HRC Blog

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine to head DNC

January 5, 2009

Earlier today, the Washington Post reported in a front-page story that Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine has been chosen as the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). According to Post reporter Michael D. Shear, the Obama transition team will formally announce Kaine's selection sometime this week. Kaine, who helped turn Virginia from a red state to a blue state in the presidential election, will succeed former Vermont Governor Howard Dean as leader of the Democratic Party. Kaine was a driving force in expanding the number and influence of progressives in the Virginia legislature and, as a fierce supporter of Obama, will bring those same skills to the DNC:

For Obama, Kaine will be a true loyalist who carries out the new president's political agenda amid upcoming battles over the economy, foreign policy, health care and the environment. Kaine became one of the first governors to endorse Obama after the two men forged a close relationship during the Virginian's 2005 gubernatorial race.

During the 2007 elections, HRC dispatched staff and volunteers to Virginia to help elect more fair-minded candidates to the legislature. That year, HRC was called the Democrats' "secret women number one" by the Raising Kane blog and worked with the Virginia Democratic Party to help fair-minded candidates recapture the state senate and increase their numbers in the lower house. HRC field staff and volunteers with Virginia Governor Tim Kaine following an October 2007 campaign rally in McLean, Virginia.