Timothy Michael Kaine

Democrat junior Senator of Virginia

Senator
Virginia
January 3, 2013 - January 3, 2019
Senator
Virginia
January 3, 2019 - January 3, 2025

202-224-4024

kaine.senate.gov

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Congresses Served

Senate Terms

January 1, 1958 (66 years old)

Birthday

Served as the junior United States senator from Virginia since 2013
Democratic nominee for vice president of the United States in the 2016 election alongside Hillary Clinton
Served as the 70th governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010
Served as the 38th lieutenant governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006
Chaired the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011
Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and grew up in Overland Park, Kansas
Graduated from the University of Missouri and earned a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School
First elected to public office in 1994 as a member of the Richmond City Council, later elected mayor of Richmond in 1998
Fluent in Spanish, which he learned during a nine-month stay in Honduras working with Jesuit missionaries
Practiced law in Richmond for 17 years, specializing in fair housing law
Taught legal ethics as an adjunct professor at the University of Richmond School of Law
Supported Project Exile in Richmond, an initiative that shifted gun crimes to federal court where defendants faced harsher sentences
As governor, protected 400,000 acres of Virginia land from development and established the Climate Change Commission
Signed an executive order banning smoking in all government buildings and state-owned cars in Virginia
After the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, appointed an eight-member review panel to probe the event and proposed $42 million of investment in mental health programs and reforms
Managed the state through the 2008–09 economic crisis, keeping unemployment in Virginia lower than the national average
Supported the expansion of Amtrak service in Virginia
Advocated for early childhood education, increasing participation by 40.2% during his term as governor
Made appointments to the Virginia state courts, including two to the Supreme Court of Virginia
Resigned from the Virginia Commission on Immigration after learning a member had made controversial statements
Served as DNC chair part-time while continuing his term as governor of Virginia
Defeated Republican Corey Stewart in his 2018 Senate reelection campaign
Announced his candidacy for reelection to the Senate in 2024
Delivered a speech on the Senate floor in Spanish, supporting the “Gang of Eight” immigration bill
Advocated for a new congressional authorization of military force for American operations against ISIL
Criticized Donald Trump’s presidency, particularly his “authoritarian tendencies”
Met with Pope Francis and discussed refugees and Latin American issues
Co-founded the bipartisan Senate Career and Technical Education Caucus with Senator Rob Portman
Supported financial regulation and the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
Advocated for environmental protection, acknowledging the scientific consensus on climate change
Supported the Affordable Care Act and proposed “Medicare X,” a public health insurance option
Advocated for comprehensive immigration reform and supported DACA and DAPA programs
Supported LGBT rights, including same-sex marriage, and opposed the Trump administration’s policy on transgender military service members