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Jennifer McClellan

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Jennifer McClellan
McClellan testifying before Congress in 2021
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 9th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 13, 2017
Preceded byDonald McEachin
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 71st district
In office
January 11, 2006 – January 13, 2017
Preceded byViola Baskerville
Succeeded byJeff Bourne
Personal details
Born
Jennifer Leigh McClellan

(1972-12-28) December 28, 1972 (age 51)
Petersburg, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDavid Mills
Children2
EducationUniversity of Richmond (BA)
University of Virginia (JD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Jennifer Leigh McClellan (born December 28, 1972) is an American politician serving as the Virginia State Senator from the 9th district since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, her district is located in the Greater Richmond Region. McClellan was previously elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from 2006 to 2017, representing the 71st district. McClellan is Vice Chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, and also a former president of the Virginia Young Democrats, vice-chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia and a current member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).[1] She was a candidate in the Democratic primary for Governor of Virginia in the 2021 election, coming in third place and losing the nomination to former Governor Terry McAuliffe.

Early life and education

McClellan was born in Petersburg, Virginia.[2] She grew up as the child of a Virginia State University professor involved in civil rights activism. McClellan attended Matoaca High School in Chesterfield County, where she was valedictorian.[3] McClellan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Richmond and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law.[4]

Career

After law school, McClellan began practicing law at Hunton & Williams.[3] In 2005, McClellan ran for office for the first time, seeking a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates vacated by Viola O. Baskerville, who stepped down to run for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. McClellan won the election and from 2006 to 2017 served as the 71st District's member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing parts of the city of Richmond and Henrico County.[5][6]

In 2010, McClellan became the first pregnant Virginia Delegate to participate in a legislative session.[3] When Terry McAuliffe was elected Governor of Virginia in 2013, McClellan headed the transition team.[7]

McClellan is vice-chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia.[8] As the highest ranking party officer of the gender opposite the party chair, she is also automatically a member of the Democratic National Committee. As a DNC member, she was a superdelegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention.[9] McClellan is also vice-chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus [10]

McClellan was elected to the Virginia State Senate in a special election held on January 10, 2017, to fill the 9th District seat vacated by Donald McEachin's election to the US House of Representatives. She defeated Libertarian Party opponent Corey Fauconier.[11] In the race, McClellan received endorsements from McEachin, as well as Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, US Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner and Governor Terry McAuliffe.[12] Her seat was once held by Governor L. Douglas Wilder.

McClellan works as regulatory counsel for Verizon.[13]

2021 Virginia gubernatorial campaign

In June 2020, McClellan announced she would run for Governor of Virginia in 2021.[6] She, like fellow candidate Jennifer Carroll Foy, would've become the first female governor of Virginia, the second black governor after Douglas Wilder, and the first black female governor of the United States if elected.[14] However, in the Democratic primary, Terry McAuliffe, the former Governor running for reelection, was renominated, with Carrol Foy taking a distant second place, and McClellan not far behind Carroll Foy in third place.[15]

Personal life

McClellan is married and has two children. Her mentor Tim Kaine performed her wedding.[3]

References

  1. ^ "About – Virginia Legislative Black Caucus". Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  2. ^ 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. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Moomaw, Graham (December 23, 2016). "After 'devastating' 2016 election, McClellan plans next political chapter". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  4. ^ Woo, Megan (October 23, 2016). "Governor McAuliffe accepts civil rights award". NBC12. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  5. ^ Moomaw, Graham. "After 'devastating' 2016 election, McClellan plans next political chapter". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved March 18, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ a b Schneider, Gregory S. (June 18, 2020). "State Sen. Jennifer McClellan announces she'll run for Virginia governor in 2021". Washington Post. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  7. ^ Portnoy, Jenna (September 8, 2016). "Bobby Scott: The congressman who could make history. Again". Washington Post. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  8. ^ "Ninth District Senate election pits McClellan, Fauconier". Henrico Citizen. January 10, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  9. ^ "Democractic Party Super Delegates -- 2008". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  10. ^ Martz, Michael. "Richmond Sen. Jennifer McClellan launches campaign for governor in 'unique times'". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved March 18, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Chaney, Matthew (January 11, 2017). "Jennifer McClellan wins Virginia's 9th Senate District election". WRIC. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  12. ^ Freeman, Jr., Vernon (January 9, 2017). "9th Senate District seat up for grabs in special election Tuesday". WTVR.com. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  13. ^ Wilson, Patrick (February 3, 2017). "Sen. Jennifer McClellan, working for Verizon on wireless infrastructure bill, recuses herself from vote". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  14. ^ Moomaw, Graham (April 7, 2020). "Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy files paperwork to run for governor". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  15. ^ "DDHQ Election Results". results.decisiondeskhq.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
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