Virginia — 4th District

D Democratic Jennifer McClellan

Expand healthcare and protect abortion access

McClellan supports expanding access to affordable healthcare, preventative services, mental health, and reproductive healthcare. In the Virginia General Assembly, she authored legislation creating Virginia's state health exchange under the Affordable Care Act and voted to expand Medicaid to over 400,000 residents. She also led the passage of the Reproductive Health Protection Act, which removed major state-level abortion restrictions in Virginia.

• Led passage of the Reproductive Health Protection Act, eliminating mandatory ultrasounds, 24-hour waiting periods, and TRAP laws
• Passed the law creating Virginia's health benefits exchange under the Affordable Care Act
• Supported expanding Medicaid coverage to more than 400,000 Virginians
• Carried legislation making Virginia the first Southern state to remove bans on abortion coverage in health exchange plans

“Jenn has been a fierce advocate for protecting access to reproductive care and supports for new mothers.”

“Jenn will continue to make access to a high-quality, affordable, comprehensive health care system available to everyone”

D Democratic Jennifer McClellan

Supports inclusive economic growth and worker rights

McClellan advocates for economic policies aimed at fostering worker protections, raising wages, and supporting small business growth. Her state legislative record includes expanding collective bargaining rights, establishing paid family and sick leave, and repeatedly patroning legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15. She also sponsored laws eliminating historic minimum wage exemptions for domestic and eldercare workers.

• Patroned legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15 and eliminate exemptions for domestic workers and older employees
• Passed the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, Pregnant Worker Fairness Act, and Virginia Values Act
• Cosponsored bills expanding collective bargaining rights to public employees and mandating paid family and medical leave

“Jenn will advocate for a strong, inclusive, affordable and resilient economy that gives everyone an opportunity for prosperity while meeting the changing demands of technology and the marketplace and protecting workers’ rights.”

D Democratic Jennifer McClellan

Fully fund public education and childcare

McClellan views education as a foundation for economic opportunity and advocates for full state and federal funding of public K-12 education and early childcare. She chief-sponsored legislation to increase Virginia K-12 funding by $2 billion and passed bills creating state funds for school construction and modernization. She also supports making community college tuition-free for high-demand occupations and extending in-state tuition to DACA recipients.

• Chief-sponsored legislation to increase Virginia public school funding by $2 billion
• Created the School Construction Fund and Program, helping secure $1.2 billion for school infrastructure in 2022
• Passed the Child Care Stabilization and Quality Care Act to stabilize early childhood education providers
• Cosponsored tuition-free community college for middle- and low-income students entering high-demand fields

“Jenn’s parents taught her that a good education is the key to economic opportunity, thriving communities, and a healthy democracy.”

“In Congress, Jenn will support major federal investments to improve access to child care”

D Democratic Jennifer McClellan

Transition to clean energy with environmental justice

McClellan treats climate change as an economic, health, and civil rights issue, prioritizing rapid clean energy deployment alongside environmental justice protections. In the Virginia Senate, she led the passage of the Virginia Clean Economy Act to establish a 100% Clean Energy Standard for the Commonwealth. In Congress, she supports implementing federal climate investments from the Inflation Reduction Act and transitioning to zero-emission vehicle fleets.

• Led Senate passage of the Virginia Clean Economy Act, establishing a 100% Clean Energy Standard in Virginia
• Passed the Solar Freedom Act to eliminate restrictions on local solar energy usage
• Cosponsored clean vehicle standards and legislation to expand electric vehicle charging station infrastructure
• Introduced Environmental Justice legislation requiring public outreach for individual environmental permits

“Jenn recognizes that climate change is an environmental issue, an economic issue, a health issue and a racial justice issue that we must take action to address.”

D Democratic Jennifer McClellan

Expand ballot access and voting protections

McClellan makes protecting and expanding voting rights a central platform issue. She authored and passed the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, making Virginia the first Southern state to enact a comprehensive state voting rights act modeled on federal legislation. She opposes strict voter ID mandates and supports federal voting protections, no-excuse absentee voting, and ending prison gerrymandering.

• Authored and passed the Voting Rights Act of Virginia to prevent voter suppression, discrimination, and intimidation
• Sponsored Virginia's law banning prison gerrymandering
• Cosponsored measures establishing no-excuse absentee voting and repealing restrictive photo voter ID requirements

“Jenn knows voting is the most precious right and fundamental act in our democracy.”

