Justin Fairfax facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Justin Fairfax
Fairfax in 2020
41st Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
In office January 13, 2018 – January 15, 2022
Governor	Ralph Northam
Preceded by	Ralph Northam
Succeeded by	Winsome Earle-Sears
Personal details
Born	Justin Edward Fairfax (1979-02-17) February 17, 1979 (age 46) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Cerina Fairfax ​ (m. 2006)​
Children	2
Relatives	Roger Fairfax (brother)
Residences	Annandale, Virginia, U.S.
Education	Duke University (BA) Columbia University (JD)

Justin Edward Fairfax (born February 17, 1979) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as the 41st lieutenant governor of Virginia from 2018 to 2022. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Fairfax is the second African-American person elected to a statewide office in Virginia. The first was Douglas Wilder. In 2021, he ran to become Governor of Virginia. He finished fourth in the Democratic primary election.

Early Life and Education

Justin Fairfax's family has a long history in Virginia. His ancestors were once enslaved by the Fairfax family. One of his ancestors, Simon Fairfax, was given his freedom by Thomas Fairfax, 9th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. This happened because of Thomas Fairfax's beliefs. Justin Fairfax received a copy of this freedom document when he became lieutenant governor in 2018. His older brother, Roger Jr., is also a legal expert.

Fairfax moved from Pittsburgh to Northeast Washington, D.C. when he was five years old. He was one of four children. He went to DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, where he was the senior class president.

After high school, Fairfax attended Duke University. He graduated in 2000 with a degree in public policy. He then worked for the Senate Judiciary Committee for two years. Later, he earned a law degree (J.D.) from Columbia Law School. While there, he was part of the Columbia Law Review.

Political Career and Public Service

Fairfax during his 2013 attorney general campaign

Justin Fairfax started his career in politics early. During the 2000 presidential campaign for Al Gore, he worked for Tipper Gore in Nashville, Tennessee. He also worked for Democratic Senator John Edwards of North Carolina in Washington.

In 2004, he joined the John Kerry presidential campaign. He worked closely with John Edwards, who was running for vice president.

After his campaign work, Fairfax served as a law clerk for Judge Gerald Bruce Lee in 2005. This means he helped the judge with legal research and writing. He then worked at a law firm called WilmerHale in Washington. In 2010, he became a federal prosecutor in Alexandria, Virginia, working for the U.S. Attorney's Office for two years.

In 2013, Fairfax ran for public office for the first time. He sought the Democratic nomination for state attorney general. He lost to Mark Herring by a small number of votes. Even though he lost, many people were impressed by how well he did. The Washington Post newspaper praised Fairfax, saying he showed a "strong understanding of the issues."

After this election, Fairfax helped with the 2014 re-election campaign for U.S. Senator Mark Warner. The next year, he joined the law firm Venable LLP. Later, he worked for another law firm, Morrison & Foerster, becoming a partner in 2018.

Lieutenant Governor of Virginia

Campaign for Lieutenant Governor

In 2017, Justin Fairfax decided to run for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. In the Democratic primary election, he competed against two other candidates. These included Gene Rossi, a federal prosecutor, and Susan Platt, a political consultant. Fairfax raised more money than his opponents. He won the primary election with about 49% of the votes.

After winning the primary, Fairfax faced Republican candidate Jill Vogel in the general election. She was a state senator from Fauquier County. Both candidates raised similar amounts of money for their campaigns. They also held debates to discuss their ideas.

The Washington Post supported Fairfax in the election. They described him as "bright, capable, and knowledgeable." They called him "the much better choice."

During the campaign, there was a small issue with some campaign flyers. These flyers were for the Democratic candidates for governor and attorney general, but they did not include Fairfax. This happened because a labor union, which supported the pipeline, did not endorse Fairfax. Fairfax, who is Black, said that communication with African American voters needed to be better. Despite this, the Democratic candidates continued to work together.

Former Virginia governor Douglas Wilder supported Fairfax in the election. Fairfax won the election by 5.5%. He became only the second African-American person in Virginia's history to be elected to a statewide office.

Time in Office

As lieutenant governor of Virginia, Justin Fairfax's role was part-time. In December 2017, he left his law firm, Venable. His law partner, Larry Roberts, became his chief of staff. In September 2018, Fairfax joined the law firm of Morrison & Foerster. This allowed him to continue working while serving in office, which is common for Virginia's lieutenant governors. Fairfax also became the first head of the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association (DLGA).

On January 19, 2019, Fairfax showed his disagreement with a tribute in the state Senate. The tribute honored Confederate General Robert E. Lee's birthday. Fairfax tweeted that he would step away from the dais (the raised platform where he sits) in protest. He mentioned his ancestor, Simon Fairfax, who was freed from slavery in Virginia.

Policy Ideas

Fairfax campaigning for state attorney general, 2013

On money matters, Justin Fairfax supports several ideas. He wants a $15 minimum wage. He also wants to help with student loan debt. Fairfax believes in more job training and apprenticeships for jobs like electricians and welders.

He supports investing in roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. He also supports Governor Terry McAuliffe's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This plan aims to fight climate change. Fairfax wants to promote renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

Fairfax supports the Affordable Care Act. He also wants to expand Medicaid to help more low-income Virginians get healthcare. He believes in limiting how much money people can give to political campaigns. Fairfax has also shown support for single-payer healthcare.

He supports measures to control guns, such as universal background checks. He also wants to ban high-capacity magazines and assault weapons. Fairfax supports criminal justice reform. He agrees with former governor McAuliffe's idea to give voting rights back to felons who have finished their probation.

Personal Life

Justin Fairfax lives in Annandale, Virginia. He lives there with his wife, Cerina, and their two children. He is a member of the Catholic faith.

Electoral History

See also

• List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States