1953 Virginia gubernatorial election

{{short description|none}}

{{for|related races|1953 United States gubernatorial elections}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 1953 Virginia gubernatorial election

| country = Virginia

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 1949 Virginia gubernatorial election

| previous_year = 1949

| next_election = 1957 Virginia gubernatorial election

| next_year =1957

| election_date = November 3, 1953

| image1 = File:Thomas Bahnson Stanley (3x4a).jpg

| image_size = 150x150px

| nominee1 = Thomas B. Stanley

| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)

| popular_vote1 = 226,998

| percentage1 = 54.8%

| image2 = File:Ted Dalton 1956.jpg

| nominee2 = Ted Dalton

| party2 = Republican Party (United States)

| popular_vote2 = 183,328

| percentage2 = 44.3%

| map_image = 1953 Virginia gubernatorial election results map by county.svg

| map_size = 300px

| map_caption = County and independent city results
Stanley: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}
Dalton: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}

| title = Governor

| before_election = John S. Battle

| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)

| after_election = Thomas B. Stanley

| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{ElectionsVA}}

In the 1953 Virginia gubernatorial election, incumbent Governor John S. Battle, a Democrat, was unable to seek re-election due to term limits. Virginia State Senator Theodore Roosevelt Dalton was nominated by the Republican Party to run against former Democratic U.S. Representative Thomas B. Stanley.

As of 2021, this is the last time that the city of Norfolk voted Republican for Governor of Virginia.