Hillary Clinton Taps Virginia Senator Tim Kaine For Vice President

Kaine is an LGBT ally in a battleground state.
From: NewNowNext

After weeks of speculation, Hillary Clinton has officially named Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia as her running mate for her 2016 presidential campaign.

Clinton, who was in Orlando today, visiting the site of the Pulse nightclub attack, made the announcements to followers on Twitter.

I'm thrilled to announce my running mate, @TimKaine, a man who's devoted his life to fighting for others. -H pic.twitter.com/lTVyfztE5Z

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 23, 2016

Kaine, 58, first served on the Richmond City Council, before being elected mayor in 1998 and then Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in 2002.

He became governor of Virginia in 2006, then served as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011, before being elected senator in 2013.

As a battleground-state Democrat who has pull in Congress and is fluent in Spanish, Kaine should boost Clinton’s chances against Donald Trump in November.

Just got off the phone with Hillary. I’m honored to be her running mate. Can’t wait to hit the trail tomorrow in Miami!

— Senator Tim Kaine (@timkaine) July 23, 2016

Kaine fought against an amendment to the Virginia State Constitution in 2006 that would have banned same-sex marriage.

“I believe all people, regardless of sexual orientation, should be guaranteed the full rights to the legal benefits and responsibilities of marriage under the Constitution,” he said in 2013.

He opposed same-sex adoption in 2006, but in 2011 stated that “if a judge thinks adoption by an unmarried couple—gay or straight—meets [the] standard, then the couple should be allowed to complete the adoption.”

Kaine was a co-sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

He also served as governor of Virginia during the 2007 mass shooting at Virginia Tech that killed 32 people, and has urged Congress to fight the NRA and impose commonsense gun-control measures.

Other potential running mates Clinton was reportedly considering included Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez, Senator Cory Booker and Adm. James G. Stavridis.

Last week, Donald Trump selected Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate. Analysts say the reality TV/businessman is hoping to shore up his credentials with far-right conservatives who oppose LGBT rights and a progressive social agenda.