Floyd was elected with a majority on the third ballot.
General election + 1848 Virginia gubernatorial election Party Candidate Ballot 1st 2nd 3rd Democratic John B. Floyd 47 72 96 Democratic George W. Thompson 34 48 55 Democratic Green Berry Samuels 25colspan=2 Democratic William Daniel 23 27 Whig George W. Summers 14 7 1 Democratic John Y. Mason 5 6 6 Whig William Cabell Rives 2 1 Whig Valentine W. Southall 2colspan=2 Whig Allen T. Caperton 1colspan=2 Whig John Janney 1colspan=2 Whig James Lyons 1colspan=2 Whig John Pendleton 1colspan=2 colspan=2 James F. Preston 1colspan=2 Whig William B. Preston 1 1 Whig Alexander Hugh Holmes Stuart 1colspan=2 colspan=2 John W. Syme 1colspan=2 Whig Samuel Watts 1 1 2 161 162 165
References
Bibliography