1794 Virginia gubernatorial election

A gubernatorial election was held in Virginia on November 20, 1794.^[1] The Democratic-Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Spotsylvania County Robert Brooke defeated the Federalist member of the Council of State James Wood.^[2]

1794 Virginia gubernatorial election

← 1793 November 20, 1794 1795 →

Nominee Robert Brooke James Wood Party Democratic-Republican Federalist 1st ballot 90 60

Governor before election Henry Lee III Federalist Elected Governor Robert Brooke Democratic-Republican

The Federalist incumbent governor Henry Lee III was ineligible for re-election due to term limits established by the Constitution of Virginia.^[3] Lee courted controversy near the end of his term when he accepted command of United States troops during the Whiskey Rebellion, an action unpopular with Democratic-Republicans and farmers in Western Virginia. On November 21, the House of Delegates found Lee had forfeited his office by accepting a lucrative U.S. commission and declared the governorship vacant, nine days before Lee was due to leave office on December 1.^[4]

The election was conducted by the Virginia General Assembly in joint session.^[3] Brooke defeated Wood on the first ballot.^[2]

General election

1794 Virginia gubernatorial election^[2]

Party		Candidate	First ballot
			Count	Percent
	Democratic-Republican	Robert Brooke	90	60.00
	Federalist	James Wood	60	40.00
Total			150	100.00