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  Holton Jr., A. Linwood
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationRepublican  
 
NameA. Linwood Holton Jr.
Address
Roanoke, Virginia , United States
EmailNone
WebsiteNone
Born September 21, 1923
DiedOctober 28, 2021 (98 years)
ContributorChase McFadden
Last ModifedRBH
Oct 28, 2021 06:32pm
Tags
InfoHOLTON, Abner Linwood Jr. - the first Republican Governor of Virginia in the 20th century. He was governor from 1970 to 1974. He was the Republican candidate for governor in 1965 but was defeated by Democrat Mills E. Godwin, Jr.. He later unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for the US Senate in 1978, running third in a field of Richard D. Obenshain, John Warner, and Nathan H. Miller .

Holton was a creature of the mountain-valley GOP that fought the "Byrd Machine," and was not in favor of welcoming conservative Democrats into the Virginia Republican Party. Ironically, he was succeeded in 1974 by Godwin, a former conservative Democrat who had turned Republican.

As governor he pushed hard to field Republican candidates in all statewide races instead of endorsing conservative alternatives. This led to weak moderate GOP candidates who ran third in the Virginia US Senate election in 1970 and the special election in 1971 to choose a successor for the deceased J. Sargeant Reynolds.

As the Virginia Republican Party became more conservative, he found himself more in line with the state Democratic Party, ultimately endorsing several Democrats for statewide office, including his son-in-law, Governor Tim Kaine. Although he has in the past supported moderate Republicans including John Warner.

In November 2005, he underwent surgery to treat bladder cancer.

Gov. Holton is a 1944 graduate of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.



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FAMILY
Wife Virginia "Jinks" Rogers Holton Jan 10, 1953-Oct 28, 2021
Son Dwight Holton 0000-
Daughter Anne Holton 1958-

INFORMATION LINKS
Encyclopedia Virginia  Discuss
RACES
  06/03/1978 VA US Senate - R Convention Lost 0.00% (-51.74%)
  11/04/1969 VA Governor Won 52.51% (+7.12%)
  11/02/1965 VA Governor Lost 37.71% (-10.18%)
  11/05/1957 VA State House - Roanoke City Lost 19.38% (-11.65%)
  11/08/1955 VA State House - Roanoke City Lost 24.68% (-2.17%)
ENDORSEMENTS
VA US Senate - Nov 04, 2014 D Mark Warner
VA Governor - Nov 05, 2013 D Terry McAuliffe
VA Governor - Nov 03, 2009 D R. Creigh Deeds
VA US President - Nov 04, 2008 D Barack Obama
VA US Senate - Nov 04, 2008 D Mark Warner
VA Constitutional Amendment - Ban on Same-Sex Marriage/Civil Unions - Nov 07, 2006 NO No
VA Governor - Nov 08, 2005 D Tim Kaine
VA Lt. Governor - Nov 06, 2001 D Tim Kaine
VA Governor - Nov 06, 2001 D Mark Warner