Donald McEachin

Donald McEachin
File:Donald McEachin portrait 116th Congress.jpg
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 (1961-10-10)October 10, 1961 Nuremberg, Bavaria, West Germany (now Germany)
Died
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Colette McEachin (m. 1986)
Children	3
Education	American University (BA) University of Virginia (JD) Virginia Union University (MDiv)

Aston Donald McEachin (/məˈkiːtʃən/ mə-KEE-chən; October 10, 1961 – November 28, 2022) was an American politician and lawyer serving as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 4th congressional district from 2017 until his death in 2022. 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 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. 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.

Early life, education, and legal career

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. In 2012, he was awarded honoris causa membership in Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society.

McEachin began to practice law in Richmond after completing law school, eventually becoming a partner in his own firm, McEachin and Gee.

Virginia House of Delegates

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, but lost the general election to Republican nominee Jerry Kilgore by 20 percentage points.

In 2005 he ran again for the 74th House district, defeating his predecessor, Floyd Miles, by 44 votes in the Democratic primary, and winning the general election with 75% of the vote.

Virginia Senate

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. After defeating Lambert 58%-42% in the primary, McEachin won 81% of the vote against independent Silver Persinger in the general election.

McEachin was unopposed for reelection in 2011.

U.S. House of Representatives

In 2019, McEachin suggested that Virginia Governor Ralph Northam should send the Virginia National Guard to close down armories and forcibly enact Dick Saslaw's proposed confiscatory ban on commonly held rifles and handguns with standard capacity magazines in counties where local law enforcement refused. McEachin's threat to send troops to confiscate arms and close armories 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.

Committee assignments

McEachin was a member of the following committees and subcommittees during the 117th Congress:

• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Energy
  • Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change
• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Energy and Mineral Resources
  • Oversight and Investigations
• Select Committee on the Climate Crisis

Caucus memberships

• New Democrat Coalition
• Congressional Black Caucus

Electoral history

In 2001, he was the Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Virginia, but lost to Jerry Kilgore.

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.

Personal life

In 2019, McEachin's wife, Colette, became interim Commonwealth's Attorney for Richmond (having served in that office for 20 years), won the Democratic nomination on August 10, 2019, and was unopposed in the special election on November 5, 2019. Her term ended in 2021. They had three children and lived in Richmond.

On August 25, 2015, McEachin's name was found on the list of users of the Ashley Madison website. 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."

Illness and death

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. 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.

McEachin died from complications of cancer on November 28, 2022, at the age of 61. His death came a few weeks after he was re-elected to a fourth term in the 2022 midterm elections. He was mourned by outgoing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, as well as fellow Virginia Democrats Mark Warner and Gerry Connolly.

See also

• List of African-American United States representatives

External links

• Donald McEachin at Curlie
• Appearances on C-SPAN

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress

Virginia House of Delegates
Preceded by Robert Ball	Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 74th district 1996–2002	Succeeded by Floyd Miles
Preceded by Floyd Miles	Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 74th district 2006–2008	Succeeded by Joseph D. Morrissey
Senate of Virginia
Preceded by Benjamin Lambert	Member of the Virginia Senate from the 9th district 2008–2017	Succeeded by Jennifer McClellan
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Randy Forbes	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 4th congressional district 2017–2022	Vacant

115th	Senate: ▌M. Warner (D) ▌T. Kaine (D)	House: ▌B. Goodlatte (R) ▌B. Scott (D) ▌R. Wittman (R) ▌G. Connolly (D) ▌M. Griffith (R) ▌D. Brat (R) ▌D. Beyer (D) ▌B. Comstock (R) ▌T. Garrett (R) ▌D. McEachin (D) ▌S. Taylor (R)
116th	Senate: ▌M. Warner (D) ▌T. Kaine (D)	House: ▌B. Scott (D) ▌R. Wittman (R) ▌G. Connolly (D) ▌M. Griffith (R) ▌D. Beyer (D) ▌D. McEachin (D) ▌B. Cline (R) ▌E. Luria (D) ▌D. Riggleman (R) ▌A. Spanberger (D) ▌J. Wexton (D)
117th	Senate: ▌M. Warner (D) ▌T. Kaine (D)	House: ▌B. Scott (D) ▌R. Wittman (R) ▌G. Connolly (D) ▌M. Griffith (R) ▌D. Beyer (D) ▌D. McEachin (D) ▌B. Cline (R) ▌E. Luria (D) ▌A. Spanberger (D) ▌J. Wexton (D) ▌B. Good (R)