View source for Tim Kaine

{{Short description|American lawyer and politician (born 1958)}}
{{distinguish|text=the American economist [[Tim Kane]], or [[Timothy Kain and Virginia Taylor]]}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Tim Kaine
| image               = Tim Kaine, official portrait (119th Congress).jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2025
| jr/sr               = United States Senator
| state               = [[Virginia]]
| alongside           = [[Mark Warner]]
| term_start          = January 3, 2013
| term_end            =
| predecessor         = [[Jim Webb]]
| successor           =
| office1             = Chair of the [[Democratic National Committee]]
| term_start1         = January 21, 2009
| term_end1           = April 5, 2011
| predecessor1        = [[Howard Dean]]
| successor1          = [[Debbie Wasserman Schultz]]
| order2              = 70th [[Governor of Virginia]]
| lieutenant2         = [[Bill Bolling]]
| term_start2         = January 14, 2006
| term_end2           = January 16, 2010
| predecessor2        = [[Mark Warner]]
| successor2          = [[Bob McDonnell]]
| office3             = 38th [[Lieutenant Governor of Virginia]]
| governor3           = Mark Warner
| term_start3         = January 12, 2002
| term_end3           = January 14, 2006
| predecessor3        = [[John H. Hager]]
| successor3          = Bill Bolling
| office4             = 76th [[List of mayors of Richmond, Virginia|Mayor of Richmond]]
| term_start4         = July 1, 1998
| term_end4           = September 10, 2001
| predecessor4        = Larry Chavis
| successor4          = [[Rudy McCollum]]
| office5             = Member of the [[Richmond, Virginia City Council|Richmond City Council]]<br />from the 2nd district
| term_start5         = July 1, 1994
| term_end5           = September 10, 2001
| predecessor5        = Benjamin P.A. Warthen
| successor5          = William J. Pantele
| birth_name          = Timothy Michael Kaine
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1958|2|26}}
| birth_place         = [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]], U.S.
| death_date          =
| death_place         =
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Anne Holton]]|November 24, 1984}}
| children            = 3
| education           = {{ubl|[[University of Missouri]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])|[[Harvard University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])}}
| website             = {{URL|kaine.senate.gov|Senate website}}<br/>{{URL|https://timkaine.com/|Campaign website}}
| signature           = Tim Kaine Signature.svg
| module              = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Tim Kaine on a need to end "apathy as usual" in regards to racism in America.ogg|title=Tim Kaine's voice|type=speech|description=Tim Kaine on a need to end "apathy as usual" in regards to racism in America<br />Recorded June 16, 2020}}
}}

'''Timothy Michael Kaine''' ({{IPAc-en|k|eɪ|n}} {{respell|KAYN}}; born February 26, 1958) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the [[Seniority in the United States Senate|junior]] [[United States senator]] from [[Virginia]] since 2013. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he served as the [[List of governors of Virginia|70th governor of Virginia]] from 2006 to 2010, and as the 38th [[lieutenant governor of Virginia]] from 2002 to 2006. Kaine was the Democratic nominee for [[Vice President of the United States]] in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 election]] as [[Hillary Clinton]]'s running mate.

Born in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]], Kaine grew up in [[Overland Park, Kansas]], graduated from the [[University of Missouri]] in [[Columbia, Missouri]], and earned a [[Juris Doctor]] degree from [[Harvard Law School]] before entering private practice and becoming a lecturer at the [[University of Richmond School of Law]]. He was first elected to public office in 1994, when he won a seat on the [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]] city council. He was elected [[Mayor of Richmond, Virginia|mayor of Richmond]] in 1998 and held that position until being elected lieutenant governor of Virginia in 2001. Kaine was elected governor of Virginia [[2005 Virginia gubernatorial election|in 2005]] and held that office from 2006 to 2010. He chaired the [[Democratic National Committee]] from 2009 to 2011. In [[2012 United States Senate election in Virginia|2012]], Kaine was elected to the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]], defeating former Virginia governor and senator [[George Allen (American politician)|George Allen]].

On July 22, 2016, Hillary Clinton introduced Kaine as her vice-presidential [[running mate]]. The [[2016 Democratic National Convention]] nominated him on July 27. Despite winning a [[Plurality (voting)|plurality]] of the national popular vote, the Clinton{{ndash}}Kaine ticket lost the [[Electoral College (United States)|Electoral College]], and therefore the election, to the Republican [[Ticket (election)|ticket]] of [[Donald Trump]] and [[Mike Pence]] on November 8, 2016. Kaine was reelected to a second Senate term in [[2018 United States Senate election in Virginia|2018]], defeating Republican [[Corey Stewart]]. He was reelected for a third term in [[2024 United States Senate election in Virginia|2024]], defeating [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee [[Hung Cao]].
{{TOC limit|3}}

==Early life and education==
[[File:SibleyManor.jpg|thumb|left|Apartment building where the Kaine family lived when he was born]]
Kaine was born at [[St. Joseph's Hospital (St. Paul, Minnesota)|Saint Joseph's Hospital]] in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]]. He is the eldest of three sons<ref name="Burton10" /><ref name="Pilot">{{cite news |first=Christina |last=Nuckols |title=Profile: Who is Timothy M. Kaine? |url=http://pilotonline.com/news/who-is-timothy-m-kaine-archive-profile-from-oct/article_12e66b93-a389-5c10-9a66-9c27213ce006.html |work=[[The Virginian-Pilot]] |date=October 16, 2005 |access-date=May 4, 2016 |archive-date=October 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006082410/http://pilotonline.com/news/who-is-timothy-m-kaine-archive-profile-from-oct/article_12e66b93-a389-5c10-9a66-9c27213ce006.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> born to Mary Kathleen (née Burns), a home economics teacher, and Albert Alexander Kaine Jr., a welder and the owner of a small iron-working shop.<ref name="Pilot" /><ref name="O'DowdIrish">{{cite news |first=Niall |last= O'Dowd |date= April 8, 2016 |url=http://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/niallodowd/Five-Irish-Americans-who-could-be-Hillary-Clintons-Running-Mate-.html |title=Five Irish Americans who could be Hillary Clinton's running mate |work=IrishCentral| access-date = August 18, 2016}}</ref><ref name="WeddingAnnouncement">{{cite news|url=http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/article_cc4d729a-8530-55eb-bf77-5dbf388660b7.html |title=From the RTD archives: Wedding announcement of Tim Kaine and Anne Holton |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |date=July 21, 2016 |postscript=; }} reprinting of announcement originally published on November 25, 1984.</ref> He was raised Catholic.<ref name="Pilot" /> One of Kaine's great-grandparents was [[Scottish American|Scottish]] and the other seven were [[Irish American|Irish]].<ref name="O'DowdIrish" /><ref>{{cite journal| access-date = August 18, 2016 | title = Kaine's Strong Irish Roots | issue = August September 2016 | first= Tom | last = Deignan |url=http://irishamerica.com/2016/08/kaines-strong-irish-roots/ | journal = Irish America | date = August 10, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Roche |first=Barry |date=August 18, 2016 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/genealogist-finds-tim-kaine-also-has-irish-roots-in-cork-1.2759485 |title=Genealogist finds Tim Kaine also has Irish roots in Cork |access-date=August 24, 2016}}</ref> Kaine's family moved to Overland Park, Kansas, when Kaine was two years old, and he grew up in the [[Kansas City metropolitan area|Kansas City area]].<ref name="dwyer" /> In 1976, he graduated from [[Rockhurst High School]], a [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]] all-boys [[University-preparatory school|preparatory school]] in [[Kansas City, Missouri]].<ref name=Burton10/><ref name="timeline">{{cite news|title=Timeline: Sen. Tim Kaine's life and career|url=http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/article_175ae370-7205-561d-9e8e-e5cc24bf4926.html|access-date=July 23, 2016|work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|date=July 22, 2016}}</ref> At Rockhurst, Kaine joined the debate team and was elected student body president.<ref name="Pilot"/>

