United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 3, 1981, in two states and one territory. Both state seats were open due to term limits, and both also switched parties, resulting in zero net change for both parties.
Election results
States
| State | Incumbent | Party | First elected |
Result | Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey[1] | Brendan Byrne | Democratic | 1973 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
|
| Virginia[2] | John N. Dalton | Republican | 1977 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic gain. |
|
Territories
| State | Incumbent | Party | First elected |
Result | Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Mariana Islands[3][additional citation(s) needed] | Carlos Camacho | Democratic | 1977 | Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
|
References
- ^ "Votes Cast for the Office of Governor of the State of New Jersey" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. 1981. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ^ "Official Election Results 1981" (PDF). Virginia State Board of Elections. 1981. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ^ "Northern Marianas Governor Defeated". The Blade. Associated Press. November 3, 1981. p. 3. Retrieved August 7, 2023 – via Google News Archive.