McEachin was the first African American nominated by a major party for Virginia attorney general. He was the third African American elected to Congress from Virginia and the second elected from the state since the 19th century.[5]
McEachin began to practice law in Richmond after completing law school, eventually becoming a partner in his own firm, McEachin and Gee.[6]
Virginia Legislature
McEachin was first elected to the House of Delegates from the 74th district in 1995. After three terms there, he ran in the 2001 Virginia Attorney General election. He won a four-way Democratic primary with 33.6% of the vote,[7] but lost the general election to Republican nominee Jerry Kilgore by 20 percentage points.[8]
In 2005 he ran again for the 74th House district, defeating his predecessor, Floyd Miles, by 44 votes in the Democratic primary,[9] and winning the general election with 75% of the vote.[10]
McEachin in 2010
In 2007, McEachin ran for the state senate, challenging 9th district incumbent Benjamin Lambert, who drew criticism within the Democratic Party for his endorsement of Republican U.S. Senator George Allen in Allen's unsuccessful 2006 reelection campaign against Jim Webb.[11] After defeating Lambert 58%-42% in the primary,[12] McEachin won 81% of the vote against independent Silver Persinger in the general election.[13]
McEachin was unopposed for reelection in 2011.[14]
United States House of Representatives
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022)
Committee assignments
McEachin was a member of the following committees and subcommittees during the 117th Congress:[15]
In 2018, McEachin revealed that he had developed a fistula after completing treatment for colorectal cancer in 2014, losing more than 60 pounds (27 kg) as a result.[22] He advocated regular testing for colon cancer/colorectal cancer, telling attendees at a 2022 special screening of the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (a sequel to Black Panther, whose star, Chadwick Boseman, died of colon cancer), "Don't fool around. Don't go through my journey", two weeks before his death.[23]
McEachin died at his home in Richmond of complications of cancer on November 28, 2022, at the age of 61.[24][25] His death came a few weeks after his reelection to a fourth term in the 2022 elections. Tributes to McEachin were paid by outgoing Speaker of the HouseNancy Pelosi, as well as fellow Virginia Democratic representative Gerry Connolly and both of Virginia's U.S. Senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (who had known McEachin since 1984).[26][27] McEachin was succeeded by fellow Democrat Jennifer McClellan, who won a special election on February 21, 2023.[28]
McEachin is buried in the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.[29]
Personal life
McEachin and his wife, Colette, had three children and lived in Richmond.[6] In 2019, Colette McEachin became interim Commonwealth's Attorney for Richmond (having served in that office for 20 years),[30] won the Democratic nomination on August 10,[31] and was unopposed in the special election on November 5.[32]
On August 25, 2015, McEachin's name was found on the userlist leaked from the data breach of the Ashley Madison website.[33] His response was, "At this time, this is a personal issue between my family and me. I will have no further statement on this issue."[34]
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