Jennifer Leigh McClellan(born December 28, 1972) is an American politician and attorney who has served as theU.S. representativeforVirginia's 4th congressional districtsince 2023. A member of theDemocratic Party,she represented the9th districtin theVirginia State Senatefrom 2017 to 2023 and the71st districtin theVirginia House of Delegatesfrom 2009 to 2017. She ran in the Democratic primary forgovernor of Virginiain the2021 election,losing to former governorTerry McAuliffe.[1]
Jennifer McClellan | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2023 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromVirginia's4thdistrict | |
| Assumed office March 7, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Donald McEachin |
| Member of theVirginia Senate from the9thdistrict | |
| In office January 13, 2017 – March 7, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Donald McEachin |
| Succeeded by | Lamont Bagby |
| Member of theVirginia House of Delegates from the71stdistrict | |
| In office January 11, 2006 – January 13, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Viola Baskerville |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Bourne |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jennifer Leigh McClellan December 28, 1972 Petersburg, Virginia,U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
David Mills (m.2008) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Richmond(BA) University of Virginia(JD) |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
McClellan was the Democratic nominee in the2023 Virginia's 4th congressional district special election,[1][2]and defeated Republican nominee Leon Benjamin with 74.4% of the vote.[3]She is the first Black woman elected to Congress from Virginia.[4]
Early life and education
editMcClellan was born inPetersburg, Virginia.[5]Her father, James Fennimore McClellan Jr., was a professor atVirginia State University,where her mother, Lois Dedeaux McClellan, worked as a counselor.[6]Both her parents were involved incivil rights activism.[7]She attendedMatoaca High SchoolinChesterfield County,where she wasvaledictorian.[8]She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and political science from theUniversity of Richmondin 1994, and aJuris Doctorfrom theUniversity of Virginia School of Lawin 1997.[9][10]
Early career
edit
After law school, McClellan began practicing law atHunton & Williams.[8]She has also worked as regulatory counsel forVerizon Communications.[11]
Virginia House of Delegates
editIn 2005, she ran for office for the first time, seeking the Virginia House of Delegates seat vacated byViola Baskerville,who stepped down to run forlieutenant governor of Virginia.McClellan won the election and from 2006 to 2017 represented the 71st district in the House of Delegates, which comprised parts of the city ofRichmondandHenrico County.[8][12]
McClellan has served as vice chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia.[13]As the highest-ranking female party officer, she was also automatically a member of theDemocratic National Committee(DNC). As a DNC member, she was asuperdelegateto the2008 Democratic National Convention.[14]She has also served as vice chair of theVirginia Legislative Black Caucus[15]and became the first pregnant Virginia delegate to participate in a legislative session.[8]
McClellan was an outspoken critic of GovernorBob McDonnell's efforts to overhaul Virginia's pension system in 2012. She opposed the cuts to retirement benefits for teachers and public safety employees, and argued that Republican lawmakers had rushed the legislation to minimize any scrutiny from Democrats andlabor unions.[16][17]
Virginia Senate
editMcClellan was elected to the Virginia Senate in a special election on January 10, 2017, to fill the 9th district seat vacated byDonald McEachin's election to theU.S. House of Representatives.She defeatedLibertarian Partynominee Corey Fauconier.[18]In the race, she was endorsed by McEachin, as well as Richmond MayorLevar Stoney,U.S. SenatorsTim KaineandMark Warner,and GovernorTerry McAuliffe.[19]Her seat was once held by former governorDouglas Wilder.
