State Senator Jennifer McClellan announced her for Virginia governor on Thursday, running to be elected as the first Black woman to serve as governor in American history.

McClellan (D-Richmond) is the second Black woman to begin campaigning for governor of Virginia after Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy launched her campaign last month. 

“I come from a proud tradition of public service, a family of educators and community leaders,” McClellan said in a video announcing her candidacy.  “And I’ve served my community most of my life as a community leader, a leader in the Democratic Party, and over 14 years in the General Assembly.” 

Born and raised in Petersburg, McClellan was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2006 and to the Virginia Senate in 2017. During her time in the General Assembly, McClellan has focused on women’s rights and education. 

McClellan’s announcement comes at a time of national distress between the Coronavirus pandemic and increasing racial tensions across the country after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis four police officers.

Aside from McClellan and Carroll Foy, both Attorney General Mark Herring and Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax have expressed their intentions to run for governor in 2021. State Senator Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield) is so far the only Republican to announce any intention of running for governor.