Senator Tim Kaine is running for re-election to the United States Senate. A champion for women, he is expected to win this November.
Background and Achievements
Senator Tim Kaine has been an advocate for women’s rights throughout his entire political career, from his first electoral victory in 1994 for Richmond City Council, through his terms as Mayor of Richmond, Virginia Lieutenant Governor, Virginia Governor, and now U.S. Senator. In each office, Tim has supported reproductive rights and funding for family planning clinics. He is a passionate defender of the Affordable Care Act, a co-sponsor of the 2013 Violence Against Women Act, and a voice of reason against abuses by the Trump administration.
Senator Kaine moved to Virginia with his wife, Anne, shortly after graduating from Harvard Law School. After working as both a lawyer and professor, Tim ran for city council where he won against an incumbent by just 97 votes. He served on the Richmond city council for five years before successfully running for mayor.
Following his term as the Mayor of Richmond, Kaine ran for Lieutenant Governor and later, Governor. In each of these positions, Kaine stood up for the values that Feminist Majority believes in. As Governor, he expanded access to public education and preschool, ultimately raising preschool attendance by over 40%. He helped recover Virginia’s economy after the 2008 economic crash, strengthened gun control laws following the horrific Virginia Tech Shooting, and stood up for women.
Senator Kaine has served in the Senate since 2013, an election which he won handily.
Positions on Key Issues
- Strong supporter of public schools
- Voting rights and accessibility
- Advocate for children
- Strong advocate for women’s health care, including reproductive rights
- Against the immigration policies of the Trump administration
- Ensuring accessible and quality health care
- Protection of the environment
- Strong supporter of gun control
Prospects & Opponents
Senator Kaine is running against Republican Corey Stewart, the former Virginia Chairman of Donald Trump’s campaign, who was fired after protesting the RNC. In 2017, Stewart unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Virginia, focusing his campaign on protecting Confederate monuments. As of May 2018, Kaine has outraised Stewart by 16 million dollars and is expected to win.
Endorsements
- Feminist Majority
- Senators Doug Jones, Mark Warner, and Dick Durbin
- Governors Ralph Northam and Terry McAuliffe
- United Mine Workers of America
- Sierra Club Virginia
- Coalition to Stop Gun Violence