Politics & World • US Politics

Tim Kaine

Tim Kaine is an American Democratic politician and lawyer who has served as a U.S.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Tim Kaine is an American Democratic politician and lawyer who has served as a U.S. senator from Virginia since 2013. He previously served as Virginia’s governor from 2006 to 2010 and as the state’s lieutenant governor from 2002 to 2006. In 2016, he was Hillary Clinton’s running mate in the U.S. presidential election.

Early life and education

Tim Kaine was born in 1958 in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was raised in the Kansas City area. He studied at the University of Missouri and Harvard Law School.

Early career

Before holding statewide office, Kaine worked as a lawyer and taught legal ethics. His legal work included civil rights and fair-housing cases, and he later served in local government in Richmond.

Virginia state politics

Kaine served on the Richmond City Council, became mayor of Richmond, and then was elected lieutenant governor and governor of Virginia. His governorship ran from 2006 to 2010.

U.S. Senate career

Kaine was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012 and began representing Virginia in 2013. He has served on major Senate committees including Armed Services, Budget, Foreign Relations, and Aging.

National role in 2016

Kaine became nationally prominent when Hillary Clinton selected him as her running mate for the 2016 presidential election. The Democratic ticket lost to Donald Trump and Mike Pence.

Key facts

Kaine was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and grew up in the Kansas City area.
He served as mayor of Richmond, lieutenant governor, and governor of Virginia.
He has represented Virginia in the U.S. Senate since 2013.
He was the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2016 alongside Hillary Clinton.
He won reelection to the Senate in 2024.

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Canadian context

Tim Kaine is relevant to Canadian readers mainly through U.S. politics and Canada–U.S. relations, especially because he has served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has been a prominent national Democratic figure.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Tim Kaine?

Tim Kaine is a Democratic politician from Virginia who has served in the U.S. Senate since 2013 and previously served as governor of Virginia.

When was Tim Kaine born?

He was born on February 26, 1958.

What offices has Tim Kaine held?

He has served as a Richmond city councillor, mayor of Richmond, lieutenant governor of Virginia, governor of Virginia, and U.S. senator.

Was Tim Kaine Hillary Clinton’s running mate?

Yes. He was the Democratic nominee for vice president in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

What state does Tim Kaine represent?

He represents Virginia in the U.S. Senate.

Did Tim Kaine win reelection in 2024?

Yes. Britannica reports that he won reelection in 2024.

References

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine — https://www.kaine.senate.gov/about
Supports: Birth date, hometown, Senate service since 2013, and summary of his public-service background.
Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tim-Kaine
Supports: Birthplace, party affiliation, Senate and governorship dates, vice-presidential candidacy, and 2024 reelection.
National Governors Association — https://www.nga.org/governor/tim-kaine/
Supports: Education, early career, Richmond City Council and mayoral service, lieutenant governorship, and governorship.
ABC News — https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/tim-kaine/story?id=40280767
Supports: Political career milestones, committee assignments, education, family background, and 2016 vice-presidential candidacy.
Wikiwand — https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/Tim_Kaine
Supports: General office-holding timeline, including lieutenant governor, governor, and Senate service.