Last year, I found my Dad’s poll tax receipt among his papers. He kept it as a reminder of the barriers our family faced in voting.
58 years ago yesterday, the 24th Amendment outlawing poll taxes was ratified.
I’m Jennifer McClellan. In 4 days, I will be the first Black woman from Virginia to ever be elected to Congress.
Can you please retweet this to help me reach 45K followers so we can build our people-powered movement, win, and make history?
Hi, I am Jennifer McClellan. I’m a proud Democrat and Black legislator that has been fighting for voting rights, abortion rights, and climate justice for over 18 years.
In 11 days, I will bring this fight to Congress. Could you help by retweeting and getting me to 40K today?
Hi, I'm Jennifer McClellan.👋🏽 I’m a Black woman, a working mom, and a legislator who has fought for Virginians for 18 years in the VA legislature, and now i’m running for Congress.
With 5 weeks until the special election, could you RT this to help me reach 35K followers?
My name is Senator Jennifer McClellan. With the passing of my friend, Donald McEachin, the people of
#VA04
need a champion to continue his legacy.
I've served for 17 years in the General Assembly, passing landmark policies and delivering results.
Now, I'm running for Congress.
In 1890, John Mercer Langston became the first African American Congressman from Virginia, representing the 4th District.
Today, I am asking the 4th District to make history again by electing me the first African American Congresswoman from Virginia!
I’m Jenn McClellan. I'm no stranger to blazing my own trail. I was the first pregnant delegate in the history of Virginia, and now I’m running to be the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress.
My election is in 7 days. Will you retweet & help me reach 40K followers?
My great-grandfather had to take a literacy test and find three white people to vouch for him to register to vote. My father paid poll taxes. My mother didn't vote until after 1965.
The perspective of a Black woman is long overdue in our Virginia delegation in Congress.
"I have spent 17 years working to help the people of central Virginia...I'm going to bring the same passion for helping people in solving problems to Congress and I will make history as the first Black woman [from Virginia]"
@jennmcclellanva
on her run for Congress
#SundayShow
This morning we can begin filing bills for the 2020 General Assembly Session. The first one I filed is to make Virginia the 38th state to ratify the
#ERA
.
#VARatifyERA
.
I’m asking for your vote today, February 21st, because I’ll always stand up for you.
Polls are open from 6 am - 7 pm, and you’ll vote at your regular polling location. Visit and get out and vote!
#VA04
Today, I submitted the following letter to President Pro Tem
@SenLouiseLucas
.
It has been an honor to serve in the Senate of Virginia, and I intend to continue serving the people of the 9th District until I am sworn into Congress.
Today, the Senate of Virginia affirmed that decisions about whether and when to terminate a pregnancy should be between patients and their providers, not politicians.
Abortion remains legal in Virginia, and we will continue to defend reproductive rights for all Virginians.
In just 10 days, Virginia will elect its first Black Woman to Congress.
But it can only happen with your help. Can we get 5k retweets to help me make history?
“Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s decision to halt plans for a $3.5 billion Ford Motor Co. battery plant over his concerns about Chinese influence cost one of the poorest areas of Virginia a reported 2,500 jobs with potential for more.”
As a Fox Elementary parent, I am dreading telling my kids the news of the fire when they wake up. Please hold the Fox family in your prayers. The kids, parents, teachers, and staff have been through a lot in the last 2 years, but the love we have for one another is strong. 🦊
Virginia is the only southern state without an abortion ban or extreme restriction post-Dobbs.
Donald Trump is in Richmond today to get out the vote for Super Tuesday. He wants a national abortion ban.
Virginia voters don't.
Biden-Harris will protect reproductive freedom.
Social Security, Medicare, Cancer research, SNAP Benefits, etc. They’re all on the chopping for Republicans.
That's why tomorrow's special election is so critical, having one more Democrat in Congress could be the key to putting an end to these threats.
I’m Jennifer McClellan. I’ve spent 18 years in the Virginia legislature defending abortion rights, voting rights, and expanding healthcare – and I’m far from done.
I have a special election in just 2 days. Can you get me to 45K today to help me keep up the fight in Congress?
Today, the
@VASenateDems
on the Commerce & Labor Committee killed three bills aimed at reversing minimum wage increases. We are the brick wall to protect workers in Virginia!
The
@VASenateDems
just blocked bills to repeal the permanent absentee voter list, removing absentee ballot drop-off locations, and narrowing the timeframe for when absentee ballots can be returned. We worked hard to expand access to the ballot in Virginia, and we won't go back!
I have served in the Virginia General Assembly since 2006, and in the Virginia Senate since 2017.
