Jennifer McClellan makes history with Virginia special congressional election win


Democrat Jennifer McClellan won Tuesday's special election to represent Virginia's 4th Congressional District, The Associated Press, CNN, and NBC News are projecting.
McClellan, a state senator, is now the first Black woman elected to Congress in Virginia. She defeated Republican Leon Benjamin, a pastor and Navy veteran. The seat became open in November, when Rep. Donald McEachin (D-Va.) died at 61 of colorectal cancer.
During her victory party on Tuesday night, McClellan declared that "when we come together and we care more about doing the work and solving the problems than the soundbites and the show, we can help people. We will make this commonwealth and this country a better place for everyone."
Virginia's 4th District encompasses most of the area between Richmond and the border with North Carolina. It is a solidly Democratic district, with McEachin winning re-election in 2022 with 69.4 percent of the vote and President Biden receiving 67.1 percent of the vote in 2020.
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
From Da Vinci to a golden toilet: a history of museum heists
In the Spotlight Following the ‘spectacular’ events at the Louvre, museums are ‘increasingly being targeted by criminal gangs’
-
Can Gen Z uprisings succeed where other protest movements failed?
Today's Big Question Apolitical and leaderless, youth-led protests have real power but are vulnerable to the strongman opportunist
-
The allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria
The Explainer West African nation has denied claims from US senator and broadcaster
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
Do Republicans have a health care plan?
Today's Big Question The shutdown hinges on the answer
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats