Virginia governors would be allowed to run for a second, consecutive term of office under a constitutional amendment that has passed the state Senate. The revision would change a tradition that has left Virginia as the sole state in the nation to forbid its governor from running for re-election. The 24 to 15 vote for passage did not break down along party lines.
Opponents say a two-term governor with his thousands of appointments would tip the balance of power against the legislature. Senator Chap Peterson argued that the state has been well-run without a two-term governor. He said the authors of Virginia’s first Constitution opposed lengthy terms due to their experience with royal governors.
“When we declared our independence from Great Britain and we re-chartered ourselves as a new country and a new commonwealth, what was the first thing that we did? We had a one-term governor—his name was Patrick Henry!”
But Senator Dick Saslaw had a different view.
“Back in those days they also believed that you could cure an awful lot of problems by putting leeches on people’s backs. You know, we’ve gone past that.”
He added that today, the governor is a lame duck as soon as he’s elected. Supporters also said a two-term governor would improve stability for long-term planning and economic development.
The change would apply to governors first elected in 2017 and thereafter. The Senate also approved a constitutional amendment to authorize an independent, bipartisan redistricting commission to re-draw legislative district boundaries.