In 2019, McClellan co-sponsored theRepeal Act,which would have lifted some of Virginia's restrictions onabortion.[20]In 2020, she introduced legislation to help end theschool-to-prison pipelineby trainingschool resource officersin adolescent psychology.[21]She has also sponsored theVirginia Clean Economy Act[22]and theVoting Rights Act of Virginia,both of which were signed into law. She called the passage of the Voting Rights Act "a huge victory for our democracy. While other states are threatening voting rights, Virginia took a major step today to protect the right to vote."[23]She led the commissioning of theEmancipation and Freedom Monument,which was installed onBrown's Islandin September 2021.[24]
2021 gubernatorial campaign
edit
In June 2020, McClellan announced her candidacy forgovernor of Virginiain2021.[12]In a Democratic primary debate atVirginia State University,she called herself a "nominee who will excite and expand our base. I’ve spent 31 years building this party and electing Democrats at the local, state and national level. It’s not enough to give someone something to vote against. We’ve got to give people something to vote for."[25]Her campaign was attacked by Senate colleagueAmanda Chase,who claimed that McClellan's leadership role in the Legislative Black Caucus disqualified her from representing all Virginians as governor (Chase was latercensuredfor herracistremark, among other controversies).[26]
Former governorTerry McAuliffe,whose transition team McClellan led when he waselected in 2013,[27]won the nomination, with former state delegateJennifer Carroll Foytaking a distant second place and McClellan not far behind in third.[28]McAuliffe went on to narrowly lose the general election to Republican nomineeGlenn Youngkin.[29]Had either McClellan or Carroll Foy won the election, she would have become the firstfemale governorof Virginia, the secondBlack governorof Virginia afterDouglas Wilder,and the first Black female U.S. governor.[30]
U.S. House of Representatives
editElections
edit2023 special
editMcClellan was the Democratic nominee in the 2023 special election forVirginia's 4th congressional district;[2][31]the seat became vacant when incumbentDonald McEachindied fromcolorectal canceron November 28, 2022. She won afirehouse primaryon December 20, 2022, then defeated pastor Leon Benjamin in the general election on February 21, 2023.[32][33][34]She is the first Black woman elected to Congress from Virginia.[35]She was sworn in on March 7, 2023.[36][37]
Caucus memberships
edit- Congressional Black Caucus
- Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment(vice chair)[38]
- Congressional Progressive Caucus[39]
- New Democrat Coalition[40]
Committee assignments
editPersonal life
editMcClellan married David Mills on November 15, 2008.[41][42]Her mentor,Tim Kaine,officiated the wedding ceremony.[8]She and her husband live in Richmond with their two children. She is aPresbyterian.[10]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jennifer McClellan | 7,849 | 91.3 | |
| Libertarian | Corey Falconer | 692 | 8.1 | |
| Total votes | 8,596 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jennifer McClellan (incumbent) | 49,451 | 80.1 | |
| Libertarian | Mark Lewis | 11,707 | 19.0 | |
| Total votes | 61,771 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Terry McAuliffe | 307,367 | 62.10 | |
| Democratic | Jennifer Carroll Foy | 98,052 | 19.81 | |
| Democratic | Jennifer McClellan | 58,213 | 11.76 | |
| Democratic | Justin Fairfax | 17,606 | 3.56 | |
| Democratic | Lee J. Carter | 13,694 | 2.77 | |
| Total votes | 494,932 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jennifer McClellan | 23,661 | 84.8 | |
| Democratic | Joe Morrissey | 3,782 | 13.6 | |
| Democratic | Tavorise Marks | 217 | 0.8 | |
| Democratic | Joseph Preston | 174 | 0.6 | |
| Unallocated | 66 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 27,900 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jennifer McClellan | 82,040 | 74.41 | +9.49 | |
| Republican | Leon Benjamin | 28,083 | 25.47 | −9.43 | |
| Write-in | 129 | 0.12 | -0.06 | ||
| Total votes | 110,252 | 100.0 | |||
| Democratichold | |||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ab"Jennifer McClellan is poised to become Virginia's first Black woman in Congress".NPR.Associated Press.December 22, 2022.RetrievedDecember 22,2022.
- ^abFlynn, Meagan; Vozzella, Laura (December 13, 2022)."State Sen. Jennifer McClellan seeks to fill McEachin's seat in Congress".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on December 13, 2022.
- ^"McClellan elected as Virginia's first Black woman in Congress".Politico.February 21, 2023.
- ^Jennifer McClellan will win special election and become Virginia’s first Black congresswoman, CNN projects,Chandelis Duster, CNN. February 21, 2023
- ^Schneider, Gregory S. (May 22, 2021)."Two women chasing history put the spotlight on one Virginia city with a compelling history of its own".The Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.RetrievedJanuary 20,2022.
- ^"James F. McClellan Jr".Legacy.RetrievedMarch 8,2023.
- ^"Meet Jenn".Jennifer McClellan for Congress.RetrievedJanuary 16,2023.
- ^abcdeMoomaw, Graham (December 23, 2016)."After 'devastating' 2016 election, McClellan plans next political chapter".Richmond Times-Dispatch.RetrievedFebruary 8,2017.
- ^Woo, Megan (October 23, 2016)."Governor McAuliffe accepts civil rights award".NBC12.RetrievedFebruary 8,2017.
- ^ab"Jennifer McClellan's Biography".Vote Smart.RetrievedDecember 20,2022.
- ^Wilson, Patrick (February 3, 2017)."Sen. Jennifer McClellan, working for Verizon on wireless infrastructure bill, recuses herself from vote".Richmond Times-Dispatch.RetrievedFebruary 8,2017.
- ^abSchneider, Gregory S. (June 18, 2020)."State Sen. Jennifer McClellan announces she'll run for Virginia governor in 2021".The Washington Post.RetrievedJuly 22,2020.
- ^"Ninth District Senate election pits McClellan, Fauconier".Henrico Citizen.January 10, 2017. Archived fromthe originalon January 11, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 8,2017.
- ^"Democratic Party Super Delegates -- 2008".The Washington Post.RetrievedJanuary 9,2019.
