<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The Virginia gubernatorial election of 2017 was held on November 7, 2017 . The incumbent governor, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, was not eligible to run for re-election due to term limits established by the Virginia Constitution . Virginia is the only state that prohibits its governor from serving consecutive terms . </P> <P> Primary elections took place on June 13, 2017 . Virginia utilizes an open primary, in which registered voters are allowed to vote in either party's primary election . The Democratic Party nominated Ralph Northam and the Republican Party nominated Ed Gillespie . The Libertarian Party nominated Clifford Hyra by convention on May 6, 2017 . </P> <P> In the general election on November 7, 2017, Democratic nominee Ralph Northam defeated Republican nominee Ed Gillespie, winning by the largest margin for a Democrat since 1985 . Northam will become the 73rd governor of Virginia, and take office on January 13, 2018 . The election had the highest voter turnout percentage in a Virginia gubernatorial election in twenty years with 47% of the state's constituency casting their ballot . </P>

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