1960 United States presidential election in Virginia explained

See main article: 1960 United States presidential election.

Election Name:1960 United States presidential election in Virginia
Country:Virginia
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1956 United States presidential election in Virginia
Previous Year:1956
Next Election:1964 United States presidential election in Virginia
Next Year:1964
Election Date:November 8, 1960
Image1:Richard Nixon official portrait as Vice President (cropped).tiff
Nominee1:Richard Nixon
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Home State1:California
Running Mate1:Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.
Electoral Vote1:12
Popular Vote1:404,521
Percentage1:52.44%
Nominee2:John F. Kennedy
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Home State2:Massachusetts
Running Mate2:Lyndon B. Johnson
Electoral Vote2:0
Popular Vote2:362,327
Percentage2:46.97%
Map Size:435px
President
Before Election:Dwight Eisenhower
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:John F. Kennedy
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 1960 United States presidential election in Virginia took place on November 8, 1960. Voters chose 12 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

For six decades Virginia had almost completely disenfranchised its black and poor white populations through the use of a cumulative poll tax and literacy tests.[1] So restricted was suffrage in this period that it has been calculated that a third of Virginia’s electorate during the first half of the twentieth century comprised state employees and officeholders.[1]

This limited electorate allowed Virginian politics to be controlled for four decades by the Byrd Organization, as progressive “antiorganization” factions were rendered impotent by the inability of almost all their potential electorate to vote.[2] Historical fusion with the “Readjuster” Democrats,[3] defection of substantial proportions of the Northeast-aligned white electorate of the Shenandoah Valley and Southwest Virginia over free silver,[4] and an early move towards a “lily white” Jim Crow party[3] meant Republicans retained a small but permanent number of legislative seats and local offices in the western part of the state.[5]

In 1928, the GOP did carry the state’s presidential electoral votes due to anti-Catholicism against Al Smith in the Chesapeake Bay region and increased middle-class Republicanism in the cities,[6] but it was 1952 before any real changes occurred, as in-migration from the traditionally Republican Northeast[7] meant that growing Washington, D.C., and Richmond suburbs would turn Republican not just in presidential elections but also in Congressional ones,[8] although the Republicans would not make significant gains in the state legislature. Opposition to the black civil rights legislation of Harry S. Truman meant that the Byrd Organization did not support Adlai Stevenson II,[9] with the result that Dwight D. Eisenhower carried the state aided by defections of the Southside Thurmond vote from 1948.[10] In 1956, Eisenhower repeated his win despite losing his Southside support due to the President’s opposition to Byrd’s “Massive Resistance” policy following Brown v. Board of Education,[11] as continuing Northern in-migration and a rapid swing to him of the modest but growing number of black voters allowed him to maintain his margin.[12]

In the following years, continuing “Massive Resistance” weakened the GOP in Virginia, as they could not develop a consistent or coherent response: Ted Dalton, who had received 45 percent of the vote in 1953 running against the Byrd Organization, won only 36 percent as his policy of “token integration” was drowned out by the state Democrats.[13]

Although Byrd again refused to endorse Democratic nominee, Senator John F. Kennedy, his former ally before the end of “Massive Resistance”, Governor J. Lindsay Almond, strongly endorsed the Massachusetts Senator against the Republican nominee, incumbent Vice President Richard Nixon.[14]

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Philadelphia Inquirer[15] October 3, 1960
Knoxville News Sentinel[16] October 23, 1960
Daily News[17] October 28, 1960
The Daily Item[18] November 4, 1960
Hattiesburg American[19] November 7, 1960

Results

1960 United States presidential election in Virginia[20]
PartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes
RepublicanRichard Nixon404,52152.44%12
DemocraticJohn F. Kennedy362,32746.97%0
Virginia ConservativeC. Benton Coiner4,2040.54%0
Socialist LaborEric Hass3970.05%0
Totals771,449100.00%12

