Growing up as the child of community leaders and educators, Jenn McClellan has always felt a calling to public service to strengthen her community and ensure that every Virginian has an opportunity to succeed.

She brought those values, passion and commitment to justice to the Virginia legislature, representing the greater Richmond area. She served in the House of Delegates from 2006-2017 and has served in the Senate since 2017.

Jenn has earned a reputation as an effective, constituent services-oriented legislator.  She’s been a driving force for progressive change in Virginia, leading the passage of landmark laws to invest in education, grow small business, expand health care access, ban discrimination, safeguard workers’ rights, civil rights, and voting rights, reform the criminal justice system, protect a woman’s right to choose, and tackle climate change.

Jenn’s legislative accomplishments include passage of The Virginia Clean Economy Act, The Solar Freedom Act, The Voting Rights Act of Virginia, The Pregnant Worker Fairness Act, The Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, The Reproductive Health Protection Act, Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment; and legislation to create a state-based health exchange under the Affordable Care Act; end the school-to-prison pipeline; expand protections and incentives for public housing; assess needs for construction and repair of school buildings; establish lactation policies in public schools; end prison gerrymandering; increase penalties for stalking; authorizing new business models such as benefit corporations and contract brewing; and establish protections against predatory lending.

As Chair of the Virginia Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commission, Jenn promotes Dr. King’s legacy and continues his work, particularly racial healing, economic and social justice, and community engagement. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, leading legislative efforts for civil rights and equity.  As the first House member to be pregnant while in office, she has been a fierce protector of women’s reproductive rights, children, and families.

Jenn has been a community leader in Richmond and across the Commonwealth, serving on a wide variety of nonprofit and community organization boards.  She has also been a leader in the Democratic party at the local, state and national levels.

Jenn has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors for her work as a legislator and in the community.

Jenn lives in Richmond with her husband, David Mills, and their two children, Jackson and Samantha.