Terry McAuliffe

Terry McAuliffe

Democratic Party

Prior offices

Governor of Virginia

Successor: Ralph Northam

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Elections and appointments

Last election

November 2, 2021

Education

Bachelor's

Catholic University

Law

Georgetown Law School

Personal

Religion

Christian: Catholic

Profession

Business

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Terry McAuliffe (Democratic Party) was the Governor of Virginia. He assumed office on January 11, 2014. He left office on January 13, 2018.

McAuliffe (Democratic Party) ran for election for Governor of Virginia. He lost in the general election on November 2, 2021.

McAuliffe served as Governor of Virginia from 2014 to 2018, succeeding Gov. Bob McDonnell (R), who was term-limited and ineligible for re-election in 2013.

The 2013 election marked McAuliffe's second bid for the governorship in Virginia; he ran for the office in 2009, finishing second in the Democratic primary behind Creigh Deeds, who lost to McDonnell in the general election.

McAuliffe served as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2001 to 2005. He was also co-chairman of President Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign and chairman of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign.

In 2009, former presidential candidate Ralph Nader sued McAuliffe, alleging that he and others had conspired to deny Nader ballot access in his 2004 presidential bid. The court later rejected the allegations and dismissed the case.

Biography

McAuliffe is the son of U.S. Army Captain Jack McAuliffe and Millie McAuliffe, and the youngest of four brothers. A Syracuse, New York, native, he began a business paving driveways for nearby homes and businesses at age 14. After graduating from high school, McAuliffe earned his bachelor's degree from Catholic University. He later received his Juris Doctor from Georgetown Law School.

He went on to become a businessman, political adviser for the Democratic Party and former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, serving from 2001 to 2005. He served as co-chairman of President Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign and chairman of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign.

Education

• Bachelor's degree - Catholic University
• Juris Doctor - Georgetown Law School

Elections

2021

See also: Virginia gubernatorial election, 2021

Virginia gubernatorial election, 2021 (June 8 Democratic primary)

Virginia gubernatorial election, 2021 (May 8 Republican convention)

General election

General election for Governor of Virginia

Glenn Youngkin defeated Terry McAuliffe, Princess Blanding, and Paul Davis in the general election for Governor of Virginia on November 2, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Glenn Youngkin (R)	50.6	1,663,596
		Terry McAuliffe (D)	48.6	1,600,116
		Princess Blanding (Liberation Party)	0.7	23,125
		Paul Davis (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	2,593

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,289,430
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Brad Froman (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Virginia

Terry McAuliffe defeated Jennifer D. Carroll Foy, Jennifer McClellan, Justin Fairfax, and Lee Carter in the Democratic primary for Governor of Virginia on June 8, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Terry McAuliffe	62.1	307,367
		Jennifer D. Carroll Foy	19.8	98,052
		Jennifer McClellan	11.8	58,213
		Justin Fairfax	3.6	17,606
		Lee Carter	2.8	13,694

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 494,932
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican convention

Republican Convention for Governor of Virginia

Select round: Round 6 Round 5 Round 4 Round 3 Round 2 Round 1

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Glenn Youngkin in round 6 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Glenn Youngkin	54.7	6,868	1,557	Advanced (6)
		Pete Snyder	45.3	5,686	1,608	6
		Amanda Chase	0.0	0	-3,164	6
		Kirk Cox	0.0	0	0	5
		Sergio de la Pena	0.0	0	0	4
		Peter Doran	0.0	0	0	3
		Octavia L. Johnson	0.0	0	0	1

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Glenn Youngkin	42.3	5,311	979	Advanced (6)
		Pete Snyder	32.5	4,078	575	6
		Amanda Chase	25.2	3,164	305	6
		Kirk Cox	0.0	0	-1,860	5
		Sergio de la Pena	0.0	0	0	4
		Peter Doran	0.0	0	0	3
		Octavia L. Johnson	0.0	0	0	1

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Glenn Youngkin	34.5	4,332	183	Advanced (6)
		Pete Snyder	27.9	3,503	253	6
		Amanda Chase	22.8	2,859	239	6
		Kirk Cox	14.8	1,860	154	5
		Sergio de la Pena	0.0	0	-830	4
		Peter Doran	0.0	0	0	3
		Octavia L. Johnson	0.0	0	0	1

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Glenn Youngkin	33.0	4,149	8	Advanced (6)
		Pete Snyder	25.9	3,250	6	6
		Amanda Chase	20.9	2,620	8	6
		Kirk Cox	13.6	1,706	8	5
		Sergio de la Pena	6.6	830	17	4
		Peter Doran	0.0	0	-48	3
		Octavia L. Johnson	0.0	0	0	1

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Glenn Youngkin	33.0	4,141	9	Advanced (6)
		Pete Snyder	25.8	3,244	2	6
		Amanda Chase	20.8	2,612	6	6
		Kirk Cox	13.5	1,698	4	5
		Sergio de la Pena	6.5	813	8	4
		Peter Doran	0.4	48	6	3
		Octavia L. Johnson	0.0	0	-34	1

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Glenn Youngkin	32.9	4,132	0	Advanced (6)
		Pete Snyder	25.8	3,242	0	6
		Amanda Chase	20.8	2,606	0	6
		Kirk Cox	13.5	1,694	0	5
		Sergio de la Pena	6.4	805	0	4
		Peter Doran	0.3	42	0	3
		Octavia L. Johnson	0.3	34	0	1

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 12,555
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Merle Rutledge (R)
• Kurt Santini (R)
• Paul Davis (R)

Campaign finance

2013

See also: Virginia gubernatorial election, 2013

McAuliffe won election to the state executive office of Governor of Virginia in 2013. McAuliffe ran uncontested for the Democratic nomination in the June 11 primary. Then, on November 5, 2013, he defeated outgoing Republican state attorney general Ken Cuccinelli and Libertarian Robert Sarvis in the general election. After an unexpectedly close race at the end of a long season filled with campaign ads opposing each other from both sides, McAuliffe spoke of the two parties working together. “The truth is, this election was never a choice between Democrats and Republicans,” McAuliffe said. “It was a choice about whether Virginia would continue the mainstream, bipartisan tradition that has served us so well over the last decade.”

• General Election - 2013 Governor's Race

Virginia Gubernatorial General Election, 2013
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Terry McAuliffe	47.8%	1,069,789
	Republican	Ken Cuccinelli	45.2%	1,013,354
	Libertarian	Robert Sarvis	6.5%	146,084
	N/A	Write-in	0.5%	11,087
Total Votes				2,240,314
Election Results via Virginia State Board of Elections.

Click "Show more" to view additional coverage of the 2013 gubernatorial election

Show more

Race background

Former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell (R) was ineligible to run for re-election in 2013 because of term limits. Term limits for governors in Virginia are more strict than any other state in the country. Under the commonwealth's constitution, no governor may serve back-to-back terms. This means that McDonnell, unlike other governors in their first term, was ineligible to run for re-election.

There are no such term limits on the attorney general, and many were surprised at former AG Ken Cuccinelli's (R) decision to run for governor, rather than seek another term. If not for Cuccinelli, outgoing Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling would have been the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to succeed McDonnell. Due to the state Republican Party's decision to change their candidate nomination method from open primary election to closed nominating convention starting in 2013, and Cuccinelli's presence in the race, Bolling withdrew his bid for the GOP nod in November 2012. About the alternative of seeking re-election to his current post, Bolling stated that “Under normal circumstances, I would be open to the possibility of running for another term as lieutenant governor, but I would not be interested in running on a statewide ticket with Mr. Cuccinelli.” He later said he regretted dropping out of the race as early as he did.

McDonnell had previously pledged his support for Bolling's candidacy, in part because Bolling refrained from challenging McDonnell for governor in 2009. After Bolling bowed out, McDonnell chose to endorse fellow Republican Cuccinelli for his successor, despite Cuccinelli's outspoken opposition to McDonnell's Transportation Initiative, which was considered to be the centerpiece of his gubernatorial legacy. Ironically, Cuccinelli's future general election opponent, former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe, had been equally outspoken on the issue, but as an advocate and defender of the outgoing governor's approach to amending the state's transportation funding policy.

In response to the major party picks, the Libertarian Party held a special convention and nominated Robert Sarvis as the party's official gubernatorial candidate.

Like Cuccinelli and Sarvis, McAuliffe faced no primary opponent. Days from the election, McAuliffe held a comfortable polling and fundraising lead over Cuccinelli and Sarvis. Aggregated polling data had the Democratic nominee with an average edge of seven percentage points over Cuccinelli--an advantage that could have been attributed in large part to female voters' 58-34 preference of McAuliffe, since he and Cuccinelli were almost neck-and-neck among men. During the last campaign finance reporting period, ending October 28, McAuliffe reported raising $8.1 million to Cuccinelli's $2.9 million, and holding $1.6 million in cash on hand, which was twice the size of Cuccinelli's warchest. Sarvis was trailing both with a reported $81,595 raised and $58,584 on hand. Hillary Clinton's decision to come out in support of McAuliffe on October 19 - marking her first campaign event appearance since stepping down as U.S. Secretary of State - further enhanced the Democrat's frontrunner status. Former President Bill Clinton threw in his support soon thereafter, followed by President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, who joined the McAuliffe campaign effort in the final week of the election season.

The three contenders squared off in the general election on November 5, 2013, which McAuliffe won by a 2.6 percent margin.

Impact of US government shutdown on governor's race

The 2013 federal government shutdown coincided with the home stretch of the 2013 Virginia gubernatorial race, which created a fresh backdrop for the battle between major party nominees Terry McAuliffe (D) and Ken Cuccinelli (R). Each campaign released an ad during the aftermath of the shutdown.

Hoping to use the shutdown to further advance his 5.3 percent polling lead by associating Cuccinelli with Republican members of Congress, McAuliffe's ad emphasized Cuccinelli's ties to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). The ad cited Cuccinelli's past effort to defund Planned Parenthood, asserting that it had slowed the passage of other legislation, and also claimed Cuccinelli had been sufficiently opposed to Mark Warner's 2004 budget to call for a shutdown of the state government.

Cuccinelli's ad aimed to discredit McAuliffe by referencing articles from The Washington Post and the Richmond-Times Dispatch criticizing McAuliffe's prospective budget plan and alleging that McAuliffe had threatened to shut down the government in the event that the plan did not pass. The radio spot also accused McAuliffe of being "against compromise, against working together to find solutions,” pointing to McAuliffe's support for Democratic members of Congress who had supported the government shutdown.

The shutdown was also referenced by Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis, who argued that it had soured voters on the major parties. "People are looking for other options they don't like what they have to see from those two parties and we're trying to fill that void with principled advocacy for more freedom in our economic sphere and personal lives," stated Sarvis.

Noteworthy events

GreenTech Automotive

Prior to becoming governor, McAuliffe founded an electric car company called GreenTech Automotive, which sought overseas investors through a federal program run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The program, known as EB-5, allows foreign workers to gain special visas if they contribute at least $500,000 towards the creation of U.S. jobs. Frustrated with the processing speed of the department, McAuliffe sought faster review for his company's request for more than 200 visas through EB-5. On December 15, 2010, McAuliffe wrote a letter to former DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano asking for assistance to speed the consideration of GreenTech's petition for visas. McAuliffe also repeatedly contacted DHS official Alejandro Mayorkas, regarding the slow movement of the requested visas.

During hearings related to Mayorkas' promotion to a new position at DHS, six whistleblowers came forward to the inspector general about the favoritism shown in expediting the visas requested by McAuliffe. A report issued on March 24, 2015, by the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security found that McAuliffe was given special treatment through DHS for the visas, and that Mayorkas had "created an appearance of favoritism and special access" in the department. The report, however, ultimately did not find evidence of law-breaking.

GreenTech had previously undergone an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in August 2013, when Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) revealed government documents that implicated McAuliffe in special treatment through DHS. McAuliffe was also entrenched in the controversy surrounding GreenTech's financial misconduct, as reported by Watchdog beginning in December 2012.

Less than one month before McAuliffe's victory in the November 2013 gubernatorial election, Watchdog published new e-mail evidence alleging his involvement in GreenTech's practice of leaning on the Department of Homeland Security to expedite their funding requests. The e-mails were made available by a FOIA request and included exchanges between McAuliffe and former secretary Janet Napolitano’s chief of staff in November 2012, as well as one between high level staff at DHS urging visas to be expedited to avoid a potential closure of a plant in Mississippi if EB-5 applications were not approved.

Campaign finance

Terry McAuliffe Campaign Finance Reports
Report	Date Filed	Beginning Balance	Total Contributions for Reporting Period	Expenditures	Cash on Hand
Post-Primary Report	July 15, 2013	$5,427,906.50	$1,940,051.66	$(6,259,712.87)	$6,012,697.51
8 Day Pre-General Report	October 28, 2013	$1,823,195.10	$8,126,073.18	$(8,333,747.15)	$1,615,521.13
			Running totals
			$10,066,124.84	$(14,593,460.02)

Endorsements

McAuliffe's 2013 gubernatorial campaign was endorsed by the following individuals and organizations:

• President Barack Obama
• First Lady Michelle Obama
• Former U.S. President Bill Clinton
• Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
• Republican mayor of Virginia Beach Will Sessoms
• Republican former Virginia Del. Vince Callahan
• Democratic Mayors Paul Fraim (Norfolk) and McKinley Price (Newport)
• Republican Mayor Will Sessoms (Virginia Beach)
• U.S. Senator Tim Kaine
• Former Independent Delegate Katherine Waddell
• U.S. Senator Mark Warner
• Former Independent Delegate Watkins Abbitt
• Former Virginia House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong
• Former Republican Governor of Virginia Linwood Holton.

Holton decided to endorse McAuliffe over his party's nominee, Ken Cuccinelli, because he said he believes McAuliffe "will put partisan politics aside and work every day to move Virginia forward."

• Human Rights Campaign
• League of Conversation Voters
• Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia
• Virginia Professional Firefighters
• NARAL
• Virginia Education Association
• Equality VA

Polls

All candidates

Governor of Virginia: All candidates
Poll	Terry McAuliffe (D)	Ken Cuccinelli (R)	Robert Sarvis (L)	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Emerson College Poll (October 25-20, 2013)	42%	40%	13%	5%	+/-3.24	874
Christopher Newport University Poll of Likely Voters (October 25-30, 2013)	45%	38%	10%	7%	+/-3.0	1,038
AVERAGES	43.5%	39%	11.5%	6%	+/-3.12	956
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Governor of Virginia: All candidates
Poll	Terry McAuliffe (D)	Ken Cuccinelli (R)	Robert Sarvis (L)	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Quinnipiac University Poll (October 30, 2013)	45%	41%	9%	4%	+/-2.9	1,182
Washington Post/Abt-SRBI Poll (October 24-27, 2013)	51%	39%	8%	1%	+/-4.5	762
Public Policy Poll (Early voters) (October 19-20, 26-27, 2013)	55%	40%	3%	2%	+/--	1,433
Old Dominion University Poll	44%	37%	7%	9%	+/-5.0	670
Wenzel Strategies (October 21-22, 2013)	41%	40%	10%	9%	+/-3.85	640
Quinnipiac University Poll (October 15-21, 2013)	46%	39%	10%	4%	+/-3.0	1,085
Rasmussen Reports Poll (October 20, 2013)	50%	33%	8%	5%	+/-3.0	1,000
NBC4/NBC News/Marist Poll (October 13-15, 2013)	46%	38%	9%	7%	+/-4.0	596
Quinnipiac University Poll (October 2-8, 2013)	47%	39%	8%	6%	+/-2.9	1,180
Public Policy Poll/Harper (October 5-6, 2013)	44%	35%	12%	9%	+/-2.9	1,150
AVERAGES	46.9%	38.1%	8.4%	5.6%	+/-2.31	969.8
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Governor of Virginia: All candidates
Poll	Terry McAuliffe (D)	Ken Cuccinelli (R)	Robert Sarvis (L)	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Christopher Newport Poll (October 1-6, 2013)	47%	38%	9%	11%	+/-3.1	886
Rasmussen Reports Poll (September 23, 2013)	44%	38%	6%	11%	+/-3.0	1,050
NBC News/Marist Poll (September 17-19, 2013)	43%	38%	8%	11%	+/-4.2	546
Washington Post-Abt SRBI poll (September 19-22, 2013)	47%	39%	10%	3%	+/-4.5	562
Harper Polling/Conservative Intel (September 15-16, 2013)	42%	37%	10%	11%	+/-3.51	779
Quinnipiac University Poll (September 9-15, 2013)	44%	41%	7%	6%	+/-3.1	1,005
League of Women Voters/Public Policy Polling (August 27-28, 2013)	44%	37%	9%	9%	+/--	500
Emerson College Poll (August 23-28, 2013)	45%	35%	10%	11%	+/-3.8	653
Public Policy Polling (July 11-14, 2013)	41%	37%	7%	5%	+/-4.0	601
Roanoke University Poll (July 8-14, 2013)	31%	37%	5%	27%	+/-4.3	525
AVERAGES	42.8%	37.7%	8.1%	10.5%	+/-2.73	710.7
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

