Donald McEachin | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 4th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Randy Forbes |
| 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, West Germany (now Germany) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Colette McEachin (m. 1986) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | American University (BA) University of Virginia (JD) Virginia Union University (MDiv) |
| Website | House website |
Aston Donald McEachin (/məˈkiːtʃən/ mə-KEE-chən; born October 10, 1961) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 4th congressional district since 2017. His district is based in the state capital, Richmond; it includes much of the area between Richmond and Hampton Roads.
A member of the Democratic Party, McEachin served twice in the Virginia House of Delegates, from 1996 to 2002 and 2006 to 2008. From 2008 to 2017, he served in the Senate of Virginia, representing the 9th district, made up of Charles City County, plus parts of Henrico County and the city of Richmond.[update][1][2] 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.[3] In 2001, he was the Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Virginia, but lost to Jerry Kilgore.
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 B.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 (M.Div.) from Virginia Union University in 2008.[1] In 2012, he was awarded honoris causa membership in Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society.
He began to practice law in Richmond after completing law school, eventually becoming a partner in his own firm, McEachin and Gee.[4]
McEachin was first elected to the House of Delegates from the 74th district in 1995. After three terms there, he ran for Attorney General of Virginia in 2001. He won a four-way Democratic primary with 33.6% of the vote,[5] but lost the general election to Republican nominee Jerry Kilgore by 20 percentage points.[6]
In 2005 he ran again for the 74th House district, defeating his predecessor, Floyd Miles, by 44 votes in the Democratic primary,[7] and winning the general election with 75% of the vote.[8]
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.[9] After defeating Lambert 58%-42% in the primary,[10] McEachin won 81% of the vote against independent Silver Persinger in the general election.[11] He held the seat once held by future Governor L. Douglas Wilder.
He was unopposed for reelection in 2011.[12]
In 2019 Donald McEachin received national media attention[13] after suggesting Virginia Governor Ralph Northam send the Virginia National Guard to close down armories[14] and forcibly enact Dick Saslaw's proposed confiscatory[15] ban on commonly held rifles and handguns with standard capacity magazines in counties where local law enforcement refused.[16][17] McEachin's threat to send troops to confiscate arms and close armories[18] 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.[19]
In June 2020, McEachin was nominated over R. Cazel Levine in the Democratic Primary. That November, he defeated African-American Republican Rev. Leon Benjamin in the general election.
In 2019, McEachin's wife, Colette, became interim Commonwealth's Attorney for Richmond (having served in that office for 20 years),[22] won the Democratic nomination on August 10, 2019,[23] and was unopposed in the special election on November 5, 2019.[24] Her term ends in 2021. They have three children and live in Richmond.[4]
On August 25, 2015, McEachin's name was found on the list of users of the Ashley Madison website.[25] 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.”[26]
In 2018, McEachin revealed that he had developed a fistula after completing treatment for rectal cancer in 2014, losing more than 60 pounds as a result. He said he expected to fully recover from the condition.[27]
