民主党人詹妮弗·麦克莱伦将于周二在弗吉尼亚州第四国会选区的特别选举中与共和党人利昂·本杰明对决，选民将决定谁将填补这个席位已故众议员唐纳德·麦克伊钦，11月去世。
鉴于该地区的投票历史，如果麦克莱伦赢得了她非常看好的胜利，她将成为第一位黑人女性来自国会的弗吉尼亚。她是一名律师和长期的地方议员，目前担任州参议员。
本杰明是一名牧师，此前曾竞选该席位，并在11月份输给了麦克伊钦，在他被诊断患有癌症后不久去世。
麦克莱伦已经得到了弗吉尼亚州民主党国会代表团的支持，他们是前众议院议长南希·佩洛西和众议员吉姆·克莱伯恩。
该州的提前投票从一月份开始，周六结束。
麦克莱伦在12月赢得了该地区所谓的民主党提名的消防站初选，获得了84%的选票。
她的首要议题包括环境、堕胎权和投票权。本杰明在教育、为警察打击犯罪提供更多资金以及限制堕胎等问题上竞选。
在州议会任职期间，麦克莱伦通过了350多项立法。
出现在本月早些时候的“GMA3”上麦克莱伦说，她在弗吉尼亚州议会的经历将有助于她应对国会的政治分歧。
目前，共和党在众议院占据微弱多数。
“第一步是倾听，”麦克莱伦说。“专注于解决问题，在你找不到的地方寻找共同点，如果你找不到的话，那么就努力争取对你的选民和国家最有利的东西。”
这不是麦克莱伦第一次竞选更高的职位。2021年，她竞选弗吉尼亚州州长，但在初选中输给了特里·麦考利夫，后者被共和党人格伦·杨金击败。
This Virginia congressional election could make history
Democrat Jennifer McClellan will face off against Republican Leon Benjamin on Tuesday in a special election for Virginia's 4th Congressional District, where voters will decide who will fill the seat of the late Rep. A. Donald McEachin, who died in November.
If McClellan pulls out a victory as she is heavily favored to, given the area's voting history, she will become the first Black woman from Virginia in Congress. She is a lawyer and longtime local lawmaker, currently serving as a state senator.
Benjamin, a pastor, previously ran for the seat and lost to McEachin in November, shortly before his death after being diagnosed with cancer.
McClellan has received endorsements from Virginia's entire Democratic congressional delegation, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C.
Early voting in the state began in January and finished on Saturday.
McClellan won the district's so-called firehouse primary for the Democratic nomination in December, with 84% of the votes.
Her top issues include the environment, abortion access and voting rights. Benjamin is running on education, more significant funding for police to combat crime and restricting abortion access.
During her time in the state legislature, McClellan passed more than 350 pieces of legislation.
Appearing on "GMA3" earlier this month, McClellan said that her experience in the Virginia state legislature would help her navigate the political divide in Congress.
Currently, Republicans hold a slim majority in the House of Representatives.
"The step is first listening," McClellan said. "Focusing on solving problems, finding common ground where you can't and if you can't [find] it, then just pushing forward for what's best for your constituents and the country."
This is not McClellan's first run for higher office. In 2021, she ran to be governor of Virginia but lost in the primary to Terry McAuliffe, who was defeated by Republican Glenn Youngkin.