McAuliffe vs. Cuccinelli only

Governor of Virginia: Cuccinelli v. McAuliffe (June 2013 - present)
Poll	Terry McAuliffe (D)	Ken Cuccinelli (R)	Undecided/Other	Margin of error	Sample size
Public Policy Poll/Harper (October 5-6, 2013)	52%	42%	6%	+/-2.9
Washington Post-Abt SRBI poll (September 19-22, 2013)	49%	44%	7%	+/-4.5	562
Purple Strategies Poll (September 6-10, 2013)	43%	38%	19%	+/-3.5	800
Rasmussen Reports (September 3-4, 2013)	45%	38%	10%	+/-3.0	998
Internal Poll (August 13-18, 2013)	48%	44%	8%	+/-4.0	600
Quinnipiac University Poll (August 14-19, 2013)	48%	42%	9%	+/-2.9	1,129
Quinnipiac University Poll (July 11-15, 2013)	43%	39%	16%	+/-3.1	1,030
Rasmussen Reports Poll (June 5-6, 2013)	44%	41%	12%	+/-3.0	1,000
AVERAGES	46.5%	41%	10.88%	+/-3.36	764.88
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Governor of Virginia: Cuccinelli v. McAuliffe (February 2013 - May 2013)
Poll	Terry McAuliffe (D)	Ken Cuccinelli (R)	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Public Policy Polling (May 24-26, 2013)	42%	37%	21%	+/-3.8	672
Quinnipiac University (May 8-13, 2013)	43%	38%	17%	+/-2.7	1,286
NBC News/Marist Poll (April 28-May 2, 2013)	43%	41%	16%	+/-3.0	1,095
Washington Post (Likely Voters) (April 29-May 2, 2013)	41%	51%	8%	+/-5.0	663
Washington Post (Registered Voters) (April 29-May 2, 2013)	41%	46%	13%	+/-4.0	887
Roanoke College Poll (April 8-14, 2013)	29%	34%	38%	+/-3.9	629
Quinnipiac University (Feb. 14-18, 2013)	38%	38%	21%	+/-2.0	1,112
AVERAGES	39.57%	40.71%	19.14%	+/-3.49	906.29
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Media

McAuliffe Campaign Ads
"Too Important" - released May 22, 2013	"Ken" - released July 30, 2013	"Paul" - released August 22, 2013
"Interfering" - released September 4, 2013	"As Governor" - released September 6, 2013	"Twisting Facts" - released September 7, 2013
"Questioned" - released by The NextGen Climate Action Committee - released September 13, 2013	"Not For Us" - released September 19, 2013	"Honored" - released September 22, 2013
"The Pill" disputes Cuccinelli's claim that he has not tried to ban the birth control pill, citing his past sponsorship of a bill aiming to do just that. Released October 1, 2013	"All Supporting" features a group of bipartisan mayors declaring their support for McAuliffe's candidacy. Released October 4, 2013	Republican former VA Del. Vince Callahan discusses his decision to endorse McAuliffe in the 2013 governor race in "Callahan" - Released October 21, 2013
Former President Bill Clinton encourages voters to support McAuliffe for VA governor in "President Clinton: Vote on November 5" - Released October 30, 2013

2009

McAuliffe ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Virginia in 2009, losing in the Democratic primary election to State Senator Creigh Deeds.

• 2009 Virginia Gubernatorial Election - Democratic Primary

Governor of Virginia Democratic Primary Election, 2009
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Creigh Deeds	49.8%	158,845
Terry McAuliffe	26.4%	84,387
Brian J. Moran	23.8%	75,936
Total Votes		319,168
Election results via Virginia State Board of Elections.

Campaign themes

2021

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Terry McAuliffe did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

McAuliffe's campaign website stated the following:

