<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>
who 's winning the election in virginia for governor
Ralph Northam