McClellan becomes 1st Black Virginia woman in Congress

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Virginia is now the 23rd state to be represented by a Black woman, according to a recent Pew Research Center analysis of historical records.

“It is a tremendous honor, not only when I think back on my own family history, and what my parents and grandparents and great-grandparents went through to make this possible, but the fact that I’m the first from Virginia, the birthplace of American democracy and the birthplace of American slavery, is kind of poetic justice,” Rep. McClellan told The Associated Press in an interview Monday.

Rep. McClellan recalled how her parents and grandparents faced Jim Crow-era obstacles just to vote. She said her grandfather had to prove he could read and find three white men to vouch for it. Her father, a pastor and professor, had to pay a poll tax to vote and kept the proof in his now-worn Bible. Her mother, the first woman in her family to attend school beyond eighth grade, did not vote until the 1965 Voting Acts Right was enacted.

“What sparked my interest in government was listening to them tell their stories, where they saw the best of government in the New Deal and the worst of government in Jim Crow,” she told the AP. “Those stories not only made me want to focus on making government a force for helping people and solving problems, but I’ll carry those stories into the House chamber with me.”

The longtime state lawmaker won a special electio n last month to represent Virginia’s blue-leaning 4th District, which stretches from Richmond south to the border with North Carolina. The seat was opened when Democratic Rep. Donald McEachin died weeks after being elected to a fourth term in November.

Rep. McClellan won’t shift the balance of power in the House, which is narrowly held by Republicanswith a 222-seat majority. Democrats have 213 seats.

Rep. McClellan called Rep. McEachin a “big brother” figure, starting with his mentorship of Black college students like her at the University of Richmond.

Rep. McClellan went on to become an associate general counsel at Verizon over a 20year career with the company. She also represented parts of the Richmond area in the General Assembly for nearly two decades and joined with McEachin in the statehouse to press a range of progressive goals.

She became a force behind many Democratic proposals, including bills to expand voting access, ensure abortion rights and curb climate change. She ran for governor in 2021 but lost in a crowded Democratic primary to Terry McAuliffe.

After Rep. McEachin’s death from the secondary effects of colorectal cancer, Rep. McClellan considered following

Free COVID-19 vaccines

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The Virginia Department of Health also has a list of COVID19 testing locations around the state at www.vdh.virginia.gov/ coronavirus/covid-19-testing/covid-19-testing-sites.

Want a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot?

The Richmond and Henrico health districts are offering free vaccines for COVID-19 and more at the following locations: in his footsteps again, as she did in 2017 when he vacated a seat in the state Senate. This time, though, she missed Rep. McEachin’s phone calls of advice.

Thursday, March 9, 2 to 4 p.m. - Cary Street, 400 E. Cary St., JYNNEOS shots. Walk-ups welcome but appointments encouraged.

Wednesday, March 15, 3 to 6 p.m. - Second Baptist Church, 3300 Broad Rock Blvd., Primary Moderna shots for age 6 months to 5 years old and 12 years and older, and bivalent boosters for age 6 years and older, Primary Pfizer shots for age 6 months and older, bivalent boosters for age 5 years and older, Novavax primary shots for age 12 and older, and boosters for age 18 and older, and baby bivalent boosters. Walk-ups welcome but appointments encouraged.

Thursday, March 16, 2 to 4 p.m. - Cary Street, 400 E. Cary St., Primary Moderna shots for age 6 months to 5 years old and 12 years and older, and bivalent boosters for age 6 years and older, Primary Pfizer shots for age 6 months and older, bivalent boosters for age 5 years and older, Novavax primary shots for age 12 and older, and boosters for age 18 and older, and baby bivalent boosters. Walk-ups welcome but appointments encouraged. People can schedule an appointment online at vase.vdh. virginia.gov, vaccinate.virginia.gov or vax.rchd.com, or by calling (804) 205-3501 or (877) VAX-IN-VA (1-877-829-4682).

VaccineFinder.org and vaccines.gov also allow people to find nearby pharmacies and clinics that offer the COVID-19 vaccine and booster.

Those who are getting a booster shot should bring their vaccine card to confirm the date and type of vaccine received.

RHHD also offers at-home vaccinations by calling (804) 205-3501 to schedule appointments.

New COVID-19 boosters, updated to better protect against the latest variants of the virus, are now available. The new Pfizer booster is approved for those age 12 and up, while the new Moderna booster is for those age 18 and older.

As with previous COVID-19 boosters, the new doses can only be received after an initial two vaccine shots, and those who qualify are instructed to wait at least two months after their second COVID-19 vaccine.

The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts are now offering bivalent Pfizer and Moderna boosters to children between the ages of 5 and 11 in clinics in the near future. Children in this age range will be eligible after at least two months since their last vaccine dose.

New COVID-19 cases in Virginia fell 10 percent during the last week, according to data from the Virginia Department of Health, while data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association showed hospitalizations statewide dropped 10 percent since last week.

Compiled by George Copeland Jr.

“I really felt his absence,” Rep. McClellan said, adding that she ultimately decided she could build on his legacy. Rep. McClellan, the first Virginia state delegate to give birth while in office, has two children. Speaking by phone over the background noise of children arriving home from school, Rep.McClellan told the AP she was ready “to bring a brand new perspective as a Black mom, a Black woman and a working mom.” Associated Press writer Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Va., contributed to this report.