McClellan Shatters Barriers With Historic Win
Last year, Virginia state Senator Jennifer McClellan made history with her special election win for Virginia’s 4th Congressional District. She became the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress.
McClellan prevailed decisively over Republican opponent Leon Benjamin, pastor of New Life Harvest Church. With 67% of the vote to Benjamin’s 33%, McClellan’s victory never seemed in doubt in the reliably blue district. However, her win carries enormous symbolic weight in a state still grappling with a difficult racial past.
As McClellan pointed out, she becomes a “first” in 2023 despite the long road to equality and representation still left ahead. Her great-grandfather faced literacy tests just for registering to vote. Her own grandfather paid prohibitive poll taxes. Meanwhile, her mother only voted for the first time after 1965’s Voting Rights Act.
McClellan saw her groundbreaking election as the continuation of her family’s fight across generations. Now her voice will resonate within the halls of Congress to advocate for domestic workers and protect voting rights.
Over A Decade Of Richmond Leadership
While new to the national political scene, Jennifer McClellan possesses over 15 years of policymaking experience at the state level. She previously served 11 years as a delegate in Virginia’s House of Delegates.
Since 2017, McClellan has held a seat in the Virginia Senate while still practicing law. She ran unsuccessfully in the 2021 gubernatorial primary won by Terry McAuliffe. However, this special election provided vindication by propelling McClellan into national office.
McClellan has cultivated a reputation as an adept consensus builder within Virginia’s legislature. She consistently sponsors top Democratic priorities, including recent laws expanding voting access and abortion rights protections. Her deep knowledge of policy details enables McClellan to craft broadly resonant legislation.
Future In Flux With Full Term Up For Grabs
While historic, McClellan’s swearing-in likely begins a period defined by uncertainty about her Congressional future. She will complete McEachin’s unfinished term ending January 2025. However, the seat will be up for grabs again during 2024’s midterms.
McClellan has not indicated whether she plans to run for the full term next year. If she does enter the race, she would need to contend with the same competitive primary field initially vying to succeed McEachin prior to his untimely passing.
Regardless of how long she ultimately serves, McClellan’s presence in Congress already represents a major milestone. She expands the representation of Black women within the legislative body while bringing Virginia across a significant threshold towards equality.