- ^Martz, Michael (June 18, 2020)."Richmond Sen. Jennifer McClellan launches campaign for governor in 'unique times'".Richmond Times-Dispatch.Archivedfrom the original on June 18, 2020.RetrievedMarch 18,2021.
- ^Vozzella, Laura (March 29, 2012)."Delegate urges McDonnell to veto pension bill members didn't have time to read before passing".The Washington Post.RetrievedFebruary 6,2023.
- ^McNeil, Tommie (March 29, 2012)."'Virginia Pension Protection Coalition'".Virginia Public Radio.RetrievedFebruary 6,2023.
- ^Chaney, Matthew (January 11, 2017)."Jennifer McClellan wins Virginia's 9th Senate District election".WRIC.RetrievedFebruary 8,2017.
- ^Freeman, Jr., Vernon (January 9, 2017)."9th Senate District seat up for grabs in special election Tuesday".WTVR.RetrievedFebruary 8,2017.
- ^"LIS > Bill Tracking > Patrons > 2019 session: HB 2491 Abortion; eliminate certain requirements".Virginia's Legislative Information System.Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
- ^Shillingford, Brendan (December 3, 2020)."New Virginia laws seek to close 'school-to-prison pipeline'".AP News.
- ^"LIS > Bill Tracking > SB851 > 2020 session: SB 851 Electric utility regulation; environmental goals".Virginia's Legislative Information System.Division of Legislative Automated Systems.RetrievedOctober 19,2021.
- ^"Gov. Northam approves Voting Rights Act of Virginia".ABC 3.March 31, 2021.
- ^Shivaram, Deepa (September 22, 2021)."An Emancipation Statue Debuts In Virginia Two Weeks After Robert E. Lee Was Removed".NPR.RetrievedSeptember 22,2021.
- ^"Debate recap: Democrats vying to be Virginia's governor pitch to voters in final primary debate".8News.June 2, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 9,2022.
- ^Vozzella, Laura (May 13, 2021)."Defeated Va. gubernatorial candidate Amanda Chase loses bid to overturn state Senate censure".The Washington Post.
- ^Portnoy, Jenna (September 8, 2016)."Bobby Scott: The congressman who could make history. Again".The Washington Post.Archived fromthe originalon September 9, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 8,2016.
- ^"DDHQ Election Results".results.decisiondeskhq.RetrievedJune 9,2021.
- ^"2021 November General".results.elections.virginia.gov.Archived fromthe originalon April 12, 2022.RetrievedNovember 3,2021.
- ^Moomaw, Graham (April 7, 2020)."Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy files paperwork to run for governor".Virginia Mercury.RetrievedJuly 22,2020.
- ^Flynn, Meagan (December 22, 2022)."Jennifer McClellan wins Virginia 4th District primary for McEachin's seat".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on December 22, 2022.RetrievedDecember 22,2022.
- ^Kealy, Caroline (November 29, 2022)."Rep. Donald McEachin passes away at 61 after battle with colorectal cancer".CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR.RetrievedNovember 29,2022.
- ^"Rep. Don McEachin dies".Cardinal News.November 29, 2022.RetrievedNovember 29,2022.
- ^"Other Democrats Are Performing Better Than Biden - The Union Journal".The Union Journal.February 28, 2023.RetrievedMarch 2,2023.
- ^"Jennifer McClellan will win special election and become Virginia's first Black congresswoman, CNN projects | CNN Politics".CNN.February 22, 2023.
- ^"On our radar: Jennifer McClellan will be sworn in to Congress next week".The Washington Post.March 2, 2023.
- ^Duster, Chandelis (March 7, 2023)."Jennifer McClellan sworn in as first Black congresswoman to represent Virginia".CNN.RetrievedMarch 10,2023.
- ^staff, St Louis American (March 29, 2023)."Rep. Cori Bush leading new push for ERA passage".St. Louis American.
- ^"Caucus Members".Congressional Progressive Caucus.RetrievedSeptember 11,2023.
- ^"Committees and Caucuses".Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan.January 3, 2023.RetrievedMarch 25,2023.
- ^Cain, Andrew; Martz, Michael (December 14, 2022)."Kaine endorses McClellan for McEachin's congressional seat".Richmond Times-Dispatch.RetrievedJanuary 17,2023.
- ^@JennMcClellanVA (November 16, 2022)."How it started. How it's going. Anniversary Edition"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
- ^"Elections Database".Virginia Board of Elections.RetrievedAugust 10,2019.
- ^"Virginia State Senate District 9".Ballotpedia.RetrievedNovember 10,2019.
- ^"2021 June Democratic Primary".Archivedfrom the original on June 9, 2021.RetrievedJune 9,2021.
- ^"Democratic firehouse primary results".Virginia Democratic Party. December 22, 2022.
- ^"2023 February Special".results.elections.virginia.gov.RetrievedMarch 1,2023.
External links
edit
- Congresswoman Jennifer McClellanofficial U.S. House website
- Jennifer McClellan for Congresscampaign website