I am going to miss this place that shaped me, but I thank you for all for making me a part of your family, and for making me the public servant I am today.
Black women have been doing the work and meeting the needs of our community since the beginning of this Commonwealth's history.
Yet, no Black woman has ever represented Virginia in Congress.
It's time to make history,
#VA04
!
Last night, I was sworn in as the newest member of Virginia’s Fourth Congressional District and the first African-American woman elected to this body from the Commonwealth of Virginia. I thank the voters of
#VA04
for putting their trust in me to serve in The People’s House.
I’m Jennifer McClellan. I’m a Black woman, a legislator, and a working mom. I’ve served Virginians for 18+ years & now I'm running for Congress. Can you get me to 40K followers today so we can win our critical special election in just 2 weeks?
Thank you to the tens of thousands of voters who showed up to be heard in
#VA04
and made this such a special day for
#TeamMcClellan
.
All ballots will be counted by hand in Richmond, starting at 10AM tomorrow. I'm grateful to all who braved the cold to take part in our democracy.
.
@USATODAY
proving her point....
@KamalaHarris
actually highlighted “the Black women who too often are overlooked, but who so often prove they are the backbone of our democracy....”
Youth engagement is an important part of our democratic system. Proud of my constituent
@ethanclynne
for his engagement and disappointed to see the Governor’s political team attack him for expressing his views.
Tomorrow evening, I will be sworn in to the 118th Congress. To be the first Black woman from Virginia, the birthplace of both American democracy and American slavery and massive resistance, is poetic justice.
🚨ELECTION ALERT: There’s a special election happening in Virginia in 5 days!
That’s 5 days to reach every voter, finish our campaign out strong, and secure one more Democratic vote in Congress. Can you retweet to spread the word so we don’t miss a single voter?
Whether by mail or in-person, early or on Election Day, it's critical that every voter makes their voice heard in this special election in
#VA04
.
Make the voting plan that works best for you and your schedule by visiting 🗓️🗳️
When I first got elected in 2006, I was a 32-year-old Black woman operating in a legislative body that was mostly white Republican men over 50.
To become an effective leader, I had to understand different perspectives and make mine heard. I'll do the same in Congress.
With abortion rights, voting rights, and Social Security under attack by extremist Republicans, we can't risk losing a single Democratic vote in Congress.
I have a special election in 10 days. My race will be critical to fighting the GOP. With your help, we will make history.
"[States] should try to register every eligible voter — because in a just society, no one should be deprived of their vote due to red tape.
Instead, GOP leaders are intentionally imposing new barriers to the voter registration process."
My Mom often jokes she is half responsible for me. But she’s so much more than that. She taught me how to balance family, work, & giving back.
Born during the Great Depression under the tyranny of Jim Crow, today she voted for her youngest daughter to represent her in Congress.
Today,
@VASenateDems
on the Senate Rules Committee defeated the final anti-abortion bill up in the General Assembly. Virginia will remain a safe haven for reproductive health!
Your right to an abortion should not depend on where you live. But today’s Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe returns the fight back to the states. I’ve fought to make Virginia a safe haven for access to abortion in the South. Now, I will fight to keep it so.
In 13 days, Congress will have one more Democrat that will defend abortion rights, decrease the cost of healthcare, and pass common sense gun reform.
I’m that Democrat. Can you help me win with a retweet and follow to help us cross the finish line?
Obi is just as anxious for election results as you are!
Thank you to the volunteers and election observers who are counting ballots all day and thank you to everyone who voted yesterday. Democracy is worth waiting for.
Polls are closed, but if you are in line stay in line! You will be allowed to vote.
Thank you to all the voters who cast their ballots and the election officers who made this day possible!
99% of House Republicans voted against codyfing Roe v. Wade. 92% of them voted against your right to contraception.
Now, extremist Republicans want to pass a nationwide abortion ban.
When I’m in Congress, I’ll always put my foot down to defend abortion rights.
Tear gassing peaceful protestors without warning is unacceptable. We need more answers on why this happened. Witness accounts and video on the scene suggest this was unprovoked.
The Governor strips state funding for abortions in the event of gross fetal abnormalities, telling pregnant Medicaid recipients with a devastating diagnosis that they're on their own. I’ve fought this amendment for years, and will do so again tomorrow.
Yesterday,
@VASenateDems
stood together to block the reinstatement of voter ID law and the repeal of same-day voter registration.
We also will block these and any other legislation that makes it harder for Virginians to use their sacred right to vote.
ICYMI: Republicans in Virginia have introduced legislation to restrict mail ballots with provisions like limiting ballot drop boxes, requiring an excuse to vote by mail, a shortened ballot return window and more.