Results by county or independent city

County/City[21] Richard Nixon
Republican
John F. Kennedy
Democratic
C. Benton Coiner
Virginia Conservative
Eric Hass
Socialist Labor
MarginTotal votes cast
%%%%%
Accomack2,67647.95%2,88451.68%200.36%10.02%-208-3.73%5,581
Albemarle3,13559.47%2,10239.87%340.64%10.02%1,03319.60%5,272
Alexandria8,82647.58%9,66252.08%630.34%570.31%8364.50%18,608
Alleghany1,21448.79%1,26550.84%80.32%10.04%-51-2.05%2,488
Amelia78451.44%70846.46%312.03%10.07%764.98%1,524
Amherst1,45538.83%2,28060.85%100.27%20.05%-825-22.02%3,747
Appomattox95143.07%1,24056.16%140.63%30.14%-289-13.09%2,208
Arlington23,63251.40%22,09548.06%2250.49%250.05%1,5373.34%45,977
Augusta4,03467.36%1,91431.96%400.67%10.02%2,12035.40%5,989
Bath64650.59%62949.26%10.08%10.08%171.33%1,277
Bedford2,91147.87%3,15051.80%170.28%30.05%-239-3.93%6,081
Bland84850.75%82249.19%10.06%00.00%261.56%1,671
Botetourt2,15956.79%1,62142.64%220.58%00.00%53814.15%3,802
Bristol1,72852.38%1,56147.32%90.27%10.03%1675.06%3,299
Brunswick92631.58%1,94266.23%632.15%10.03%-1,016-34.65%2,932
Buchanan2,37038.86%3,70660.76%180.30%50.08%-1,336-21.90%6,099
Buckingham76544.37%94754.93%110.64%10.06%-182-10.56%1,724
Buena Vista48753.05%42746.51%40.44%00.00%606.54%918
Campbell2,90348.63%3,03050.75%370.62%00.00%-127-2.12%5,970
Caroline86436.50%1,48362.65%190.80%10.04%-619-26.15%2,367
Carroll3,70566.29%1,87333.51%90.16%20.04%1,83232.78%5,589
Charles City33734.96%62364.63%30.31%10.10%-286-29.67%964
Charlotte86732.90%1,73565.84%260.99%70.27%-868-32.94%2,635
Charlottesville3,65155.08%2,89443.66%721.09%110.17%75711.42%6,628
Chesterfield9,78761.71%5,98237.72%870.55%30.02%3,80523.99%15,859
Clarke80446.31%92353.17%90.52%00.00%-119-6.86%1,736
Clifton Forge88553.22%77146.36%40.24%30.18%1146.86%1,663
Colonial Heights1,37253.16%1,19846.42%100.39%10.04%1746.74%2,581
Covington1,43647.85%1,55851.92%60.20%10.03%-122-4.07%3,001
Craig43344.78%53455.22%00.00%00.00%-101-10.44%967
Culpeper1,63054.86%1,33244.83%80.27%10.03%29810.03%2,971
Cumberland69154.75%55944.29%120.95%00.00%13210.46%1,262
Danville4,96663.72%2,61133.50%1882.41%290.37%2,35530.22%7,794
Dickenson2,20344.42%2,75655.56%10.02%00.00%-553-11.14%4,960
Dinwiddie93534.81%1,71463.81%361.34%10.04%-779-29.00%2,686
Essex60654.25%50945.57%10.09%10.09%978.68%1,117
Fairfax28,00651.65%26,06448.07%1240.23%250.05%1,9423.58%54,219
Falls Church1,52548.18%1,62951.47%70.22%40.13%-104-3.29%3,165
Fauquier2,12351.86%1,95847.83%130.32%00.00%1654.03%4,094
Floyd1,93370.06%81729.61%40.14%50.18%1,11640.45%2,759
Fluvanna76354.89%61444.17%130.94%00.00%14910.72%1,390
Franklin2,08041.47%2,92458.29%90.18%30.06%-844-16.82%5,016
