Ralph Northam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ralph Northam
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| 73rd Governor of Virginia | |
| In office January 13, 2018 – January 15, 2022 |
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| Lieutenant | Justin Fairfax |
| Preceded by | Terry McAuliffe |
| Succeeded by | Glenn Youngkin |
| 40th Lieutenant Governor of Virginia | |
| In office January 11, 2014 – January 13, 2018 |
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| Governor | Terry McAuliffe |
| Preceded by | Bill Bolling |
| Succeeded by | Justin Fairfax |
| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 6th district |
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| In office January 9, 2008 – January 11, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Nick Rerras |
| Succeeded by | Lynwood Lewis |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ralph Shearer Northam
September 13, 1959 Nassawadox, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Pamela Northam
(m. 1986) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Virginia Military Institute (BS) Eastern Virginia Medical School (MD) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1984–1992 |
| Rank |  Major |
| Unit | Army Medical Corps |
Ralph Shearer Northam (born September 13, 1959) is an American doctor and politician. He served as the 73rd governor of Virginia from 2018 to 2022. Before becoming governor, he was a pediatric neurologist, a doctor who specializes in brain and nerve problems in children. He also served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1984 to 1992.
Northam is a member of the Democratic Party. He was the 40th lieutenant governor of Virginia from 2014 to 2018. He then won the election for governor in 2017 against Republican Ed Gillespie. Virginia's rules do not allow a governor to serve two terms in a row. So, Northam left office in January 2022. Glenn Youngkin became the next governor.
While Northam was governor, Virginia was named "best state for business" twice by CNBC. This was the first time any state won this award two years in a row. He also led the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was the only governor in the U.S. who was also a licensed doctor. Some events during his time as governor, including a photo from his medical school yearbook, caused public discussion.
Today, Northam works as a neurologist at the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia. He focuses on epilepsy and nerve disorders.
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Ralph Northam's Early Life and Education
Ralph Northam was born on September 13, 1959, in Nassawadox, Virginia. This town is on Virginia's Eastern Shore. He grew up on a farm near Onancock, Virginia with his older brother, Thomas. Their family farmed crops and raised animals on their 75-acre property.
As a teenager, Northam worked several jobs. He worked on a ferry to Tangier Island and on fishing boats. He also worked on a neighbor's farm and in a grocery store. He and his brother went to public schools that had been desegregated. Northam graduated from Onancock High School. Most of his classmates were African American.
His Family's Background
Northam's mother, Nancy B. Shearer, was a part-time nurse. Her father was a surgeon. Nancy Shearer passed away in 2009. Northam's father, Wescott B. Northam, was a lawyer and a veteran of World War II. He became involved in politics in the 1960s. He served three terms as a prosecutor for Accomack County, Virginia. Later, he became a judge for Accomack and Northampton counties. His own father, Thomas Long Northam, had also been a judge in the same court.
Ralph Northam learned about his family's past during his campaign for governor. He found out that his great-great-grandfather and his son had owned slaves. One of these slaves, Raymond Northam, was freed to join the Union Army during the American Civil War. Northam said learning this was "disturbing and saddening." He noted that his family's story, like Virginia's history, is complex.
School and College Years
In high school, Northam was voted "Most Likely to Succeed." He was the second-highest-ranking student in his graduating class. He played on the basketball and baseball teams.
Northam graduated from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1981. He was president of VMI's honor court. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology. He was only the second Governor of Virginia to have graduated from VMI.
After VMI, Northam attended Eastern Virginia Medical School. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1984.
Military Service and Medical Career
From 1984 to 1992, Ralph Northam served as a medical officer in the United States Army. During this time, he completed his training in pediatrics at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He then specialized in child neurology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
During Operation Desert Storm, he helped treat injured soldiers at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Northam left the U.S. Army in 1992 as a major. He had served for eight years. Since 1992, he has worked as a pediatric neurologist at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia.
Ralph Northam's Political Journey
Before entering politics, Northam voted for Republican George W. Bush in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. He later said he was "underinformed" about politics at that time and regretted those votes. He stated, "I'm a Democrat, and that's where I'm staying."
Serving in the Virginia State Senate (2008–2014)
Northam first ran for office in 2007. He sought a seat in the Virginia's 6th Senate district. This district includes Virginia's Eastern Shore and parts of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. He won against the Republican, Nick Rerras.
He was re-elected in 2011. One of his first big actions as a state lawmaker was to push for a ban on smoking in restaurants in Virginia. The bill passed the next year, and Governor Tim Kaine signed it into law.