Virginia has never elected a Black woman to Congress.
I've passed historic laws to protect voting rights and abortion access, tackle climate change, and make life better for Virginia families.
Together, we can continue the legacy of leadership in
#VA04
and make history!
It’s time for the Equal Rights Amendment to be ratified into the U.S. Constitution. The Attorney General’s decision today does not change the bipartisan history that Virginia made in 2020, becoming the 38th state to ratify the ERA.
Today the
@VASenateDems
blocked a bill (HB 753) to excuse certain religious-affiliated organizations from following state nondiscrimination laws.
We won't undercut the Virginia Values Act and allow discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in Virginia.
In 2008, I founded “The Fuzzy Slipper Party” as a place for Virginia women legislators, administration officials and lobbyists to network and bond with no agenda beyond sisterhood. Tonight, I hosted my final one as a member of the
#VALeg
.
My family has seen Jim Crow laws. This photo is of my father's poll tax card.
This is why I fight so hard to protect and expand voting rights.
We cannot allow these scenes of voter suppression, like those we're seeing in Georgia, to come to Virginia ever again.
States are the battleground for reproductive rights. I passed Virginia’s Reproductive Health Protection Act removing medically unnecessary barriers to abortion, making Virginia the first southern state to expand access. I will fight to keep Virginia a safe haven for abortion.
Yesterday,
@VASenateDems
killed House GOP bills to repeal or gut the Virginia Clean Economy Act.
The VCEA took Virginia from the bottom of the pack to a national leader in clean energy. We won't stop working to fight climate change and create clean energy jobs.
House Republicans passed legislation to add $3 trillion to the deficit to give billionaires more tax breaks. Now, they want to cut your Social Security & Medicare to “cut costs.”
In Congress, I’ll stand firmly with House Democrats to protect your hard-earned benefits.
Exciting for 13-year-old Midlothian resident Joshua Davis as he joins
@FLOTUS
in the viewing box for tonight’s
#SOTU
. He shared his story of living with type 1 diabetes and high prescription drug costs with
@Potus
last month.
This morning I turned in my candidate form and petition signatures to get on the ballot here in
#VA04
. Thank you to everyone who circulated and signed petitions to make this possible.
Onward to Tuesday!
OTD in 1967, SCOTUS issued Loving v. Virginia finding state laws barring interracial marriage unconstitutional. In particular, the Court invalidated Virginia's Racial Integrity Act of 1924, which criminalized marriages between whites and "non-whites". 1/
#LovingDay
I’m Jennifer McClellan — a mother, a Black legislator, and a Democrat. I'm running in a Special Election to keep Virginia’s 4th Congressional district blue.
We can win back the House, but we can’t kick off the cycle by losing this critical seat. Will you RT me to help?
We’ve come too far expanding access to voting in Virginia to turn back now, going from the 49th to 12th easiest to vote.
Today, a slew of House GOP bills aiming to reverse that progress met the
@VASenateDems
brick wall!
NEW: All Virginians age 16 and older are now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. There's no better way to start your week than by setting up your vaccine appointment! For more information or to register call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-275-8343) or visit
Since extremist Republicans think this is up for debate, I want to hear from Americans: Nurses, teachers, and bus drivers should not be paying more in taxes than billionaires.
Retweet if you think so too.
My Democratic colleagues and I are here to say: we support our school divisions doing what they need to do to keep our children and the adults in their school buildings safe. We will not let the Governor overstep his authority or bully our school systems.
When facing a devastating fetal diagnosis, the type of health insurance you have should not determine access to the care you decide is best. The Governor’s amendment tells pregnant Medicaid recipients that they are on their own. I will vote no.
I am deeply honored by the trust and confidence 4th Congressional Democrats have placed in me to be their nominee. Thank you to everyone who supported my campaign and helped us run a people-powered sprint over seven days! I am grateful to have you by my side on
#TeamMcClellan
.
LIVE NOW: I'm in downtown Richmond launching my campaign for Congress. Listen in to hear my vision to build on my 17 years of service to Virginia and carry on the legacy of my late friend Congressman Donald McEachin by representing
#VA04
in Congress.
Today
@GovernorVA
signed
@DeloresMcquinn
’s HB 1509 and my SB 1073 creating the Virginia Food Access Investment Program Fund to help address the food deserts impacting 1.7 million Virginians.
Tim Kaine always leads with his heart and fights on the side of justice. He has helped countless Virginians throughout his career, and has been a mentor to me and so many others.
Excited to work to re-elect
@timkaine
in 2024!