Frederick2,06153.74%1,75745.81%140.37%30.08%3047.93%3,835
Fredericksburg1,56653.72%1,32645.49%220.75%10.03%2408.23%2,915
Galax86762.96%50836.89%10.07%10.07%35926.07%1,377
Giles2,03046.91%2,21451.17%781.80%50.12%-184-4.26%4,327
Gloucester1,31050.00%1,29749.50%100.38%30.11%130.50%2,620
Goochland85148.66%86249.29%331.89%30.17%-11-0.63%1,749
Grayson3,89358.65%2,73841.25%40.06%30.05%1,15517.40%6,638
Greene57364.24%31435.20%50.56%00.00%25929.04%892
Greensville1,05738.21%1,67660.59%311.12%20.07%-619-22.38%2,766
Halifax1,78439.57%2,67659.36%440.98%40.09%-892-19.79%4,508
Hampton7,62351.48%7,13348.17%430.29%90.06%4903.31%14,808
Hanover3,02059.39%2,02339.78%390.77%30.06%99719.61%5,085
Harrisonburg2,17272.04%83627.73%70.23%00.00%1,33644.31%3,015
Henrico19,44666.52%9,62632.93%1520.52%110.04%9,82033.59%29,235
Henry2,32341.17%3,30658.59%120.21%20.04%-983-17.42%5,643
Highland52756.55%40143.03%30.32%10.11%12613.52%932
Hopewell2,16954.24%1,80545.14%210.53%40.10%3649.10%3,999
Isle of Wight1,14135.91%2,02063.58%130.41%30.09%-879-27.67%3,177
James City87350.49%84548.87%90.52%20.12%281.62%1,729
King and Queen43243.95%53654.53%141.42%10.10%-104-10.58%983
King George68548.58%71750.85%80.57%00.00%-32-2.27%1,410
King William79351.19%74548.10%100.65%10.06%483.09%1,549
Lancaster1,34059.56%89539.78%140.62%10.04%44519.78%2,250
Lee3,36346.29%3,86753.23%240.33%110.15%-504-6.94%7,265
Loudoun2,52650.99%2,39948.43%280.57%10.02%1272.56%4,954
Louisa1,17047.60%1,24450.61%391.59%50.20%-74-3.01%2,458
Lunenburg83835.22%1,45160.99%903.78%00.00%-613-25.77%2,379
Lynchburg7,27159.33%4,96140.48%230.19%10.01%2,31018.85%12,256
Madison99860.38%63638.48%191.15%00.00%36221.90%1,653
Martinsville1,72949.16%1,69948.31%842.39%50.14%300.85%3,517
Mathews1,06960.95%68238.88%30.17%00.00%38722.07%1,754
Mecklenburg1,93642.70%2,53355.87%641.41%10.02%-597-13.17%4,534
Middlesex82358.70%57440.94%50.36%00.00%24917.76%1,402
Montgomery4,27066.25%2,15733.47%170.26%10.02%2,11332.78%6,445
Nansemond1,34625.29%3,94474.09%240.45%90.17%-2,598-48.80%5,323
Nelson77534.17%1,48065.26%130.57%00.00%-705-31.09%2,268
New Kent52651.67%48147.25%100.98%10.10%454.42%1,018
Newport News10,09853.56%8,67846.02%750.40%40.02%1,4207.54%18,855
Norfolk3,76942.18%5,10157.08%650.73%10.01%-1,332-14.90%8,936
Norfolk City17,17443.51%22,03755.83%2480.63%140.04%-4,863-12.32%39,473
Northampton99541.60%1,38757.98%90.38%10.04%-392-16.38%2,392
Northumberland1,34060.61%85838.81%110.50%20.09%48221.80%2,211
Norton54951.02%52648.88%10.09%00.00%232.14%1,076
Nottoway1,31940.14%1,88257.27%842.56%10.03%-563-17.13%3,286
Orange1,41354.28%1,10842.57%783.00%40.15%30511.71%2,603
