Donald McEachin | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 4th district | |
| In office January 3, 2017 – November 28, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Randy Forbes |
| Succeeded by | TBD |
| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 9th district | |
| In office January 9, 2008 – January 3, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Lambert |
| Succeeded by | Jennifer McClellan |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 74th district | |
| In office January 11, 2006 – January 9, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Floyd Miles |
| Succeeded by | Joe Morrissey |
| In office January 10, 1996 – January 9, 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Ball |
| Succeeded by | Floyd Miles |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Aston Donald McEachin October 10, 1961 Nuremberg, Bavaria, West Germany (now Germany) |
| Died | November 28, 2022 (aged 61) |
| Cause of death | Colorectal cancer |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Colette McEachin (m. 1986) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | |
Aston Donald McEachin (/məˈkiːtʃən/ mə-KEE-chən; October 10, 1961 – November 28, 2022) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 4th congressional district from 2017 until his death in 2022.[1] His district was based in the state capital, Richmond; it included much of the area between Richmond and Hampton Roads.
A member of the Democratic Party, McEachin served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1996 until 2002 and then served an additional term from 2006 until 2008. He subsequently served in the Senate of Virginia from 2008 until 2017, representing the 9th district, made up of Charles City County, plus parts of Henrico County and the city of Richmond.[update][2][3] McEachin ran for the open seat of Virginia's 4th congressional district vacated by Republican Randy Forbes in 2016 and won the general election with 57.3% of the vote.[4] In 2001, McEachin was the Democratic nominee in the Virginia Attorney General election, which he lost to Jerry Kilgore.
McEachin was the first African American nominated by a major party for Virginia attorney general. He was the third African American elected to Congress from Virginia and the second elected from the state since the 1800s.[5]
McEachin was born in Nuremberg, Germany, while his father was serving in the United States Army. He attended St. Christopher's School in Richmond. In 1982, he received a bachelor's degree in political history from American University. After that, he attended the University of Virginia School of Law, where he received a J.D. in 1986. He also received a Master of Divinity from Virginia Union University in 2008.[2] In 2012, he was awarded honoris causa membership in Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society.[citation needed]
McEachin began to practice law in Richmond after completing law school, eventually becoming a partner in his own firm, McEachin and Gee.[6]
McEachin was first elected to the House of Delegates from the 74th district in 1995. After three terms there, he ran in the 2001 Virginia Attorney General election. He won a four-way Democratic primary with 33.6% of the vote,[7] but lost the general election to Republican nominee Jerry Kilgore by 20 percentage points.[8]
In 2005 he ran again for the 74th House district, defeating his predecessor, Floyd Miles, by 44 votes in the Democratic primary,[9] and winning the general election with 75% of the vote.[10]
In 2007, McEachin ran for the state senate, challenging 9th district incumbent Benjamin Lambert, who drew criticism within the Democratic Party for his endorsement of Republican U.S. Senator George Allen in Allen's unsuccessful 2006 reelection campaign against Jim Webb.[11] After defeating Lambert 58%-42% in the primary,[12] McEachin won 81% of the vote against independent Silver Persinger in the general election.[13]
McEachin was unopposed for reelection in 2011.[14]
In 2019, McEachin suggested that Virginia Governor Ralph Northam should send the Virginia National Guard to close down armories[15] and forcibly enact Dick Saslaw's proposed confiscatory[16] ban on commonly held rifles and handguns with standard capacity magazines in counties where local law enforcement refused.[17][18] McEachin's threat to send troops to confiscate arms and close armories[19] came in response to the ratification of Second Amendment Sanctuary Resolutions in 91 out of 95 counties, 16 out of 38 independent cities, and 42 towns.[20]
McEachin was a member of the following committees and subcommittees during the 117th Congress:[21]
In 2001, he was the Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Virginia, but lost to Jerry Kilgore.[24]
In June 2020, McEachin was nominated over R. Cazel Levine in the Democratic primary. That November, he defeated Republican nominee Leon Benjamin in the general election.
McEachin and his wife, Colette, had three children and lived in Richmond.[6] In 2019, Colette McEachin became interim Commonwealth's Attorney for Richmond (having served in that office for 20 years),[25] won the Democratic nomination on August 10,[26] and was unopposed in the special election on November 5.[27]
On August 25, 2015, McEachin's name was found on the list of users of the Ashley Madison website.[28] His response was, "At this time, this is a personal issue between my family and me. I will have no further statement on this issue."[29]
In 2018, McEachin revealed that he had developed a fistula after completing treatment for colorectal cancer in 2014, losing more than 60 pounds (27 kg) as a result.[30] He advocated regular testing for the disease, telling attendees at a special screening of the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, "Don't fool around. Don't go through my journey", two weeks before his death.[31]
McEachin died of complications of cancer on November 28, 2022, at the age of 61.[32] His death came a few weeks after his reelection to a fourth term in the 2022 elections. He was mourned by outgoing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, as well as fellow Virginia Democrats Mark Warner and Gerry Connolly.[33] Virginia U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, who had known McEachin since 1984, paid tribute as well.[34]
