Former Republican Governor of Virginia
“My time as Governor taught me a thing or two about the qualities needed to ensure the Commonwealth remains the best place in the country to live and work. Virginia needs a Governor who will work across the aisle to find mainstream solutions to growing our economy. There needs to be a singular focus on these economic issues, not an ideological agenda that divides people. I’m supporting Terry McAuliffe because he has that focus, he will put partisan politics aside and work every day to move Virginia forward. Terry has shown his focus already by emphasizing the importance of improving community colleges and working across the aisle to support the critical bipartisan transportation proposal.”
Linwood Holton Jr. was Virginia’s 61st Governor and served from 1970-1974. He was the first Republican governor elected since Reconstruction, and was a champion for civil rights across the Commonwealth, declaring an end to the state’s anti-desegregation policy. Holton was well known for being able to work across the aisle with the Democratic-dominated legislature at the time to find solutions to issues such as transportation, government efficiency, and the environment. Holton is credited with reorganizing the executive branch and creating a cabinet system, as well as creating a unified Ports authority in Hampton Roads.
Holton was born in Big Stone Gap, and attended Washington and Lee University, and Harvard Law School. Governor Holton also served with the Submarine Force during World War II and he was a captain with the U.S. Naval Reserve. After his tenure as Governor, he served as Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs under President Nixon from 1974-1975.
