Jen McClellan poised to win special election for Richmond-area House seat
Barnini Chakraborty
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Virginia voters headed to the polls Tuesday for a special election that could end with the southern state electing its first black congresswoman.
Tuesday’s race pits state Sen. Jen McClellan against conservative pastor Leon Benjamin for the 4th Congressional District seat that was vacated following the death of Rep. Donald McEachin (D-VA) in November. McEachin, who was elected to his third term last year with 65% of the vote, died from colorectal cancer.
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McClellan is heavily favored to win in the left-leaning district that includes Richmond, Henrico County, Chesterfield County, Petersburg, Prince George, and more.
While Tuesday’s race is unlikely to shift the balance of power in the House of Representatives, a win for McClellan would not only set a record for the number of women presently serving in Congress but would also set the record for the number of black women serving in the House, raising it to 28.
“The sun is shining and it’s time to VOTE!” she tweeted on Tuesday morning.
McClellan, who launched an unsuccessful bid for governor in 2021, has spent the past 17 years working in the Virginia General Assembly.
She has led legislative packages such as the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, the first state voting rights act in the South. She was also a major player behind the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which established a renewable energy standard that mandates Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Electric Power to produce 100% renewable electricity by 2045 and 2050.
In all, she has helped pass 350 pieces of legislation during her time in the state legislature.
The 50-year-old said her strategy for working with Republicans in Congress would be to listen.
“Focusing on solving problems, finding common ground where you can’t, and if you can’t [find] it, then just pushing forward for what’s best for your constituents and the country,” she said during an appearance on ABC’s GMA3 last month.
McClellan’s opponent, Benjamin, also promises to listen.
“I promise to LISTEN to YOU and FIGHT for YOU with a commitment to protect and restore your God-given and Constitutional rights!” he said on his campaign website.
Benjamin is no stranger to the political field. Tuesday’s race is the third time he has run for the seat. He lost to McEachin by 30 percentage points last year. In 2020, he lost to McEachin by 23 points.
“It’s a beautiful day in Richmond to vote for Leon Benjamin. Head to the polls before they close at 7 PM!” he tweeted.
Benjamin, a Navy veteran, is the senior pastor of New Life Harvest Church and a founder of the Coalition of Leaders United, which is “dedicated to advancing conservative values and restoring moral clarity in America.”
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The Richmond-area native has three children and is married to Pastor Maria Benjamin, who also preaches at New Life Harvest Church.
Benjamin said his top priorities are to “defeat division,” “reclaim our government,” “preserve our country,” and “strengthen our families.”