“	This year has been incredibly difficult for Virginians across the Commonwealth as we fight to get this pandemic under control and begin our economic recovery. But it has also shown us the best of who Virginians are and it has given us a big opportunity to address the challenges facing our future. Terry is running for governor because we need o think big and be bold to move the Commonwealth forward and create a better future for all Virginians. Terry believes that now is the time to push Virginia forward to build a stronger and fairer post-COVID economy. As Virginia's next Governor, Terry will continue the fight for civil rights and voting rights, attract businesses to create the best jobs and raise wages, ensure all Virginians have access to quality affordable healthcare, build a clean energy economy to address climate change, and address the affordable housing crisis our communities are facing. Most importantly, Terry will make and unprecedented investment in education. The time is now to ensure a world-class education for every Virginia child. Our future and our children cannot wait. Ensuring an Equitable, World-Class Education for Every Child Raising Teacher Pay, Expanding Pre-K, and Getting Every Student Online So All Virginia Students Can Learn & Thrive. Read Terry's Full Plan Read the One-Pager Terry will also fight to make Virginia the best state in the nation for STEM-H and computer science education. Read his big, bold plan for STEM-H education here The Plan As Virginia’s next Governor, Terry will ensure that every student has access to an equitable, world-class education. His plan will invest a record $2 billion annually in education, which will raise teacher pay above the national average for the first time in Virginia history, give every 3 and 4-year-old in need access to pre-k, and get every student online. Terry will also address Virginia’s educator shortage and diversify our educator workforce through his Lucy Simms Educator Program. The Lucy Simms Program will cover education costs for students who commit to teaching for five years in one of Virginia’s public schools after graduation. "Every Virginia student - no matter their background or zip code - deserves equitable access to a world-class education. Our children and our future cannot wait." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry invested a record $1 billion in Virginia’s K-12 system, redesigned the high school experience with an eye toward workforce readiness, and eliminated five SOLs. To prepare students for jobs of the future, Terry expanded pre-k to thousands of students and signed the first law in the U.S. mandating computer science education for all K-12 students. Terry and his wife Dorothy also fought tirelessly to combat childhood hunger, and as a result, nearly 13 million school meals were served each year. The Work Ahead Pay educators what they deserve and raise teacher pay above the national average for the first time in Virginia’s history. Ensure the more than 41,000 3 and 4-year-olds in need get access to pre-k Get every student online by making a $75 million per year investment in broadband to expand access and lower monthly costs. Address modern-day segregation in schools and create an Education Equity and Innovation Commission, Fund, and a school integration officer. Make Virginia the best state in the nation for STEM-H and computer science education by integrating these skills and principles across grade levels and subject areas. Promote career readiness with investments in Career and Technical Education and building internships and apprenticeships into curricula. Creating Good-Paying Jobs and a Thriving Economy for All Virginians Good Jobs, Raising the Minimum Wage, and Paid Sick Days for All Virginians Read Terry's Full Plan Read the one-pager Read Terry's entrepreneurship plan The Plan The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the pervasive inequities in our systems and disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities when it comes to education, minority-owned businesses, housing and health care. Terry’s plan will rebuild our economy again so that all Virginians can prosper. As Governor, Terry will work to keep Virginians safely back at work and in schools, rebuild our thriving network of small businesses, and support our workforce with access to paid sick days, COVID-19 vaccines, affordable child care and hazard pay. He will also make critical investments in building and training the workforce of the future and ensuring that people of all ages have the skills they need to be successful in the jobs of tomorrow. Terry will achieve this through targeted investments in workforce training and development, partnering with businesses and our educational institutions to re-skill and retrain Virginians, and reimagining our K12 education system so that every child has access to a world-class education and is workforce ready upon graduation. As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry inherited a large budget deficit while facing the effects of the Great Recession sequestration. Despite these challenges, he oversaw record economic growth, bringing 200,000 new jobs to Virginia. He made historic progress training Virginians for high-demand careers and 21st Century jobs, promoting education and training for in-demand areas like advanced manufacturing, logistics, transportation, trades and construction, IT and health care. This allowed thousands of Virginians to take on high-paying jobs without a two- or four-year degree. At the end of his term, Terry left Virginia with more than a $100 million budget surplus. Read Terry’s plan to build an equitable post-COVID economy and invest in Virginia workers. Recovering From COVID-19 and Securing Virginia’s Future Continuing to Lead Virginia Out of This Pandemic and Into a Stronger Future Read Terry's Full Plan Read the One-Pager Terry understands that a crucial part of our recovery is ensuring that every Virginian has access to regular nutritious meals. Read his big, bold plan for food insecurity in Virginia’s post-COVID recovery The Plan As Virginia’s next Governor, Terry will tackle inequities and rebuild a stronger, more equitable post-COVID economy. Terry will rebuild Virginia’s thriving network of small businesses, especially Black and Brown-owned businesses, that have been hit the hardest. His plan will raise the minimum wage to $15/hour by 2024, support caregivers, make childcare more affordable and ensure that every worker has access to paid sick, family and medical leave, as women, particularly women of color, are being driven out of the workforce. Terry will also create a seamless 5-year pathway to high-demand, good-paying careers by building on Governor Northam’s G3 program. "The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the inequities that hardworking Virginians and women of color have faced for generations. We must act boldly to rebuild a stronger, more equitable post-COVID economy that lifts up all Virginians." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry created 200,000 good-paying jobs, raised personal income by 14%, and reduced unemployment to 3.3%, despite inheriting a record budget deficit and facing the effects of the Great Recession and sequestration. Terry also secured a record $1 billion investment in education, redesigned the high school experience with an eye toward workforce readiness, invested in apprenticeships, and created the first-in-the-nation New Economy Workforce Credentials Act, which enabled 26,000 people to get high-demand credentials and step into good jobs. The Work Ahead Rebuild small businesses, particularly Black and Brown-owned businesses that have closed at disproportionate rates. Raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2024, address pay disparities and ensure that every Virginian has access to paid sick, family and medical leave. Create a seamless 5-year pathway from K-12 to career, and expand work-based learning opportunities for students. Strengthen community colleges and associate degree programs by funding advisors and support services, increasing short-term immersion programs and stacking credentials, and establishing Career and Technical Education certificate programs for educators. Building A Healthier Virginia Ensuring That Every Virginian Has Access to Quality, Affordable Health Care Terry's accessibility plan Terry's affordability plan Read the one-pager The Plan As Virginia’s next governor, Terry will fight to make sure all Virginians have access to quality, affordable health care coverage and that no Virginian is forced to choose between medication or a meal. Terry will address racial, gender, and geographic disparities in access to coverage and outcomes by strengthening Medicaid, working with the federal government to implement a reinsurance program to lower health insurance premiums, protecting reproductive freedoms, and combating rising prescription drug prices by holding pharmaceutical companies accountable. As governor, Terry will also work to end unacceptable maternal mortality rates for Black women by expanding home visiting programs, improving access to quality care, ensuring access to lactation support, and mandating mental health screenings for pregnant and postpartum women. "Access to quality, affordable health care is a fundamental right, and our work to ensure all Virginians have access to it is far from over. I will act boldly and partner with President Biden's administration to eradicate inequities, lower health care premiums and fight to ensure that every Virginian has access to quality, affordable health care." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry stood as a “brick wall” in defense of Virginians’ reproductive freedoms, vetoing all anti-reproductive rights bills and signing legislation allowing Virginians to obtain a full year of contraceptives at once. Terry also laid the groundwork for the successful passage of Medicaid expansion by building his final budget proposal around the $421.7 million in estimated savings from expanding Medicaid and securing the critical hospital provider assessment. Terry’s “A Healthy Virginia” plan extended coverage to tens of thousands of Virginians for services such as dental care, mental health services, and substance use disorders The Work Ahead Implement a state reinsurance program to lower premiums and increase assistance for Virginians who can’t afford their premiums. Combat maternal mortality rates for Black women by expanding home visiting services, access to quality care, ensuring access to lactation support and mandating mental health screenings. Enshrine Roe v. Wade in Virginia’s constitution and increase access to contraceptive care. Lower prescription drug costs by passing a Prescription Drug Sunlight Law, setting price limits on certain drugs, and holding big Pharma accountable. Increase funding for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. Prescription for a Healthier Virginia Holding Big Pharma Accountable to Ensure Affordable Drug Prices Read Terry's full plan Read the one-pager The Plan As Virginia’s next governor, Terry will make sure that no person has to choose between medication or a meal. He will empower the Virginia State Corporation Commission to serve as a watchdog for Virginia consumers by forcing drug companies to justify certain price increases and setting upper price limits when necessary. Terry will ensure consumers have information and explanations about cost increases by creating a Prescription Drug Sunlight Law. He will also fight to secure the lowest possible prices by pooling Virginia’s purchasing power for state agencies, implementing a pharmacy benefit carve-out model for Virginia’s Medicaid program, and exploring bulk purchasing as a way to lower costs. "Pharmaceutical companies have continued to raise prices and pad their pockets during a pandemic on the backs of hardworking families. That's wrong, and as governor I'll put a stop to it. I will hold big Pharma accountable and make sure no Virginian is forced to choose between medicine or meal." