Tim Kaine was born February 26, 1958, in St. Paul, Minnesota. He studied at the University of Missouri before earning his J.D. from Harvard Law School, then worked as a civil rights lawyer focused on housing discrimination.
He moved through Virginia politics fast: Mayor of Richmond (1998–2001), Lieutenant Governor (2002–2006), Governor (2006–2010). He won his U.S. Senate seat in 2012 and has built a brand as steady, quietly influential, and very committee-savvy.
Kaine is known for work on foreign policy, military affairs, and veterans’ issues. He’s pushed to reassert Congress’s role in authorizing the use of force and rein in open-ended war powers. In 2016, he was Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential pick, which vaulted him onto the national stage.
Establishment Democrat
Achievements
- Senior voice on Armed Services and Foreign Relations, especially on limiting open-ended war authorizations
- Advocate for veterans’ health care, housing support, and GI benefits
- Backed bipartisan infrastructure upgrades and coastal disaster resilience funding
- Longtime supporter of voting rights, civil rights, and fair housing enforcement
Controversies
- Criticized from the left for being too cautious on trade, defense spending, and Wall Street oversight
- Took heat after the 2016 campaign as Clinton’s VP pick, with some Democrats arguing the ticket felt “too safe”
- Gets periodic pushback for accepting corporate-aligned donor money while talking about ethics and accountability
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covington & Burling | $108,150 | $108,150 | $0 |
| Paul, Weiss et al | $69,815 | $69,815 | $0 |
| JStreetPAC | $67,283 | $65,870 | $1,413 |
| Welsh, Carson et al | $63,200 | $63,200 | $0 |
| Amazon.com | $62,200 | $52,200 | $10,000 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.
Recent Elections
2012 Margin D +6%
2018 Margin D +16%