Becoming Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (2014–2018)
Northam decided to run for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in 2013. He won the Democratic primary election. On November 5, 2013, Northam was elected Virginia's 40th Lieutenant Governor. He won against Republican E. W. Jackson. Northam was the first Democrat since Tim Kaine in 2001 to be elected Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.
Governor of Virginia (2018–2022)
In February 2015, Northam announced his interest in running for Governor of Virginia in 2017. He officially declared his intentions in November 2015.
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On November 7, 2017, Northam was elected the 73rd Governor of Virginia. He defeated Ed Gillespie in the general election.
Key Actions as Governor
Northam promised to work on making Virginia more fair for all races. He worked with the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus to improve things. Their goals included reducing differences in maternal mortality rates, increasing affordable housing, and supporting businesses owned by minorities. They also worked on removing Confederate monuments and updating how African American history is taught in schools.
In March 2019, Northam signed a bill to create the Virginia African American Advisory Board. This board advises the governor on how to best help African Americans in the state. Similar boards already existed for Latino and Asian communities. Northam said this board would "ensure the voices of all Virginians are heard."
In May 2019, Northam announced a new position: Chief Diversity Officer. This person would help make the state government fairer for everyone. Virginia was the first state to create such a high-level position. Janice Underwood was named the first Chief Diversity Officer. She focused on helping small businesses, improving healthcare fairness, and making state jobs more diverse.
Helping Renters During the Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Northam asked the Supreme Court of Virginia to stop evictions. A temporary stop was put in place. When it expired, Northam asked for it to be extended, and it was. However, many evictions still happened.
Northam then changed the state budget to temporarily ban most evictions until the end of 2020. Under this ban, renters could only be evicted for not paying rent if they refused to get help with rent. Landlords also had to tell tenants about rent relief programs. After the ban ended, new rules came into effect. Landlords had to apply for rent help for tenants before they could evict them. They also had to offer payment plans to tenants affected by COVID-19.
Virginia's rent relief program was one of the first in the country. It was very effective at helping people. The Christian Science Monitor said Virginia became a "national model" for protecting renters during Northam's time in office.
Assistance with Utility Bills
Northam also worked to help people with their utility bills. In September 2020, he asked for a stop to utility cutoffs, which was extended. He later put this stop into the state budget. This meant that all utilities, even those run by local governments, could not cut off service.
Customers who could not pay their bills for more than 30 days were given access to payment plans. This moratorium ended in August 2021. However, new help was put in place for financially struggling customers of the largest utility provider, Dominion Energy. Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act also became available to help others.
Workplace Safety Rules
In May 2020, Northam asked the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry to create new workplace safety rules for the pandemic. Virginia was the first state to make these rules mandatory for all workplaces. These rules were later extended indefinitely.
Protecting Inmates
In March 2020, Northam encouraged local jails to reduce their populations to slow the spread of COVID-19. In April, he allowed the Virginia Department of Corrections to release non-dangerous inmates with short sentences remaining. This was the first time the department had this power. Inmates had to have a place to stay and meet certain safety requirements to be released.
Ralph Northam's Political Views
The Washington Post described Northam as a moderate politician. He moved to more liberal positions on some issues during his 2017 campaign for governor.
Animal Welfare
As a state senator, Northam worked to ban gas chambers for pets in Virginia. This ban was signed into law in 2008. During his 2017 campaign, he received support from animal welfare groups.
As governor, Northam signed several laws to protect animals:
- In 2018, he signed a law requiring non-animal testing methods for products when possible.
- He also banned state-funded experiments that cause pain to cats or dogs without medical reason.
- In 2019, he made physical abuse of cats and dogs a felony.
- He signed laws about proper sheltering and tethering of animals. These laws set rules for how long and heavy tethers can be and require protection from extreme weather.
- In 2020, he signed a bill to create new state rules for pet stores and a State Animal Welfare Inspector.
- Other 2020 laws banned certain sales of dogs, limited public contact with dangerous animals, and set standards for animal shelters.
Civil Rights
Northam worked to remove old discriminatory laws from Virginia's books. These laws were from the Jim Crow era.
- In March 2019, he repealed a minimum wage exemption for jobs historically held by black workers.
- He created a commission to find and recommend repealing all discriminatory state laws. This commission found 98 such laws.
- In April 2020, Northam signed bills to repeal these laws. They included old bans on interracial marriage and poll taxes.
- In March 2020, he signed a bill banning racial hair discrimination. Virginia was the fourth U.S. state and first Southern state to do so.
- In April 2020, he signed the Virginia Values Act. This law added protections against discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, and veteran status. It also provided anti-discrimination protections in public places.
