On Wednesday night, Virginia senator Tim Kaine officially accepted the vice-presidential nomination at the Democratic convention.
Kaine, a native of St. Paul, attended the University of Missouri before going on to Harvard Law School. Having maintained a relatively low profile up until now, Hillary Clinton’s running mate has spent his career quietly chipping away at social injustice, bridging racial divides and building a successful progressive agenda in the traditionally southern conservative state of Virginia.
Here is a snapshot at a few of the many ways Kaine has built his legacy over the years:
Civil rights
After graduating from Harvard Law School, he spent 17 years as a civil rights attorney going to bat for death row inmates and people who had been denied housing based on race or disability. One of Kaine’s most substantial victories was the successful multi-million dollar lawsuit brought against Nationwide Insurance for refusing to insure some black homeowners.
Understanding for the Latino community
Before getting into politics, a young Tim Kaine took a year off from Harvard Law School to work with missionaries in Honduras where he solidified his passion for public service and picked up Spanish along the way. In an interview with NPR, former U.S. labor secretary Hilda Solis said, “I have seen him speak up about immigration reform and support unaccompanied minors. He has a following that is very big, and I think once the community, the Latino community, the immigrant community and other communities understand what his values are, they will come and they will understand why he was chosen.”
Faith
Ties to the black community
The son-in-law of Linwood Holton, a former moderate Republican governor who desegregated Virginia’s schools, Kaine and his wife Anne continued this family legacy in real time. The two settled in an integrated neighborhood and sent their children to primarily black public schools. In an interview with The New York Times, John V. Moeser, a professor at Virginia Commonwealth said, “Not only were they committed to integration, they lived it.”
Crisis management
After the 2007 massacre of 32 people at Virginia Tech University, Kaine won praise from both Democrats and Republicans for the compassion and resolve he demonstrated in handling the tragedy.
Gun control
In addition to supporting a ban on 15-round “clips” and “assault weapons,” Kaine put forward a bill to hold gun dealers liable for the misuse of firearms.
Pro-choice
Despite his personal opposition to abortion, Kaine is politically pro-choice. In a CNN interview, Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Cecile Richards, granted her seal of approval to the candidate saying “has been a champion for women and families his entire lifetime.”
Tim Kaine brings to the Clinton ticket a down-to-earth persona and ability to appeal to both sides of the aisle, traits that have made him successful in the swing state of Virginia where as governor and state senator, he has never lost an election.
