If you're following the 2016 Presidential Election, the name Tim Kaine has come to the forefront. On July 22nd, Hillary Clinton, the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party, chose Kaine as her Vice Presidential candidate. Here's what you need to know about the man who might become the second most powerful person in the United States.
1. Kaine is a Democratic Senator from Virginia.
He's held the position since 2013, before which, he was the Governor. Before that he was Lieutenant Governor, and before that he was the Mayor of Richmond. It's safe to say he's pretty familiar with politics.
2. He's fluent in Spanish.
In 1980, Kaine took a year off from law school to work with Jesuit missionaries in Honduras, where he learned Spanish. The Senator spoke Spanish on the floor of the Senate for 13 minutes in 2013, advocating for immigration reform. This was the first time a Senator gave an entire speech in a language that wasn't English.
At a Clinton rally earlier this month in California, Kaine taught the crowd how to say "Ready for Hillary" in Spanish.
3. He's the first Virginian to be on a national party's ticket in a very long time.
The last Virginian on a national ticket was John Tyler for the Whig Party in the 1840 election. (Okay, this is less of a need to know, and more of a fun fact to tell at parties to your politically inclined friends.)
4. He is a Roman Catholic.
His faith makes some of his positions a little murky. For instance, he is personally against abortion, however Kaine has said "I have a traditional Catholic personal position, but I am very strongly supportive that women should make these decisions and government shouldn't intrude."
In 2007, Kaine cut off funding for abstinence-only sex education, stating that both abstinence and contraceptives must be taught from an evidence-based point of view.
5. He's never lost an election.
In his 22 year political career, Kaine has never been defeated. His ascent up the ladder has been slow but steady, starting with Richmond City Council in May of 1994,
6. He's a gun owner in favor of common sense gun reform.
Kaine's positions are heavily influenced by the Virginia Tech Massacre, which occurred while he was Governor. He is a staunch supporter of widespread background checks and restrictions on the sale of high-capacity magazines and combat-style weapons. He supported the Manchin-Toomey Bill, which would have expanded background checks to weapons sold on the Internet and at gun shows.
7. He supports making education more accessible to all people.
When he was Governor of Virginia, he helped expand the state's preschool program that served children living near the poverty line. In addition, he supported the Every Student Succeeds Act, which helped de-emphasize standardized testing. He also has pushed for measures to reduce the cost of college.
8. He's in favor of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
While Clinton is opposed to the controversial TPP, Kaine is an outspoken advocate for free trade. He defended the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which broadened the trade arrangement between the United States, Mexico and Canada. Both trade agreements worry Democrats since manufacturers may choose to move to countries where labor is cheaper and less ethical, not to mention that many environmental safeguards were inadequate.
9. He has a record rich in foreign policy.
Kaine sits on the Senate's Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committee and is a leading Democrat for national security. He has argued that the Obama Administration must seek authorization from Congress to carry out unmanned airstrikes against ISIS. Kaine is likely to stress the danger of Trump having the nuclear codes.
10. Kaine is a safe choice, but a great one.
Many progressives would have loved to see Elizabeth Warren or Corey Booker filling the VP spot on Hillary's ticket, so Tim Kaine seems a bit underwhelming. However, the more you learn about him, the more you like him. Kaine can work across party lines, he's fought for people his entire career, and he's absolutely smart and qualified. I'd be excited to see him take on the mantle Joe Biden leaves.