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry fought against the Republican-controlled legislature that refused to expand Medicaid to the hundreds of thousands of Virginians who lacked access. Against their obstruction, Terry implemented his “A Healthy Virginia” plan, a bold initiative that expanded health care coverage to nearly 30,000 uninsured Virginians for important services such as dental care, mental health services, and substance use disorders. Terry also laid the groundwork for Medicaid expansion by building his final budget proposal around the $421.7 million in estimated savings from expanding Medicaid and securing an important assessment. The Work Ahead Create a Prescription Drug Accountability Division at the State Corporation Commission and empower them to serve as a watchdog for consumers and set upper price limits for certain drugs. Pass a Prescription Drug Price Sunlight Law and open up the black box of prescription drug pricing. Hold Big Pharma accountable when they engage in predatory practices or impose unjustifiable price hikes. Maximize Virginia’s ability to negotiate for the best drug prices by pooling purchasing power and exploring bulk purchasing options. Impose substantial taxes on companies for unjustified price hikes. Taking Action to Protect Virginians from Gun Violence It’s time to Ban the Sale of Assault Weapons, Close Loopholes, and Treat Gun Violence as a Public Health Epidemic Read Terry's full plan Read the one-pager The Plan As Virginia’s next Governor, Terry will send a clear message that gun violence has no place in the Commonwealth. He will ban the sale of assault weapons and get high-capacity magazines and ghost guns off of our streets. He will also close lethal loopholes that repeatedly allow firearms to get into the hands of dangerous individuals. By creating an Office of Gun Violence Prevention and creating a research Center of Excellence at a Virginia college or university, Terry will treat gun violence as the public health crisis it is and deploy evidence-based solutions to save lives. "We have made great strides in recent years to combat gun violence and strengthen Virginia's laws, now is the time to boldly confront and end this epidemic once and for all. I have never been afraid to stand up to the NRA, and that won't change now." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry signed an Executive Order banning guns in most state buildings, proposed a dozen common-sense gun safety bills, and vetoed 15 radical Republican bills that would have further weakened Virginia’s gun laws. As the first southern Governor to be elected after running with an “F” rating from the NRA, he passed the first meaningful gun safety laws in decades, including a domestic violence law that was one of the toughest in the nation, and a requirement that State Police be present at every gun show to run voluntary background checks on private sales. The Work Ahead Ban the sale of assault weapons, and get high-capacity magazines, and “ghost guns” off our streets. Strengthen Virginia’s new background check law to include all firearm transfers. Disarm hate by preventing people who have committed hate crimes from owning firearms. Prohibit open carry of firearms in certain public spaces and give localities the flexibility to ban open carry more broadly when there are credible public safety threats. Create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention to identify and coordinate solutions to gun violence across state agencies. Securing Virginia’s Clean Energy Future & Protecting Our Natural Resources Moving Virginia to 100% Clean Energy by 2035 to Create Good Jobs, Strengthen Climate Resilience & Protect Our Future Read Terry's full plan Read the one-pager The Plan As Virginia’s next governor, Terry will tackle the growing threat of climate change and ensure Virginia is resilient in the face of climate threats. That means accelerating Virginia’s path to 100% clean energy by 2035 and aligning Virginia with President Biden’s climate goals and efforts, investing in energy efficiency, decarbonizing Virginia’s transportation sector and creating good jobs of the future. Terry’s plan will ensure a just transition to clean energy that will protect consumers, lower utility bills, and break down environmental inequities that have disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities "Securing Virginia's clean energy future is critical to securing our future. I promise you Virginia will lead the nation in tackling climate change and transitioning to clean energy." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry fought for climate action against an extreme climate denying-Republican legislature. Terry’s accomplishments include joining the U.S. Paris Climate Agreement, appointing the state’s first Chief Resilience Officer and creating the Climate Change and Resiliency Update Commission, securing a $120 million HUD grant to mitigate flooding in two predominantly Black neighborhoods in Norfolk and a $50 million settlement from DuPont over mercury spills used to restore and protect the environment. Terry grew solar jobs by 65% in 2016 and expanded solar energy production by nearly 8,000% throughout his term. The Work Ahead Accelerate Virginia’s path to 100% clean energy by 2035 and ensure a just transition that protects communities that have been impacted the most. Restructure Virginia’s regulatory system to protect consumers and incentivize the transition to 100% clean energy. Reduce energy consumption by investing dramatically in energy efficiency. Expand clean energy jobs and build the workforce needed to supply the clean economy with highly-qualified, skilled workers. Equitably improve access to clean public transportation, electric vehicles and EV charging infrastructure. Creating a Flourishing Rural Economy Investing in Rural Communities, Getting Every Virginian Online, Strengthening Education & Health Care, and Supporting Virginia Farmers Read Terry's full plan Read the one-pager The Plan Terry will ensure that rural communities are prioritized in Virginia’s post-COVID economic recovery. He will get every Virginian online, promote access to virtual training and career opportunities and make telehealth available throughout rural areas. Terry will attract jobs by launching Virginia’s first intentional rural economic development hub and establishing rural communities as the energy innovation capitals of the East Coast. He will also invest in rural education and workforce development and will support the farmers who are vital to the success of our economy. Terry’s plan will create jobs, support families and drive sustainable economic growth in rural economies. "Virginia's rural communities are a vital part of our Commonwealth and economy. We have to prioritize them as we recover from this pandemic. That starts with guaranteeing universal access to broadband, because that is key to a successful post-COVID, 21st century economy." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry prioritized rural economic development and helped grow exports of agricultural and forestry products to over $3 billion for the first time in Virginia’s history. Terry also created 200,000 new jobs, thousands of which were in rural communities, and most rural counties saw unemployment cut by nearly 50 percent during his term. Terry worked to address the opioid epidemic in rural Virginia, creating the Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse, declaring the opioid overdose epidemic a public health emergency, and signing numerous bills to reduce over-prescribing and increase access to naloxone. Terry paved the way for Medicaid expansion, which has since extended coverage to more than 530,000 Virginians. The Work Ahead Deliver universal broadband coverage by the end of Terry’s term. Pilot Virginia’s first-ever intentional economic development hub, deploying high-impact investments in a span of neighboring rural jurisdictions to drive sustainable economic growth. Invest in Virginia’s crumbling school infrastructure. Break down health care disparities by investing in federally-qualified health centers and telehealth, providing more basic health services in schools and bringing virtual health clinics to local communities. Support farmers by investing in smart farming technologies, increasing access to educational opportunities and establishing rural Virginia as a major supplier of specialty crops. Establish rural communities in Virginia as the energy innovation capitals of the East Coast. Growing Greener Pastures by Investing in Virginia’s Agriculture & Forestry Industries Planting Innovation and Raising Opportunity on Virginia’s Working Lands Read Terry's full plan Read the one-pager The Plan As Virginia’s next Governor, Terry will take a comprehensive approach to strengthening the agricultural and forestry economy by growing demand for Virginia agricultural products, facilitating innovation to expand supply, and supporting Virginia farmers and foresters. His plan will build a highly-specialized agriculture and forestry workforce through partnerships with institutions of higher education and community colleges, cultivate next-generation smart farming by expanding broadband access to every Virginian, and expand state matching funds for agricultural best management practices that support the transition to sustainability. Terry will establish Virginia agriculture and forestry as a model for upward mobility and growth by focusing on investing in the farmers and workers who are critical to Virginia’s economic future. "Agriculture and forestry are the backbone of Virginia's thriving economy, but they need the Commonwealth's support as we continue to rebuild a stronger post-COVID economy and move Virginia forward. It's time to take Virginia agriculture and forestry to the next level, and together we will get it done." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry made agriculture and forestry key components of his economic development plan, expanding Virginia’s largest private industries by 30% in the first half of his term. One of Terry’s first acts as governor was to sign a law creating more economic opportunities in agriculture and cutting red tape for small farms. He boosted consumer access to locally produced food, gave farmers access to new markets, ushered in cooperative sales partnerships between small farms, enabled more agritourism, and launched the Virginia Grown – Homegrown By Heroes program to support military veteran farmers. Terry substantially grew exports of agricultural and forestry products to over $3 billion for the first time in Virginia’s history, making the Commonwealth the second-largest agricultural exporter on the East Coast and cutting unemployment in every city and county, including by nearly 50% in most rural counties. The Work Ahead Guaranteeing universal broadband by 2024, which will promote new technologies that improve efficiency, increase production, and increase profits Growing domestic markets and international trade opportunities for Virginia products and establishing Virginia as a major supplier of specialty crops, particularly specialty grains used in craft beverage production Increasing investments for the AFID fund that helps to attract and expand agriculture and forestry businesses in the Commonwealth Building a highly specialized agriculture and forestry workforce through partnerships with institutions of higher education and community colleges Opening up new markets for farmers by attracting state-of-the-art meat and dairy processing facilities, along with new sawmills and a cross laminated timber manufacturer Securing full funding for the Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) Cost-Share Program to ensure the Commonwealth meets our goals for conservation and the environment while supporting our farmers Making Higher Education More Affordable and Connecting Virginians to Opportunities Investing in Our Workforce and Creating New Paths to Good-Paying Careers Read Terry's full plan Read the one-pager The Plan Terry’s plan will give students a clear pathway to the workforce while removing the barriers preventing them from succeeding. As governor, Terry will create new, affordable pathways into the workforce by expanding workforce training programs at our community colleges and streamlining financial aid so more students can benefit from higher education. Terry will also ensure that once students are in school, they are able to make it to graduation by making it easier to transition to higher education, between institutions, and from education to the workforce. He will also ensure our students have access to the support they need to reach their goals. Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry oversaw the redesign of Virginia’s workforce training program and established the first-in-the-nation New Economy Workforce Credentials Grant fund and program that led to the creation of FastForward, a ‘pay-for-performance’ model that targets affordable industry certifications and occupational licenses for high-demand occupations at community colleges in the Commonwealth, with participants in these programs earning 25-50% higher pay. Terry also signed Executive Order 49, which called for an increase in the number of registered apprenticeship programs in key industries such as cyber security and IT. "Virginia was named the best state in the nation for business for the second time in a row - and we got here by investing in our education system and workforce." -Terry McAuliffe The Work Ahead Promote affordability and flexibility in higher education, making it easier for students to make the transitions to higher education, between institutions, and from education to the workforce. Streamline financial aid to better address student needs and expand programs that ensure that students are able to benefit from higher education. In order to ensure institutions of higher education can be more responsive to workforce needs, Terry will build capacity at the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to more quickly approve programs and get students into high-demand education pipelines like nursing, teaching and more. Build new, affordable pathways into the workforce that reduce burdens placed on students and allow students to choose the option that best fits their needs. Making Virginia the Best State in the Nation for STEM-H and Computer Science Education Creating Opportunity for All Virginia Students to Achieve Careers in Fast-Growing Sector Read Terry's full plan Read the one-pager The Plan As Virginia’s next Governor, Terry will make the Commonwealth the best state in the nation for STEM-H and computer science education and ensure all Virginia students, no matter their background or zip code, can access the growing STEM-H and computer science fields. To do so, Terry will integrate STEM-H and computer science principles across all subjects and grade levels, address the digital equity divide, leverage public-private partnerships to build the workforce of the future through virtual internships and regional innovation labs, increase supplemental learning opportunities, and attract high-paying jobs to every corner of the Commonwealth. "By integrating STEM-H and computer science education across curricula, and addressing the inequities that keep too many young women and students of color out of these fields, we can give students of all backgrounds the chance to access high-demand, good paying jobs of the present and future." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry made Virginia the first state in the nation to mandate computer science education for all K-12 students, created grant programs for cybersecurity camps for students and cyber boot camps for teachers, and set a goal to graduate more than 50,000 Virginians every year from STEM-H training programs — a goal that Virginia exceeded. Under Terry’s leadership, Virginia led the nation for participation in the 2016 “NSA Day of Cyber” School Challenge, with almost 7,000 students participating. The Work Ahead Tackle the digital equity gap by ensuring students have computing devices at home and building a strong foundation of access to knowledge, skills, and resources. Integrate STEM-H and computer science principles and skills into all subjects and grade levels in K-12 schools. Equip educators with the knowledge and skills they need to understand and teach these principles, and foster inclusive learning environments Cultivate public-private partnerships to advance STEM-H and computer science literacy, build the workforce of the future, and attract high-paying jobs to every corner of the Commonwealth. Establishing Virginia as the Best State in the Nation to Start and Grow a Business Supporting Entrepreneurship and Building Strong Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Virginia Read Terry's full plan The Plan While businesses and workers have been hit hard by this pandemic, there have also been unprecedented spikes in entrepreneurship and business startups, demonstrating how critical this industry will be to Virginia’s recovery. As Virginia’s next governor, Terry will fight to establish Virginia as not only the best state for business, but also as the best state for entrepreneurs and startups. He will create a cabinet-level advisor to develop and implement a statewide plan to support entrepreneurs. This plan will break down barriers and make it easier to start a new venture, provide support to backbone organizations and create access to capital, and ensure entrepreneurs have access to the resources they need to be successful. Terry will also create partnerships with institutions of higher education to coordinate research and development opportunities "Entrepreneurship is vital to a thriving economy, driving innovation into systems, developing solutions to society's toughest challenges and creating good jobs. As Virginia's next governor, I will work to make Virginia the best state in the nation for startups and entrepreneurs so that Virginia will be home to leading innovators in the nation." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry created 200,000 good-paying jobs, reduced unemployment from 5.7% to 3.3%, and raised personal income by 14%. He made Virginia the first state in the nation to mandate computer science education for all K-12 students, and graduated over 50,000 Virginians with STEM-H credentials. Terry also passed the first-in-the-nation New Economy Workforce Credentials Act, enabling 26,000 people to get high-demand credentials and step into good jobs and creating the Power Line Training School that allows students to step into $70,000 per year jobs after only 11 weeks of training. The Work Ahead Create a cabinet-level advisory to develop and implement a statewide strategic plan to support and grow entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Eliminate barriers and regulations that make it harder for businesses to get started and thrive. Support backbone organizations that drive entrepreneurship and improve access to capital with new state, local and private investments. Create strong partnerships between institutions of higher education, backbone organizations, entrepreneurs, and investors to coordinate research and development that will solve our Commonwealth’s toughest challenges Ensuring Every Virginian Has A Safe and Affordable Place To Call Home Tackling the Eviction Crisis, Increasing Affordable Housing, Promoting Black & Brown Homeownership & Fighting Homelessness Read Terry's Full Plan Read the One-Pager The Plan As Virginia’s next Governor, Terry will work to ensure every Virginian has a place to call home. That means addressing the eviction crisis and increasing protections for renters. Terry will also increase the supply of affordable housing by investing in the Virginia Housing Trust Fund, spearheading zoning reform, and partnering with the Biden Administration to increase access to affordable housing vouchers. Terry will also work to fight systemic racism and promote Black and Brown homeownership by combating lending discrimination, strengthening down payment assistance programs, access to low-interest loans, and rent-to-own programs. "Virginia has a real crisis on our hands when it comes to housing. I will use every tool at my disposal to increase the availability of affordable housing and work to make sure all Virginians have a place to call home." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry fought for critical investments into Virginia’s Housing Trust Fund to increase the supply of affordable housing and help people achieve housing stability. Under his leadership, Virginia reduced homelessness among families by 27%, and Virginia became the first state in the nation to functionally end veteran homelessness by ensuring every community has a sustainable, systematic response to prevent homelessness whenever possible and to allow veterans in need of housing to secure a home within 90 days. The Work Ahead Invest in the Virginia Housing Trust Fund to increase the supply of affordable housing, promote Black and Brown homeownership and prevent homelessness. Combat the historic effects of redlining by fighting back against discriminatory lending practices and ensuring critical state resources are accessible to Black Virginians. Create a Coordinating Council to Reduce Evictions to protect the more than 260,000 families at risk. Allocate permanent funding for programs that provide Virginians with access to legal support, rent relief, and eviction prevention and diversion programs. Ensuring that Virginians have Access to Regular Nutritious Meals Combating Food Insecurity in Every Corner of the Commonwealth Read Terry's full plan Read the one-pager The Plan As Virginia’s next governor, Terry will work tirelessly to ensure Virginians have access to regular, nutritious meals. By working to increase participation in federal nutrition programs, Terry will get nutritious meals for thousands of more children in the Commonwealth. He will increase access to local foods through a comprehensive “Virginia Food for Virginia Families” agenda that will connect some of the world’s highest quality agricultural products with more families in need in the Commonwealth. Terry will also establish an interagency Food Security Council to address these issues holistically and in a data-driven manner. These efforts will address the long-standing equity issues that have made communities of color significantly more likely to struggle with food insecurity. "We've got to build a post-VOCID economy in Virginia that leads the nation and lifts up all Virginians so they can grow, achieve and thrive. That starts with ensuring no Virginian goes hungry." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor and First Lady, Terry and Dorothy McAuliffe made ending childhood hunger a key priority of the administration. Dorothy developed a public-private partnership with the No Kid Hungry campaign and worked directly with school leadership and local community organizations to implement innovative program delivery models. As a result of the McAuliffe administration’s partnership with No Kid Hungry and increased funding, Virginia served nearly 13 million more meals every year. The Work Ahead Establish an interagency Food Security Council to address food insecurity issues holistically in a data- driven manner. Leverage every federal dollar available to expand participation in federal child nutrition programs. Strengthen ‘food as medicine’ programs. Promote “Virginia Food for Virginia Families” so that Virginians can benefit from the Commonwealth’s incredible agricultural assets. Ensure school nutrition departments successfully implement proven distribution models like Breakfast After the Bell, summer meal programs, and At-Risk Afterschool Meals. Reforming our Criminal Justice System to Create a Stronger, Fairer Commonwealth Building a Fairer, More Equitable Criminal Justice System That Keeps Virginians Safe & Works For All Read Terry's full plan Read the one-pager The Plan As Virginia’s next governor, Terry will continue to work to reform a system that has disproportionately targeted and impacted Black and Brown Virginians for centuries. He will work to enshrine the automatic restoration of voting rights in Virginia’s constitution, equitably implement marijuana legalization, expand access to parole, reform outdated expungement laws, and create an Office for Returning Citizens. He will also work to rebuild trust between communities and law enforcement by increasing transparency and accountability, and investing in community policing initiatives, and body-worn camera programs. As governor, Terry will also solidify the transformation of Virginia’s juvenile justice system and investing in mental health and substance use disorder services. "Now is the time to finally deliver Virginians an equitable, just system that is firmly rooted in redemption and second chances. Together, we will create a stronger, more equitable criminal justice system that works for its citizens, not against them." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry bucked the status quo and championed progressive criminal justice reforms, despite facing relentless opposition from a Republican legislature. When Terry was governor, he restored more voting rights than any governor in American history – to 173,000 Virginians, and issued 227 pardons, more than any governor before him. Terry transformed Virginia’s juvenile justice system and reduced our incarcerated youth population by nearly two-thirds, and invested millions of dollars in reentry programs, alternatives to incarceration, and mental health and substance use disorder services. During Terry’s administration, Virginia achieved the lowest recidivism rate in the nation for the first time. The Work Ahead Work with the Democratic legislature to pass a second resolution and Virginia voters to secure approval for a constitutional amendment enshrining the automatic restoration of rights in Virginia’s constitution. Equitably implement marijuana legalization, reinvesting revenues back into communities that have been impacted the most and ensuring equitable ownership opportunities in the new industry. Promote second chances by expanding access to parole, reforming outdated expungement laws and creating an Office for Returning Citizens. Rebuild trust between communities and law enforcement by improving transparency and accountability, investing in community policing initiatives and body-worn camera programs, and supporting accreditation for local agencies. Ensuring a More Inclusive, Open and Welcoming Virginia Combating Hate Against LGBTQ+ Communities, Protecting Students, Improving Access to Care & Housing Stability Read Terry's Full Plan Read the One-Pager The Plan As the next governor of Virginia, Terry will build on the progress he and Democrats have made over the past eight years to uplift and prioritize the LGBTQ+ community. Terry will address inequities and disparities that LGBTQ+ people, particularly people of color, experience by improving data collection and leveraging data to better direct resources to meet their unique needs. He will pass an anti-bullying law to protect students, prohibit foster care and adoption agencies from discriminating against LGBTQ+ people, and expand access to culturally competent and inclusive health and mental health care. Terry will also address housing stability by leveraging federal housing dollars and working to establish safe and inclusive shelters. "As governmor, I will fight my heart out to make Virginia the most open, welcoming and inclusive state in the nation, and break down the disparities that LGBTQ+ communities, and particularly communities of color, face in education, health care, the economy and more. Together, we'll move Virginia forward into a better, brighter future for all." