Jennifer McClellan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jennifer McClellan
|
|
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2023
|
|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 4th district |
|
| Assumed office March 7, 2023 |
|
| Preceded by | Donald McEachin |
| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 9th district |
|
| In office January 13, 2017 – March 7, 2023 |
|
| Preceded by | Donald McEachin |
| Succeeded by | Lamont Bagby |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 71st district |
|
| 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) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | |
Jennifer Leigh McClellan (born December 28, 1972) is an American politician and lawyer. Since 2023, she has served in the United States House of Representatives for Virginia's 4th congressional district. The House of Representatives is a part of the U.S. Congress, which makes laws for the country.
As a member of the Democratic Party, McClellan has a long history in Virginia's government. She was a member of the Virginia Senate from 2017 to 2023. Before that, she served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2006 to 2017.
In 2023, she won a special election and made history. She became the first Black woman from Virginia to be elected to the U.S. Congress.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Jennifer McClellan was born in Petersburg, Virginia. Her father, James, was a professor at Virginia State University. Her mother, Lois, was a counselor at the same university. Both of her parents were active in the civil rights movement, which fought for equal rights for all people.
McClellan was an excellent student. She attended Matoaca High School in Chesterfield County and graduated as the valedictorian, the student with the highest grades in her class.
She went on to college at the University of Richmond, where she studied English and political science. After graduating in 1994, she attended the University of Virginia School of Law. She earned a law degree in 1997.
Career Before Congress
.jpg)
After finishing law school, McClellan started her career as a lawyer. She worked for a large law firm and later for the telecommunications company Verizon Communications.
Virginia House of Delegates
In 2005, McClellan decided to run for public office. She won a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, which is part of Virginia's state government. She represented the 71st district, which included parts of Richmond and Henrico County, for over ten years.
During her time as a delegate, she became the first pregnant member to serve during a legislative session. She also served as the vice chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia.
Virginia Senate
In 2017, McClellan was elected to the Virginia Senate in a special election. She represented the 9th district. This seat was once held by Douglas Wilder, who was Virginia's first Black governor.
As a state senator, McClellan worked on several important laws. She helped pass the Virginia Clean Economy Act to promote clean energy. She also sponsored the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, which protects the right of citizens to vote. She said its passage was "a huge victory for our democracy."
She also led the project to create the Emancipation and Freedom Monument. This statue was placed on Brown's Island in Richmond in 2021 to honor the end of slavery.
Campaign for Governor
In 2020, McClellan announced she was running for governor of Virginia. During a debate, she said, "It’s not enough to give someone something to vote against. We’ve got to give people something to vote for."
She competed for the Democratic nomination against several other candidates. Former governor Terry McAuliffe won the nomination, and McClellan came in third place. If McClellan had won the election, she would have been Virginia's first female governor and the first Black female governor in U.S. history.
U.S. House of Representatives
How She Was Elected
In late 2022, the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 4th district, Donald McEachin, sadly passed away. This meant a special election was needed to fill the empty seat in Congress.
McClellan ran as the Democratic candidate. On February 21, 2023, she won the election with a large majority of the vote. This victory made her the first Black woman ever elected to Congress from Virginia. She was officially sworn into office on March 7, 2023.
Her Work in Congress
In the House of Representatives, McClellan serves on important committees. These are small groups of representatives who focus on specific topics. Her committees include:
- The Committee on Armed Services, which oversees the U.S. military.
- The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, which deals with science research and new technologies.
She is also a member of several groups of lawmakers, called caucuses, that work on specific issues. These include the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Personal Life
Jennifer McClellan is married to David Mills. They were married on November 15, 2008. Her friend and mentor, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, performed the wedding ceremony.
She and her husband live in Richmond with their two children. She is a member of the Presbyterian church.
See also
In Spanish: Jennifer McClellan para niños
- List of African-American United States representatives
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
