RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia may soon see another member of the McAuliffe family in elected office.
Dorothy McAuliffe, who served as Virginia’s first lady and previously worked as a State Department official, announced Wednesday her intention to seek a congressional seat in a recently created district. The wife of former Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe brings significant name recognition to the race.
“We need a leader who has a record of delivering and can finally bring down costs for families, who will increase access to affordable healthcare, and who will never back down from holding Donald Trump and ICE accountable,” McAuliffe stated in her announcement.
Virginia residents will vote on a constitutional amendment April 21 that would establish new congressional boundaries throughout the state.
Should voters approve the redistricting proposal, McAuliffe plans to seek election in the expansive 7th District, covering territory from Arlington County all the way to western Augusta County. The majority of constituents in this district would reside in the Washington, D.C. suburbs, and political analysts consider it one of four newly created seats likely to elect Democrats.
“I look forward to traveling this district — from Arlington to Augusta and Prince William to Powhatan — and sharing that vision for this community that I’ve long called home,” she stated.
A practicing lawyer and mother to five children, McAuliffe held the role of Virginia’s first lady between 2014 and 2018. During her tenure, she championed programs focused on children’s nutrition and worked to address Virginia’s backlog of unprocessed sexual assault evidence kits.
The former first lady considered challenging then-Republican Representative Barbara Comstock in 2017 but ultimately decided against entering that race. Most recently, she accepted a position in 2022 as the State Department’s special representative for global partnerships under the Biden administration.
McAuliffe faces stiff competition in what promises to be a contested Democratic primary. Virginia Delegate Dan Helmer, serving his fourth term, and former federal prosecutor J.P. Cooney both launched their campaigns last month. Cooney previously worked under special counsel Jack Smith and was dismissed from his position during the Trump presidency. Additionally, State Delegate Elizabeth Guzman, who made history as the first Latina immigrant elected to Virginia’s General Assembly, has indicated she may also enter the race.
All potential candidates, including McAuliffe, would need to reassess their campaign strategies should Virginia’s Supreme Court reject the redistricting plan or if voters defeat the constitutional amendment.
