Final Post-Reconstruction Southern Republican Primary: Virginia

[Indy Texas]

A. Linwood Holton (Governor, 1970-1974)
William L. Scott (U.S. Senator, 1973-1979)
Mills E. Godwin* (Governor, 1966-1970 as Democrat, 1974-1978 as Republican)
John N. Dalton (Governor, 1978-1982)
John Warner (U.S. Senator, 1979-2009)
Paul S. Trible, Jr. (U.S. Senator, 1983-1989)
George Allen (Governor, 1994-1998; U.S. Senator, 2001-2007)
Jim Gilmore (Governor, 1998-2002)
Bob McDonnell (Governor, 2010-2014)

This lot is a colorful bunch:

Linwood Holton's daughter married Tim Kaine, who was also governor, though as a Democrat. Holton himself crossed party lines in 2008 to endorse Barack Obama for president.

William L. Scott was named the nation's dumbest senator by a gag magazine, and Scott, failing to pick up on the satirical nature of the piece, called a press conference to refute (or perhaps prove) the charges.

Mills E. Godwin arguably exemplified the migration of conservative, segregationist Democrats into the GOP during the period of his two terms.

John Warner was married to the actress Elizabeth Taylor at the time of his election, and only became the GOP's Senate nominee in 1978 after their first choice died in a plane crash.

George Allen went from 2008 presidential shortlister to political irrelevance with one ill-chosen word.

Jim Gilmore's 2008 presidential bid would go down as the most forgettable in history if anyone actually remembered he was ever a candidate.

Bob McDonnell likes to have rich men buy him pretty clothes and nice things.

[Zioneer]

John Warner doesn't seem to have been too bad.

[moderatevoter]

John Warner. Always liked him. I liked McDonnell too as a Governor, but giftgate is kind of hard to ignore.

[Miles]

Voted Holton but overlooked Warner.

[Meursault]

Warner was an early neo-con. Holton.

[Potatoe]

Jesus, everyone in this poll who didn't vote for Allen is a Democracy hating macaca.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Holton by a mile, with Warner in second.