“The Virginia Voting Rights Act is modeled after the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 and will protect voters in the Commonwealth from suppression, discrimination, and intimidation”

D Democratic Jennifer McClellan

Transform criminal justice and law enforcement

McClellan advocates for transforming the criminal justice system to emphasize rehabilitation, equity, and accountability over incarceration. Her record includes cosponsoring police accountability measures, ending no-knock warrants, abolishing the death penalty, and reforming mandatory minimum sentences. She also patroned legislation protecting defendants with mental illness or intellectual disabilities during court proceedings.

• Cosponsored police reform legislation requiring de-escalation tactics and banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants
• Cosponsored the law abolishing the death penalty in Virginia
• Patroned legislation allowing evidence of mental health or developmental conditions to be presented during trial
• Supported raising the felony larceny threshold and expanding parole eligibility

“Jenn is committed to transforming justice throughout the Commonwealth to create a generational cycle of restoration and re-entry rather than one of inequity.”

D Democratic Jennifer McClellan

Enact comprehensive gun control measures

McClellan advocates for comprehensive gun safety legislation to prevent firearm-related injuries and deaths. In the Virginia General Assembly, she led passage of a law requiring reporting of lost or stolen firearms and supported universal background checks and one-gun-a-month purchasing limits. In Congress, she supports federal background check requirements and closing firearm sales loopholes.

• Led Senate passage of a bill requiring the reporting of lost or stolen firearms
• Cosponsored reinstatement of Virginia's 'one-gun-a-month' rule and universal background check requirements
• Supported giving localities authority to prohibit firearms in public spaces
• Led a Senate bill establishing the Center for Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention

“All of Virginia’s 1,000 annual gun deaths are preventable. As a member of Congress, Jenn will work to close loopholes and protect Virginians from gun violence.”

D Democratic Jennifer McClellan

Advance civil rights and LGBTQ+ protections

McClellan's legislative platform centers on advancing civil rights, combating systemic discrimination, and ensuring LGBTQ+ equality. She introduced the resolution making Virginia the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and co-patroned the Virginia Values Act. She also led efforts repealing constitutional bans on same-sex marriage and banning conversion therapy for minors.

• Introduced and passed the Senate resolution ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment in Virginia
• Co-patroned the Virginia Values Act prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity
• Repealed Virginia's ban on same-sex marriage and helped ban the gay/trans-panic defense
• Cosponsored legislation banning conversion therapy for minors in Virginia

“Jenn has spent her career dismantling the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow that still impacts communities today.”

D Democratic Jennifer McClellan

Expand affordable housing and tenant protections

McClellan advocates for state and federal policies to lower housing costs, prevent evictions, and expand affordable housing stock. In Virginia, she passed the Tenants Bill of Rights to give renters legal recourse against substandard property conditions and supported anti-foreclosure protections. Her platform includes creating statewide housing voucher programs and expanding eviction diversion resources.

• Passed the Tenants Bill of Rights empowering tenants against neglected rental property conditions
• Carried the Preserving the American Dream Act to protect homeowners facing foreclosure
• Proposed creating a Virginia Statewide Housing Voucher system and an Equity Home Ownership Fund
• Supported expanding eviction diversion pilot programs and funding the Housing Trust Fund

“Jenn is committed to providing and maintaining affordable and stable housing for all Virginians, free from discrimination, because everyone deserves a safe place to call home.”

D Democratic Jennifer McClellan

Invest in multimodal transit and clean infrastructure

McClellan supports substantial public investments in multimodal transportation, combining highway improvements with public transit and passenger rail expansion. She served on the Central Virginia Transportation Authority Board and Senate Transportation Committee. Her legislative record includes initiating regional passenger rail studies and funding electric vehicle charging networks.

• Initiated a study for the Commonwealth Corridor passenger rail service connecting Hampton Roads, Richmond, and the New River Valley
• Supported sustainable transportation funding allocations for WMATA and VRE regional transit systems
• Passed legislation to expand electric vehicle charging station infrastructure across Virginia

“In Congress, Jenn will support a multimodal transportation system that provides for the most efficient, accessible travel options for people and products while also protecting and preserving the environment.”

D Democratic Jennifer McClellan

Expand employment and support for veterans

McClellan emphasizes supporting military service members and veterans through targeted workforce transition programs and healthcare integration. In the state legislature, she supported programs helping military medical personnel transition into civilian health careers and expanded absentee voting rights for overseas service members.

• Supported creation of the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) program assisting veterans with post-service job training
• Supported the Military Medics and Corpsmen (MMAC) program facilitating civilian medical employment for veterans
• Supported implementation of the Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act to safeguard voting access

“Jenn believes it is essential to protect and support those Virginians who have defended our freedom by serving in our military.”