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In 1964, Lieutenant Governor Godwin endorsed [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] in the race against Republican U.S. Senator [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]]. Johnson had signed into law the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]], which Goldwater had opposed at the time on libertarian grounds against Titles II and VII. In the 1965 gubernatorial race, Godwin was unopposed in the party [[primary]]. In the fall he defeated the Republican Linwood Holton, for whom later President [[Richard Nixon]] had campaigned, and William J. Story, Jr., the nominee of the former Conservative Party of Virginia.

In 1964, Lieutenant Governor Godwin endorsed [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] in the race against Republican U.S. Senator [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]]. Johnson had signed into law the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]], which Goldwater had opposed at the time on libertarian grounds against Titles II and VII. In the 1965 gubernatorial race, Godwin was unopposed in the party [[primary]]. In the fall he defeated the Republican Linwood Holton, for whom later President [[Richard Nixon]] had campaigned, and William J. Story, Jr., the nominee of the former Conservative Party of Virginia.

As he ran for governor against Linwood Holton, Godwin reached out to [[African Americans]]he 1965 gubernatorial race, Godwin reached out to [[African American]] voters during the 1964 presidential campaign by campaigning for President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], who had led the movement for enactment of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964|Civil Rights Act]] of that year.

As he ran for governor against Linwood Holton, Godwin reached out to [[African American]] voters during the 1964 presidential campaign by campaigning for President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], who had led the movement for enactment of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964|Civil Rights Act]] of that year.

In 1965, Godwin was unopposed for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. His earlier support of President Johnson led to the candidacy of William Joseph Story, Jr., the nominee of the former Conservative Party of Virginia. Godwin received the endorsement of the [[AFL-CIO]] and local chapters of the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]]. Despite Story's siphoning of 13 percent of the ballots, Godwin still defeated Republican Linwood Holton, who would succeed him as governor in 1970, 48 to 36 percent. [[George Lincoln Rockwell]], the founder of the American [[Nazi Party]], ran as an [[Independent voter|Independent]] but received only one percent of the [[general election]] vote

In 1965, Godwin was unopposed for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. His earlier support of President Johnson led to the candidacy of William Joseph Story, Jr., the nominee of the former Conservative Party of Virginia. Godwin received the endorsement of the [[AFL-CIO]] and local chapters of the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]]. Despite Story's siphoning of 13 percent of the ballots, Godwin still defeated Republican Linwood Holton, who would succeed him as governor in 1970, 48 to 36 percent. [[George Lincoln Rockwell]], the founder of the American [[Nazi Party]], ran as an [[Independent voter|Independent]] but received only one percent of the [[general election]] vote

After his first term ended in 1970, Godwin began to separate himself from the Democratic Party. Though he managed the successful U.S. Senate campaign of [[Harry F. Byrd, Jr.]], who ran as an Independent, Godwin was denied a seat at the Democratic state convention in 1972. He then joined the "Democrats for Nixon" organization, which helped to defeat the Democratic presidential nominee [[George McGovern]].

After his first term ended in 1970, Godwin began to separate himself from the Democratic Party. Though he managed the successful U.S. Senate campaign of [[Harry F. Byrd, Jr.]], who ran as an Independent, Godwin was denied a seat at the Democratic state convention in 1972. He then joined the "Democrats for Nixon" organization, which helped to defeat the Democratic presidential nominee [[George McGovern]].

In 1973, Godwin won his second term as governor. He defeated Lieutenant Governor Henry E. Howell, Jr., a [[Populism|populist]] [[liberal]] who ran as an Independent. The Democrats did not field a candidate.

In 1973, Godwin won his second term as governor. He defeated Lieutenant Governor Henry E. Howell, Jr., a [[liberal]] [[populist]] who ran as an Independent. The Democrats did not field a candidate. Former governor Godwin was persuaded to run again by conservative Republicans who saw him as the most likely candidate to beat Howell. Although Godwin sought and won the Republican nomination, he did not declare that he had personally switched his party affiliation until his speech to the Republican State Convention in which he accepted his nomination. Godwin only narrowly defeated Howell by 15,000 votes, 50.7 to 49.3 percent. Godwin became the only Virginia governor to be elected to two terms in the 20th century.

Former governor Godwin was persuaded to run again by conservative Republicans who saw him as the most likely candidate to beat Howell. Although Godwin sought and won the Republican nomination, he did not declare that he had personally switched his party affiliation until his speech to the Republican State Convention in which he accepted his nomination. Godwin only narrowly defeated Howell by 15,000 votes, 50.7 to 49.3 percent. Godwin became the only Virginia governor to be elected to two terms in the 20th century. [[Terry McAulifee]] expects to be the second Virginia governor to serve two terms depending on the outcome of the gubernatorial general election on November 2, 2021.

As governor, Godwin abandoned the state's "pay as you go" fiscal policy, which Virginia had followed since the gubernatorial administration of the senior Byrd. Instead, the state issued bonds to pay for capital projects.

As governor, Godwin abandoned the state's "pay as you go" fiscal policy, which Virginia had followed since the gubernatorial administration of the senior Byrd. Instead, the state issued bonds to pay for capital projects.