Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, followed her friend and mentor, Rep. Donald McEachin, D-4th, into history on Tuesday with her election as the first African American woman from Virginia to serve in the United States Congress.
McClellan, 50, easily defeated Republican Leon Benjamin in a special election to succeed McEachin, who died suddenly on Nov. 28, three weeks after winning his fourth term to represent Richmond and the 4th District. Benjamin suffered his third consecutive defeat as the Republican nominee in the heavily Democratic district after losing twice to McEachin by lopsided margins
