Jennifer McClellan

Jennifer McClellan is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Virginia's 4th congressional district. Born in Petersburg, Virginia, she graduated from the University of Richmond in 1994 and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1997. She began her legal career as an attorney before entering public service, where she served for over 17 years in the Virginia General Assembly, first in the House of Delegates from 2006 to 2017 and later in the state Senate from 2017 to 2023. In February 2023, McClellan was elected to Congress in a special election to succeed the late Representative Donald McEachin. This victory made her the first Black woman to represent Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives. Throughout her legislative career, she has focused on civil rights, education, and healthcare. Notable legislative accomplishments include sponsoring the Virginia Clean Economy Act, the Reproductive Health Protection Act, and the Voting Rights Act of Virginia.

McClellan's stated positions are rooted in Democratic policy priorities. She is a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion, as well as reproductive rights and maternal health. Economically, she advocates for raising the minimum wage, supporting labor unions, and investing in child care and affordable housing. Her environmental policy centers on a transition to clean energy and aggressive climate action. Regarding immigration, she supports pathways to citizenship and asylum reform while opposing enforcement practices that lack congressional oversight. In foreign policy, she has supported security aid to Ukraine and advocates for a balanced diplomatic approach toward international relations.