Democratic governor of
Virginia, 1990-94. Notable as the first elected
black governor in the
United States since
Reconstruction. Wilder's policies generally skewed moderate to
liberal socially, and mostly
conservative fiscally. His most lasting policy was Virginia's one-gun-per-month
gun control law.
Wilder ran briefly as an independent in the 1994 Senate race, challenging Democratic incumbent Chuck Robb, Republican Oliver North, and formerly-Republican independent Marshall Coleman. After supporters collected enough signatures to get his name on the ballot statewide, Wilder dropped out of the race in September, saying he'd lost the desire to run. He then briefly dropped back in in October before bowing out for good at the begging of Democratic leaders, saying he was endangering Robb's chances. For a larger examination of this race, visit my Oliver North WU.