Jennifer McClellan


Jennifer Leigh McClellan is an American politician of the Democratic Party. she is a Virginia State Senator, representing the 9th district in Greater Richmond, and a candidate for Governor of Virginia. She is also vice-chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia and a member of the Democratic National Committee. From 2006 to 2017 she was member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 71st district.

Early life

McClellan 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 became valedictorian at 17. McClellan then attended the University of Richmond for college and the University of Virginia for law school.

Career

After law school, McClellan began practicing law at Hunton & Williams.
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. 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.
In 2010, McClellan made history as the first pregnant Virginia Delegate to participate in a legislative session.
When Terry McAuliffe was elected Governor of Virginia in 2013, McClellan headed the transition team.
McClellan is vice-chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia; 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.
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. 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. Her seat was once held by Governor L. Douglas Wilder.
McClellan works as regulatory counsel for Verizon.
In June 2020, McClellan announced she would run for Governor of Virginia in 2021. Like fellow candidate Jennifer Carroll Foy, she would be the first female governor in Virginia and the first black female governor in the U.S.

Political positions

In 2016, McClellan supported a change to the state's marriageable age that would no longer permit girls under age 16 to be legally married.

Personal life

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