- He signed a bill to make it easier to remove racially exclusive housing covenants from property deeds.
- Later in 2020, he signed a bill making it a hate crime to make a false report to law enforcement based on bias against a protected group.
Economy
Northam supports increasing Virginia's minimum wage. He believes it should be raised to $15 an hour. He also wants to remove the grocery tax for low-income people and end business taxes in struggling rural areas. He has called for a group to suggest changes to state tax policy.
Education
Northam supports funding public schools and opposes using public money for private schools.
In August 2019, Northam created a commission to develop new ways to teach African American history in Virginia. He wanted students to understand how black oppression continued after slavery.
G3 Initiative for College and Training
Northam proposed a plan called "Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back," or "G3." This plan would help students pay for community college and workforce training in high-demand fields. Students would need to commit to a period of public service.
Under G3, Virginia would cover education costs that are not covered by other financial aid. It would be for students from low- and middle-income families. Students would need to keep a good GPA and have a three-year graduation plan. The program would cover tuition, fees, and books. Fields like cybersecurity, coding, clean energy, early childhood education, health care, public safety, and skilled trades could be included.
Students in G3 would also need to complete public service or work experience. This could be with local government, a nonprofit, or in economically struggling areas.
Environment and Energy
Northam believes in climate change and wants Virginia to fight it. He joined the United States Climate Alliance, which works to uphold greenhouse gas emissions standards. He has talked about how sea level rise affects Virginia's Tidewater region.
Northam supports policies to reduce pollution in Chesapeake Bay. He also supports the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In September 2019, Northam set a goal for Virginia to get at least 30 percent of its energy from renewable sources in 10 years. He also set a goal for the state to get 100 percent of its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2050.
Family Leave and Child Care
When Northam became governor, Virginia's family leave policy for state employees only applied to mothers and offered partial pay. In June 2018, Northam changed this policy. It now applies to both mothers and fathers, including adoptive and foster parents. Employees receive eight weeks off with full pay.
Northam also wants to give tax credits to small businesses that offer paid family leave to their employees. In 2018, he created a group to study offering child care to state employees in Richmond.
Guns
Northam made gun control a priority during his time as governor. In April 2020, he signed five gun control measures into law:
- Universal background checks for gun sales.
- A limit of one handgun purchase per month.
- A rule to report lost or stolen firearms within 48 hours.
- Increased penalties for unsafe storage of loaded firearms around children.
- An extreme risk protection order (red flag) bill. This allows temporary removal of guns from people who are a high risk to others.
He also signed bills that require people with protective orders to surrender their firearms. Another bill allows cities to regulate firearms in public buildings and events.
Healthcare
Northam supports the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") and wants to improve it. He opposes a single-payer healthcare system in Virginia but supports a state-run public health insurance option.
In February 2019, Northam signed a bill raising the smoking age in Virginia from 18 to 21.
As governor, Northam proposed spending $22 million to reduce differences in Virginia's maternal mortality rate. His plan aimed to eliminate this difference by 2025 and reduce infant mortality. It would allow women who qualify for Medicaid due to pregnancy to stay covered for a full year after childbirth.
Medicaid Expansion
On June 7, 2018, Northam signed a bill to expand Medicaid in Virginia. This was a major promise from his campaign. Virginia became the 33rd state to expand Medicaid. By early 2019, over 200,000 Virginians had enrolled in the expanded program.
Immigration
Northam's views on immigration changed over time. In 2007, he wanted Virginia to be stricter on illegal immigration. By 2017, he pledged to "stand up against ICE" to ensure immigrants in Virginia felt safe. He said, "We will do everything we can to make sure immigrants are comfortable living here."
Northam opposed President Trump's decision to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). He supports giving state driver's licenses and in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants.
In February 2017, as lieutenant governor, Northam cast a tie-breaking vote against a bill to ban sanctuary cities in Virginia. As governor, he vetoed similar laws in 2018 and 2019. In November 2019, after President Trump allowed states to refuse refugees, Northam confirmed Virginia's commitment to accepting refugees.
Ralph Northam's Personal Life
Ralph Northam and his wife, Pam, have two adult children, Wes and Aubrey. His brother, Thomas Northam, is a lawyer. His father, Wescott Northam, is a retired judge and Navy veteran.
Northam attends a mostly black Baptist church in Capeville. He also helps oversee Fort Monroe, a Civil War historic site. In his free time, Northam enjoys working on classic cars. He owns a 1953 Oldsmobile and a 1971 Chevrolet Corvette. He also enjoys running races.
Images for kids
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Ralph Northam's signature
