A RECORD OF RESULTS
Meet Tim Kaine
TIM’S VALUES
Senator Tim Kaine works to bring people together and make Virginia the best place to live, work, and raise a family.
He has dedicated his life to helping others as a missionary, civil rights lawyer, and public servant. Tim’s life has been guided by the faith and values instilled by his parents, teachers and friends.
Growing up working in his family’s ironworking shop in Kansas City, Tim learned to prioritize hard work, kindness, and service. After graduating from the University of Missouri, Tim embarked on a transformative journey that would shape his lifelong vocation. He volunteered at a technical school founded by Jesuit missionaries in El Progreso, Honduras, where he taught carpentry and welding. He learned how one person can make a difference and saw how a good education is vital to ensuring that everyone can live up to their God-given potential.
Tim went on to earn a law degree from Harvard Law School, where he met his wife of nearly 40 years, Anne Holton. Anne, the daughter of Virginia Governor Linwood Holton, shared Tim’s commitment to helping others and together they embarked on a life journey of service and advocacy.
TIM’S SERVICE
Following law school, Tim and Anne settled in Richmond, found a church community and were blessed to raise three children. For 17 years, Tim worked as a civil rights lawyer, representing people facing discrimination by banks, landlords, and local governments. In 1998, Tim helped to secure one of the largest civil rights jury verdicts ever for people facing racial discrimination in obtaining homeowners insurance. Motivated to help solve issues faced by many of his clients, Tim ran for Richmond City Council and won his first race by just 97 votes.
As a City Council member and later Mayor of Richmond, Tim worked with others to cut crime, build schools, create good-paying jobs, and clean up the James River. Tim’s work helped Richmond reverse decades of declining population and begin a major renaissance. Tim’s success as mayor propelled him to election as Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor and Governor.Â
As Governor, Tim demonstrated true fiscal stewardship by managing the state through a national recession while also expanding early childhood and technical education, improving public safety, preserving open space and investing in cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay. By the end of his term in 2010, leading national publications recognized Virginia as America’s Best Managed State, the Best State for Business, and Best State for Children.
TIM’S LEADERSHIP
In 2012, Tim was elected to the United States Senate, where he’s been laser-focused on bringing people together to improve the lives of Virginia families. Because of his work, Virginia is breaking ground on long overdue projects to fix roads, build rail, boost transit, upgrade our airports, and expand high-speed internet.Â
Tim has secured major wins in expanding educational opportunities and access to affordable health care for all Americans, improving quality of life for our troops, reducing military spouse unemployment, funding our local law enforcement, addressing the opioid crisis, and lowering prescription drug costs.
“In this country, if you work hard, do your part, and treat people right, you should be able to earn a good living  —  you should be able to give your kids better than you had. That’s how it’s supposed to work in the greatest country in the world.”
TIM’S COMMITMENT
Tim serves Virginians as a member of the Armed Services Committee (where he chairs the Seapower Subcommittee), the Budget Committee, the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and the Foreign Relations Committee (where he chairs the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee).
Throughout his life, Tim Kaine has remained guided by his core values of integrity, compassion, and service to others. He’s proud to roll up his sleeves and bring those values every day to the U.S. Senate.
TIM’S Life
Tim is a devoted husband and father. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, camping, canoeing, cycling, reading, and indulging in his passion for music, whether listening to tunes or playing the harmonica with groups across the Commonwealth.
Tim knows there is more to be done—that’s why he’s committed to lowering everyday costs, protecting democracy at home and abroad, and safeguarding our freedoms. Throughout his career, Tim has made a difference for Virginia with common-sense leadership focused on getting real results. He’ll always stand up for Virginia against any who would tear us down or hold us back.