Page2,70862.53%1,60837.13%100.23%50.12%1,10025.40%4,331
Patrick1,36244.98%1,65554.66%90.30%20.07%-293-9.68%3,028
Petersburg2,82048.60%2,95050.84%320.55%10.02%-130-2.24%5,803
Pittsylvania3,78847.62%4,08951.41%670.84%100.13%-301-3.79%7,954
Portsmouth6,90040.64%9,90258.32%1650.97%130.08%-3,002-17.68%16,980
Powhatan77958.66%52839.76%191.43%20.15%25118.90%1,328
Prince Edward1,72153.55%1,45945.40%310.96%30.09%2628.15%3,214
Prince George72742.14%98356.99%130.75%20.12%-256-14.85%1,725
Princess Anne4,84444.67%5,95454.91%230.41%50.09%-1,110-10.24%10,843
Prince William2,62446.53%2,98752.97%390.36%60.06%-363-6.44%5,639
Pulaski3,05958.75%2,10440.41%440.85%00.00%95518.34%5,207
Radford1,66357.11%1,24042.58%90.31%00.00%42314.53%2,912
Rappahannock42643.69%54455.79%30.31%20.21%-118-12.10%975
Richmond80164.96%42534.47%60.49%10.08%37630.49%1,233
Richmond City27,30760.41%17,64239.03%2450.54%110.02%9,66521.38%45,205
Roanoke9,10967.31%4,38432.40%360.27%30.02%4,72534.91%13,532
Roanoke City15,22962.28%9,17537.52%360.27%30.02%6,05424.76%24,453
Rockbridge2,17060.53%1,40539.19%100.28%00.00%76521.34%3,585
Rockingham4,82970.27%2,02629.48%160.23%10.01%2,80340.79%6,872
Russell3,04446.44%3,49653.34%120.18%20.03%-452-6.90%6,554
Scott4,93656.45%3,78943.33%150.17%40.05%1,14713.12%8,744
Shenandoah4,14466.85%2,05333.12%20.03%00.00%2,09133.73%6,199
Smyth4,25659.62%2,86440.12%160.22%20.03%1,39219.50%7,138
South Boston80762.70%47737.06%20.16%10.08%33025.64%1,287
South Norfolk1,34138.09%2,15561.20%240.68%10.03%-814-23.11%3,521
Southampton1,26330.62%2,80467.98%571.38%10.02%-1,541-37.36%4,125
Spotsylvania1,28846.02%1,48252.95%230.82%60.21%-194-6.93%2,799
Stafford1,44748.80%1,49450.39%220.74%20.07%-47-1.59%2,965
Staunton2,78969.17%1,23330.58%90.22%10.02%1,55638.59%4,032
Suffolk1,40649.61%1,41950.07%90.32%00.00%-13-0.46%2,834
Surry39727.51%1,00369.51%402.77%30.21%-606-42.00%1,443
Sussex71335.78%1,25362.87%251.25%20.10%-540-27.09%1,993
Tazewell3,13941.44%4,41658.30%190.25%00.00%-1,277-16.86%7,574
Virginia Beach98642.48%1,30156.05%331.42%10.04%-315-13.57%2,321
Warren1,84249.52%1,85049.73%250.67%30.08%-8-0.21%3,720
Washington4,47353.59%3,83345.92%330.40%80.10%6407.67%8,347
Waynesboro2,44469.57%1,04729.80%220.63%00.00%1,39739.77%3,513
Westmoreland1,17653.00%1,03446.60%80.36%10.05%1426.40%2,219
Williamsburg72159.10%48639.84%120.98%10.08%23519.26%1,220
Winchester2,32665.61%1,20333.94%160.45%00.00%1,12331.67%3,545
Wise3,87639.89%5,82259.92%170.17%10.01%-1,946-20.03%9,716
Wythe2,87157.50%2,07541.56%390.78%80.16%79615.94%4,993
York2,08554.94%1,69144.56%190.50%00.00%39410.38%3,795
Totals404,52152.44%362,32746.97%4,2040.54%3970.05%42,1945.47%771,449

Analysis

Unlike such states as Oklahoma, Tennessee[22] or Kentucky, Nixon’s victory in Virginia despite losing nationally did not reflect anti-Catholicism: only two counties or independent cities gave Nixon a better percentage than Eisenhower had won in 1956.[21] Nixon’s win reflected his continuing dominance of the Byrd Organization stronghold in the Shenandoah Valley, and maintaining Republican control of newly developing suburbs. Kennedy’s general gain was greatest amongst the small but slowly growing black electorate, where he reversed Eisenhower’s large gains at the preceding election.

, this is the last occasion when Appomattox County, Campbell County, Lunenburg County, Mecklenburg County and Pittsylvania County have voted for a Democratic presidential candidate.[23]

Virginia, as the polls hinted, voted for Nixon over Kennedy by a clear though not overwhelming 5.47 percentage point margin, still a double-digit decline from Eisenhower’s two victories in the state. This was the first time a Democrat was elected president without carrying the state of Virginia, and the only time between 1924 and 1976 that Virginia backed the losing candidate.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kousser, J. Morgan. The Shaping of Southern Politics: Suffrage Restriction and the Establishment of the One-Party South, 1880-1910. Yale University Press. 178–181. 0-300-01696-4.
  2. Book: Key, Valdimer Orlando. Southern Politics in State and Nation. 1949. 20–25.
  3. Book: Heersink. Boris. Jenkins. Jeffrey A.. Republican Party Politics and the American South, 1865-1968. 217–221. 1107158435.
  4. Moger. Allen. The Rift in Virginia Democracy in 1896. The Journal of Southern History. 4. 3. 295–317.
  5. Book: [[Kevin Phillips (political commentator)|Phillips]], Kevin P.. The Emerging Republican Majority. 193, 219. 1969. 0870000586.
  6. Phillips; The Emerging Republican Majority, p. 195
  7. Book: Heinemann, Ronald L.. Old Dominion, New Commonwealth: A History of Virginia, 1607-2007. 357. 2008. Charlottesville. University of Virginia Press. 0813927692.
  8. Book: Atkinson, Frank B.. The Dynamic Dominion: Realignment and the Rise of Two-party Competition in Virginia, 1945-1980. 2006. 9780742552098. Rowman & Littlefield.
  9. Book: Ely, James W.. The Crisis of Conservative Virginia: the Byrd Organization and the Politics of Massive Resistance. 16. 0870491881. 1976. University of Tennessee Press. Knoxville, Tennessee.
  10. Strong. Donald S.. The Presidential Election in the South, 1952. The Journal of Politics. 17. 3. August 1955. 343–389. The University of Chicago Press.
  11. See Book: Wilhoit, Francis M.. The politics of massive resistance. 147. 0807607002. 1973.
  12. Atkinson. The Dynamic Dominion, p. 100
  13. Atkinson. The Dynamic Dominion, pp. 103-108
  14. Atkinson. The Dynamic Dominion, pp. 125-126
  15. News: Hoffman. Fred S.. How Election Looks Today. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. October 3, 1960. 1, 3.
  16. News: Populous States Are Key: Both Parties Claim Enough Votes To Win. A-4. October 23, 1960. Knoxville News Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee.
  17. News: Lewis. Ted. Campaign Circus. Daily News. Jersey City, New Jersey. October 28, 1960. 4C.
  18. News: November 4, 1960. Poll of Editors Predicts Victory for Nixon-Lodge: Republican Ticket Seen Winning in 28 States and Democrats in 19. 3. The Daily Item.
  19. News: Gould . Geoffrey . November 7, 1960 . Final Survey Shows Race a Tossup to the Finish . 16 . . Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
  20. Web site: Statistics. April 15, 1961 . clerk.house.gov. PDF. 2019-07-30.
  21. Web site: Our Campaigns. VA US President 1960.
  22. Web site: Our Campaigns. TN US President, November 08, 1960.
  23. Book: Menendez, Albert J.. The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004. 326–331. 0786422173. 2005.