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record Terry was the first southern candidate for governor to run on a pro-LGBTQ+ equality platform, and his first action as Virginia’s 72nd Governor was signing an executive order prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ+ state employees. As governor, he vetoed every anti-LGBTQ+ bill and was the first Virginia governor to declare June as Pride month, to annually attend the LGBTQ+ PrideFest, and to launch an LGBT Tourism Task Force, which ultimately rebranded “Virginia is for Lovers’’ to focus on inclusivity. Terry became the first southern governor to officiate a gay wedding and directed all state agencies to comply with the Virginia Supreme Court ruling that legally recognized same-sex marriage. The Work Ahead Leverage data collection to better support LGBTQ+ communities and effectively direct resources to end disparities. Improve identification and enforcement of hate crimes. Repeal Virginia’s “conscience clause” to open up foster care and adoption to LGBTQ+ people, and pass an anti-bullying law to protect LGBTQ+ youth. Address housing instability with permanent supportive housing and invest in inclusive shelters that meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Require health care and public safety professionals to receive cultural competency training and establish a statewide social determinants of health coordinator. Supporting Women in the Workforce Terry Will Build A Stronger Economy And Protect Women’s Rights. Read the plan Read the Women for Terry two-pager here The Plan Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, women in the U.S. have lost 5.4 million jobs, accounting for more than half of total job loss during the pandemic. As Virginia’s next governor, Terry will work to address the unique challenges that are making it even harder for women in the workforce and driving too many women out of it. Terry will keep schools safely open, make child care more affordable, ensure every three and four- year-old in need has access to pre-k, invest in before and after school programs and ensure every worker in Virginia has access to the paid sick, family and medical leave they need. Terry will also increase business ownership and entrepreneurial opportunities for women, improve access to capital and technical assistance for women-owned businesses and raise the minimum wage to $15 minimum by 2024. "COVID-19 has been particularly hard on women in Virginia's workforce. As governor, I will fight to support women in the workplace by keeping schools safely open, making child care more affordable, expanding access to pre-k and investing in before and after school programs so that women can get back to work and continue providing for their families." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As the 72nd Governor of Virginia, Terry established the annual Virginia Women’s Summit to engage and empower women to lead in collaboration with the Virginia Council on Women. Terry also invested in women-owned businesses by creating a SWaM micro- loan program. As governor, Terry fought to make health care more affordable for women, expanded pre-k for thousands of children, and worked to create new pathways to good-paying jobs and get more women into STEM-H and cybersecurity careers. His efforts included making Virginia the first state to mandate computer science education for all K-12 students and hosting cybersecurity boot camps. The Work Ahead Keep schools safely open by urging all school divisions to require vaccines for all school personnel. Ensure that every Virginian has access to paid sick, family and medical leave and raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2024. Expand pre-k to more than 40,000 three and four-year-olds in need. Make child care more affordable by continuing subsidies and COVID-era flexibilities for women seeking work, and expand access to before and after school programs that address learning loss for kids and allow parents to stay in the workforce. Create a revolving loan fund to provide low-interest loans to small businesses and provide technical assistance to grow strong women-owned businesses. Drive more young girls and women into good-paying jobs of the future by making Virginia the best state in the nation for STEM-H and computer science education. Lifting Up Black Virginians: Terry’s Plan to Create a Stronger, More Equitable Commonwealth Creating Opportunities for Black Virginians Read Terry's full plan Read the one-pager The Plan As Virginia’s next Governor, Terry will take on the systemic racism that plagues our Commonwealth. That means addressing racial disparities and creating opportunities for Black Virginians to build wealth through homeownership and by investing in Black-owned businesses. Terry will continue his fight to defend and advance civil rights by making the restoration of voting rights permanent in Virginia’s constitution, reforming the criminal justice system, and working to improve police-community relations. Terry will also ensure that Black Virginians have access to high-quality, affordable health care coverage and a world-class education, and promote equitable land use and access to safe and welcoming green spaces. "I will use my power as Governor to remedy the wrong of the past and build and equitable future for all Virginians." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry boldly reversed a racist Jim Crow law and restored voting rights to 173,000 Virginians – more than any governor in U.S. history, and issued a record 227 pardons to correct discriminatory and unjust sentences. Terry also laid the groundwork for Medicaid expansion, extended health care coverage to tens of thousands of Virginians, and created a first-of-its-kind program to provide free dental care for low-income pregnant women. He bolstered Small Women and Minority-Owned (SWaM) businesses by creating a SWaM micro-loan program. The Work Ahead Build Black wealth by increasing the minimum wage and eliminating racial pay gaps, promoting homeownership, investing in Black businesses, and promoting ownership in the new cannabis industry. Advance civil rights by enshrining the automatic restoration of voting rights in our constitution and creating more opportunities for Black communities to vote. Rebuild trust between communities and public safety agencies by increasing accountability for and transparency of serious misconduct Protect Black LGBTQ+ Virginians by improving identification, reporting and enforcement of hate crimes. Address racial health disparities by lowering premiums, promoting health literacy, diversifying the health care workforce, and combating maternal mortality. Supporting Virginia's Seniors Ensuring Quality and Affordability Later in Life Read Terry's full plan Read the one-pager The Plan As Virginia’s next governor, Terry will take a comprehensive approach to improving access to affordable, quality options for Virginia seniors that will enable them to age in place. His plan will protect seniors from COVID-19 by ensuring that every facility serving seniors requires their staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Terry will lower the cost of health care by tackling the rising cost of prescription drugs and holding Big pharma accountable, implementing a state reinsurance program to lower premiums, and standing up Virginia’s state health exchange. He will work with President Biden to create specialized savings plans that will allow seniors to cover the cost of care as they age. "As governor, my top priority will be protecting Virginians and our economy from the threat of COVID-19. I'll make sure Virginia seniors have access to quality care, affordable health care and prescription drugs, and the services they need to age in place." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry fought tirelessly to expand Medicaid and extend coverage to more than 570,000 Virginians, including many seniors. Terry expanded the No Wrong Doors program that connects seniors to more than 27,000 programs and services, including assistance for homecare, transportation, meals, and more. Terry also implemented the Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus (CCC+) initiative which streamlined access and improved oversight. The Work Ahead Require all employees in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or other long-term care facilities that serve seniors to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and ensure these facilities are adhering to CDC guidelines. Lower the cost of Rx drugs by creating a state watchdog that will set price limits on high-cost drugs and a Prescription Drug Sunlight Law to give Virginians information about price increases. Lower health care premiums by standing up the state health exchange and implementing a reinsurance program. Deliver universal broadband and create a grant fund to allow seniors to leverage technologies like remote patient monitoring so they can safely age in place. Partner with President Biden to establish a specialized savings plan, like Virginia 529 or ABLEnow, for seniors so they can afford the cost of care and make necessary home modifications as they age. Expand veteran healthcare access by increasing telehealth options and access to broadband. Virginia is for Vaccine Lovers Keeping Virginians Safe, Schools Open, and Our Economy Strong Through COVID-19 Safety and Vaccines Read Terry's full plan Read the one-pager The Plan As Virginia’s next governor, Terry will launch the “Virginia is for Vaccine Lovers” campaign to keep Virginians safe from COVID-19, our schools open and the economy strong. The centerpiece of his plan is getting every eligible Virginian vaccinated, and as governor he will urge all school divisions to require vaccines for their personnel, and work to ensure health care workers and nursing home staff follow federal vaccine guidance. He will incentivize businesses to mandate vaccines for employees and improve worker and consumer confidence in COVID-19 safety measures, driving Virginians safely back into businesses. Terry will also leverage federal funds to expand access to affordable child care and out-of-school programs so parents can stay in the workforce and we can address learning loss for students. "As Virginia's next governor, I will work every single day to rebuild a stronger post-COVID economy that lifts up every Virginian. we will create good paying jobs and Virginia will lead the nation in our recovery from this pandemic." -Terry McAuliffe Terry's Record As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry demonstrated his ability to rebuild the New Virginia Economy despite inheriting a deficit and dealing with ongoing economic crises. Terry made economic development and job creation a priority, creating 200,000 good-paying jobs, announcing over 1,000 economic development deals, growing personal income by 14%, and lowering unemployment in every single city and county, including by nearly 50% in most rural counties. Terry also made major investments in public health, and by the end of his term Virginia was one of the top three states in the nation for preparedness for future health emergencies. The Work Ahead Immediately launch a “Virginia is for Vaccine Lovers” campaign, urge local school divisions to require vaccines for their personnel, and work to ensure health systems and nursing homes follow federal vaccine requirements. Leverage federal funds to incentivize businesses to mandate vaccinations for employees and host mobile vaccine clinics. Increase worker and consumer confidence in businesses by creating a voluntary COVID-safety compliance certification. Ensure every Virginian has access to paid sick leave.	”
—Terry McAuliffe's campaign website (2021)

