REPLACING:

Donald McEachin (D) [i]

WORK HISTORY:

U.S. House of Representatives (Member, VA-04); Virginia State Senate (Member, District 9); Virginia House of Delegates (Member, District 71); Verizon Communications Inc. (Assistant General Counsel, Mid-Atlantic South); Hunton & Williams LLP (Associate) [ii]

EDUCATION:

JD, University of Virginia School of Law; BA, University of Richmond; Diploma, Matoaca High School [iii]

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Revitalizing the Economy; Climate Action and Environmental Justice; Equity, Inclusivity and Racial Justice; Gun Violence; Health Care and Abortion Access; Voting Rights; Justice Reform; Serving Virginia’s Veterans and Active-Duty Military Personnel; Transportation; Education and Child Care [iv]

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

While serving in the Virginia House of Delegates, McClellan introduced legislation that expanded access to abortions and birth control, supported removing provisions in health insurance that denied coverage for abortions, and enhanced nursing protections. McClellan also supported measures that expanded Medicaid access for a year after birth and funded home visiting programs for pregnancy and postpartum care. In 2020, McClellan was honored by the reproductive rights groups Planned Parenthood and the National Abortion Rights Action League’s Virginia branch for her work addressing reproductive care. [v]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

On her campaign website, McClellan touts championing “protections for immigrants and new Americans,” including expanded access to voting rights and economic resources through translation services for state resources. McClellan also touted her work to provide healthcare coverage to undocumented children and pregnant people, as well as access to a driver’s license for undocumented individuals. [vi] During her first year in Congress, McClellan voted against measures that called for enhancing resources for law enforcement at the border, withholding federal funding for states with sanctuary cities, and denouncing the Biden administration’s handling of the border. [vii] [viii] [ix]

ECONOMY & JOBS:

McClellan introduced the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which was signed by the state governor and projected to bring 13,000 clean energy annual jobs to Virginia.[x] McClellan is a vocal supporter of workers’ rights, introducing state legislation that would expand collective bargaining for employees in public companies and provide paid sick, family, and medical leave. McClellan also advocated for raising the state minimum wage to $15 while eliminating minimum wage exemptions for black-led jobs, domestic workers, individuals over 65, and individuals with disabilities. [xi]

TAXES:

In July 2024, McClellan touted voting for the bipartisan Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, which enhanced tax credits for children and low-income housing. The bill also provided tax relief to areas impacted by natural disasters. [xii]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

McClellan considers herself a “champion of reforming the justice system” over her fifteen-year legislative career. McClellan has passed legislation that sought to dismantle the “school-to-prison pipeline” by implementing youth delinquency prevention measures and cosponsored legislation to enact comprehensive police reform, which included banning chokeholds, strangleholds, and no-knock warrants. She touts playing a vital role in abolishing Virginia’s death penalty, expanding parole eligibility, reforming Virginia’s bail and sentencing structure, and reforming cannabis laws. McClellan also passed a “landmark justice reform bill” that made the criminal justice system more equitable for individuals experiencing mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities by “allowing evidence of their conditions to be presented during hearings.” [xiii]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

In April 2020, the landmark Virginia Clean Economy Act introduced by McClellan was signed into Virginia law. The law mandates a transition to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050; it sets strict renewable energy targets, including measures that foster renewable energy growth and require utility companies to phase out carbon-emitting plants. The law is projected to bring 13,000 clean energy annual jobs to Virginia. [xiv] [xv] McClellan has also passed and supported legislation addressing climate change while serving in the Virginia state legislature, including the Solar Freedom Act, which “democratizes solar energy” and measures that create clean vehicle standards, increase electric vehicle charging stations, and require environmental permit applicants to contribute to community outreach. [xvi]

FOREIGN POLICY:

In April 2024, McClellan released a statement regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, where she argued Israel has a right to “defend itself and neutralize the terrorists responsible for the October 7th attack” while maintaining that it “must do more to curb civilian casualties and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.” She called for an immediate bilateral ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a pathway to a “peaceful two-state solution.” [xvii] McClellan also condemned Iran’s attack on Israel and urged leaders to “continue efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and avoid a wide-scale conflict that will result in significant loss of civilian life.” [xviii] McClellan is endorsed by the Jewish Democratic Council of America. [xix]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

On her campaign website, McClellan touts working to lower prescription drug costs and expanding access to “preventative, reproductive, behavioral, and long-term care.” She created the Virginia Health Benefit Exchange under the Affordable Care Act, granting affordable healthcare to approximately 300,000 Virginians, and fought to expand Medicaid to over 400,000 state residents. McClellan has also cosponsored legislation to improve coverage for families with children diagnosed with autism. In 2017, McClellan supported $5.3 million in funding for the STEP-VA program that enhanced community behavioral services and an additional $30.2 million in 2022. [xx]

DEMOCRACY:

During a September 2024 interview, McClellan joined House democrats in dissenting the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, arguing the legislation places barriers on voters and labeled it a “modern poll tax.” [xxi] She has passed state legislation to expand absentee voting in Virginia, including the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, to protect voters from suppression and discrimination. [xxii]

SOCIAL ISSUES:

McClellan has introduced state legislation to safeguard members in the LGBTQ+ community, including banning conversion therapy for minors, repealing Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage, and prohibiting discrimination based on an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. [xxiii]