On November 7, 1989, Lawrence Douglas Wilder was elected governor of Virginia, becoming the first African American to be elected as governor of a U.S. state.  Wilder, a Democrat and the incumbent lieutenant governor, narrowly defeated Republican candidate J. Marshall Coleman in one of the closest elections in Virginia’s history.  He was sworn into office on January 13, 1990, and served until 1994.

Wilder’s election was a historic milestone, as he was the first African American to be elected governor of a U.S. state.  Prior to his governorship, Wilder served as a state senator and as lieutenant governor, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to public service in Virginia.

His tenure as governor was marked by a focus on fiscal responsibility and public safety. Wilder worked on crime and gun control initiatives and successfully lobbied Congress to reallocate highway funds to states with greater needs, benefiting Virginia’s transportation infrastructure.

Wilder’s groundbreaking election paved the way for future African American leaders in U.S. politics, symbolizing progress in the ongoing pursuit of racial equality in governance.