2013

McAuliffe outlined his plans for handling the following issues, if elected governor, on his official campaign website:

• Jobs and the Economy:

"There are millions of cutting-edge energy jobs waiting to be created, and we need them here in Virginia."

• Education:

"Total funding per student is down even as we’ve got more and more students entering our system. Only 87% of our kids are graduating high school on time. As Governor, I will support our kids and our schools. We’re going to take the best ideas from around the country and give teachers and administrators the resources and freedom they need to make Virginia a global leader in education."

• Transportation:

"Virginia is a great place for business but one of the things holding us back from the top is an infrastructure system that can feel outdated and inefficient."

"By focusing on projects that best serve the economic travel needs of our citizens and businesses — along with key safety improvements — we will ensure that those rail, road, and bridge projects that absolutely must get done do get done. Second, we need to incentivize regional planning and implementation of smart growth planning."

• Healthcare:

"Expanding Medicaid will cover nearly 400,000 uninsured Virginians. Covering the uninsured will also help reduce health care costs for those with insurance already."

• Veterans' Health:

"For their physical health, veterans need better access to services and a state government willing to fight for them with the VA. As Governor I will do everything in my power to provide bridge healthcare services while veterans wait for VA care and I will push for reforms at the federal level to improve this system."

• Women:

"I strongly believe that women should be able to make their own healthcare decisions without interference from Washington or Richmond."

Political career

Governor of Virginia (2014 - 2018)

McAuliffe was elected Governor of Virginia in 2013. He was sworn into office on January 11, 2014. His term ended on January 13, 2018.

Voting rights for felons

2014

In April 2014, McAuliffe announced several efforts to reinstate voting rights for felons, including shortening the waiting time for some offenders and removing the waiting period altogether for those convicted of drug-related offenses. McAuliffe claimed to have restored the voting rights of 800 people since taking office, building on the efforts of his predecessor, former Gov. Bob McDonnell (R).

2016

On April 22, 2016, McAuliffe issued an executive order that restored civil rights to convicted felons that have completed their sentence and any parole or probation requirements. The order enabled an estimated 206,000 people to register to vote, serve on a jury or as a notary public, and run for public office. At the time, Virginia was one of four states that permanently prohibited felons from voting.

Supporters of the move asserted that the order addressed the disproportional disenfranchisement of black voters in Virginia: According to Sentencing Project, one in five black adults in the state had lost their voting rights, compared to one in 13 nationwide. A.E. Dick Howard, a constitutional law scholar and the director of the commission that rewrote the Virginia Constitution in the 1960s, said, "The last ghost of the 1902 convention was buried today," in reference to the state's constitutional convention, which Howard described as "committed to white supremacy." Howard also said changes to the constitution made in the 1960s gave the governor broad authority regarding the restoration of civil rights. Historically that power has been exercised by Virginia governors on a case-by-case basis.

Opponents of the move responded that violent offenders should not have their rights restored. Some Republican legislators—including State Speaker of the House William Howell (R)—accused McAuliffe of issuing the order to garner votes for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D). McAuliffe chaired Clinton's 2008 presidential election campaign. Howell filed a complaint with the Virginia Supreme Court in May 2016.

On July 22, 2016, the Supreme Court struck down McAuliffe's order in a 4-3 decision, ruling that the governor had exceeded the authority of his office. “Never before have any of the prior 71 Virginia Governors issued a clemency order of any kind ... without regard for the nature of the crimes," wrote Chief Justice Donald Lemons in the majority opinion. McAuliffe issued a statement that he had directed his office to begin restoring civil rights one-by-one to the more than 13,000 felons that had registered to vote since the April executive order.

McAuliffe announced on August 22 that he had reviewed each case individually, and that his office had begun mailing out instructions on how to re-register to vote the week prior.

Stance on Syrian refugee resettlement

Main article: U.S. governors and their responses to Syrian refugees

On Nov. 13, 2015, a group of terrorists carried out an attack in Paris, France, over which the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility. Following the attacks, U.S. governors began to declare their support or opposition to Syrian refugee resettlement in their states. McAuliffe expressed support for the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the state of Virginia. A statement from his office said:

“	The Governor and his public safety team are in constant communication with federal authorities about all refugee resettlements, including those involving refugees from Syria. Every refugee who is settled in the U.S. undergoes intensive security screening. ... Nothing is more important to the Governor and his team than keeping Virginians safe.	”
—Statement from the Office of the Governor

Veto record

In April 2016, McAuliffe vetoed 32 of the 811 bills put before him by the Republican-led state legislature, the most vetoes in a single session since 1998. The governor had informed the legislature earlier that year that he intended to block legislation that would restrict access to abortion, infringe upon civil rights, or violate other Democratic policy priorities.

McAuliffe vetoed ten bills in 2014, his first year in office, and 26 bills in 2015. Republican House Speaker William Howell (R) expressed opposition to McAuliffe's veto record as evidence that the governor was not interested in working with the legislature.

Presidential preference

2016 presidential endorsement

✓ McAuliffe endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic primary in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

See also: Endorsements for Hillary Clinton

2016 Democratic National Convention

See also: Democratic National Convention, 2016

Terry McAuliffe
Democratic National Convention, 2016
Status:	Superdelegate
State:	Virginia
Supporting:	Hillary Clinton
Delegates to the DNC 2016
Calendar and delegate rules overview • Types of delegates • State election law and delegates • Superdelegates by state

McAuliffe was a superdelegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention from Virginia. McAuliffe was one of 13 superdelegates from Virginia. Superdelegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention were not bound by the results of their state’s primary or caucus results to support a specific presidential candidate. McAuliffe supported Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.Clinton formally won the Democratic nomination for president on July 26, 2016.

What is a superdelegate?

See also: Superdelegates and the 2016 Democratic National Convention

Superdelegates in 2016 were automatic delegates to the Democratic National Convention, meaning that, unlike regular delegates, they were not elected to this position. Also unlike regular delegates, they were not required to pledge their support to any presidential candidate, and they were not bound by the results of their state's presidential primary election or caucus. In 2016, superdelegates included members of the Democratic National Committee, Democratic members of Congress, Democratic governors, and distinguished party leaders, including former presidents and vice presidents. All superdelegates were free to support any presidential candidate of their choosing at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Virginia primary results

See also: Presidential election in Virginia, 2016

Hillary Clinton won the Virginia Democratic primaries, defeating opponent Bernie Sanders by almost 30 percentage points. Multiple news outlets called the election in her favor shortly after polls closed at 7:00 pm EST. Clinton lost the Virginia Democratic primary in 2008 to Barack Obama. Clinton won nearly all of the counties in the eastern half of the state including those surrounding Washington, D.C. (she won Arlington County 67 to 33 percent). Sanders picked up some of the state's more rural counties in the western half.

Virginia Democratic Primary, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes	Delegates
Hillary Clinton	64.3%	504,741	62
Bernie Sanders	35.2%	276,370	33
Martin O'Malley	0.5%	3,930	0
Totals		785,041	95
Source: CNN and Virginia Department of Elections

Delegate allocation

See also: 2016 presidential nominations: calendar and delegate rules

Virginia had 108 delegates at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Of this total, 95 were pledged delegates. National party rules stipulated how Democratic delegates in all states were allocated. Pledged delegates were allocated to a candidate in proportion to the votes he or she received in a state's primary or caucus. A candidate was eligible to receive a share of the state's pledged delegates if he or she won at least 15 percent of the votes cast in the primary or caucus. There were three types of pledged Democratic delegates: congressional district delegates, at-large delegates, and party leaders and elected officials (PLEOs). Congressional district delegates were allocated proportionally based on the primary or caucus results in a given district. At-large and PLEO delegates were allocated proportionally based on statewide primary results.

Thirteen party leaders and elected officials served as unpledged delegates. These delegates were not required to adhere to the results of a state's primary or caucus.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
McAuliffe currently resides in Fairfax, Virginia. He and his wife, Dorothy, have five children: Dori, Jack, Mary, Sally, and Peter.

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Bob McDonnell (R)	Governor of Virginia 2014-2018	Succeeded by Ralph Northam (D)