Raising Kaine: Clinton Selects Virginia Senator

Democratic Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton made it official on Friday when she announced that Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) will be her running mate.

Kaine’s position on housing falls right in line with the platform that describes its intentions as defending and strengthening the Fair Housing Act and ensuring that regulators have the clear direction, resources, and authority to enforce those rules effectively. The 2016 Democratic Platform states that the party will “continue to fight for those families who suffered the loss of their homes” as well as “help those who are working toward a path of financial stability” by putting “sustainable home ownership into the reach of more families.” It also states Democrats plan to combat the affordable housing crisis and “skyrocketing” rents in many parts of the country, which they fell is leading too many families and workers being pushed out of communities where they work.

Tim Kaine

As a former fair housing attorney, Kaine has spoken out about his personal experience fighting for fair housing practices. He has also spoke on how fair housing policy in his opinion helps promote justice and provides localities with guidance on how best to plan and invest in their communities. Additionally, Kaine has previously pushed back against an amendment that would as he puts it “weaken a rule that protects individuals from housing discrimination.”

Clinton tweeted on Friday that "I'm thrilled to announce my running mate, Tim Kaine, a man who's devoted his life to fighting for others." She also tweeted, "Tim Kaine is a relentless optimist who believes no problem is unsolvable if you put in the work to solve it."

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, was first elected to the city council in Richmond, Virginia, in 1994, and climbed up the political ranks from there. From there he became mayor in 1998, lieutenant governor of Virginia in 2002, and governor of Virginia in 2006. He led the state through one of the darkest periods in its history, the shootings at Virginia Tech University in 2007, and lobbied for tougher gun control laws. Kaine was on Obama's short list of possible VP picks in 2008 before Obama chose Delaware Senator Joe Biden.

Clinton's selection of Kaine ends months of speculation that HUD Secretary Julián Castro would be the former Secretary of State's selection for VP. Other candidates on Clinton's short list were Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.