User:Ebn uva/1985-election

The Virginia gubernatorial election of 1985 saw two historic firsts for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Douglas Wilder was elected to serve as Lieutenant Governor. Wilder was the first African-American to win a state-wide election in Virginia. Mary Sue Terry was elected as Commonwealth's Attorney; she was the first woman elected in a state-wide race in the Commonwealth. Gerald L. Baliles won the race for Governor. All three candidates were members of the Democratic Party.

The Republican Party nominated Wyatt Durrette for Governor, John Chichester for Lieutenant Governor, and W.R. "Buster" O'Brien for Commonwealth's Attorney.

Lieutenant Governor's Race
Wilder's margin of victory was the slimmest of the three candidates. His position as Lueitenant Govenor positioned him to become a the first African American ever elected Governor of a U.S. State and just second to serve at such post. He briefly sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992, and later served as Mayor of Richmond from 2005 to 2009.