Kaine received his [[Bachelor of Arts]] in [[economics]] from the [[University of Missouri]] in 1979, completing his degree in three years and graduating [[Omicron Delta Kappa]] and ''[[summa cum laude]]''.<ref name="Burton10">{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/campaign-2008/articles/2008/07/18/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-tim-kaine |title= 10 things you didn't know about Tim Kaine|author=Danielle Burton|date= April 18, 2008|magazine=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref><ref name="Pilot"/> He was a [[Coro Foundation]] fellow in Kansas City in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://coro.org/about-us/notable-coro-alumni|title=Notable Coro Alumni|access-date=July 23, 2016|publisher=Coro Foundation|archive-date=July 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160718105505/http://coro.org/about-us/notable-coro-alumni/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He entered Harvard Law School in 1979, interrupting his law studies after his first year to work in [[Honduras]]<ref name=ncrwinters>{{cite news|url=https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/tim-kaine-running-senate |title=Tim Kaine Running for Senate |first=Michael Sean| last=Winters |work=National Catholic Reporter |date=April 5, 2011 | access-date=July 26, 2016}}</ref><ref name=cspanprofile>{{cite interview|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?410707-1/senator-tim-kaine-discusses-life-career | access-date=August 1, 2016 | date = June 7, 2016| publisher=C-SPAN |first=Tim | last=Kaine |interviewer=Steve Scully | title= Life and Career of Senator Tim Kaine |work=American Profile series}}</ref>{{efn|Many news reports say that Kaine worked in Honduras as part of the [[Jesuit Volunteer Corps]],<ref name=ncrwinters/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20160722-15-things-you-need-to-know-about-clinton-s-running-mate-tim-kaine.ece | date=July 22, 2016| access-date=August 1, 2016| work= The Dallas Morning News| title= 15 things you need to know about Clinton's running mate, Tim Kaine |first=Jamie|last=Lovegrove}}</ref> a U.S.-based organization that did not sponsor overseas programs until 1984.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Langlois|first1=Ed|title=Jesuit Volunteer Corps - 50 years of nitty-gritty service|url=http://www.catholicsentinel.org/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=35&ArticleID=7736|access-date=August 1, 2016|work=Catholic Sentinel|date=June 30, 2006|archive-date=September 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920190114/http://www.catholicsentinel.org/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=35&ArticleID=7736|url-status=dead}}</ref> By his own account, while a high school student in 1974 Kaine visited a Jesuit mission in Honduras that had ties to his Jesuit high school. In 1980, after completing his first year of law school and without the support of any organization, he contacted that mission and arranged to work at its vocational training school as a volunteer teacher.<ref name=cspanprofile/>}} for nine months from 1980 to 1981, helping Jesuit [[missionaries]] who ran a [[Catholic school]] in [[El Progreso]].<ref name=dwyer>{{cite news|first=Timothy |last=Dwyer |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/02/AR2005110203116.html |title=For Kaine, a Faith in Service |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 3, 2005}}</ref><ref name="KaineSpanish">{{cite news|first=Eyder |last=Peralta |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/06/12/191010737/with-a-speech-in-spanish-tim-kaine-makes-senate-history |title=With a Speech in Spanish, Tim Kaine Makes Senate History |publisher= NPR |date=June 12, 2013}}</ref> While running a vocational center that taught carpentry and welding, he also helped increase the school's enrollment by recruiting local villagers.<ref name="Pilot"/> Kaine is fluent in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as a result of his time in Honduras.<ref name="KaineSpanish"/>

After returning from Honduras, Kaine met his future wife, first-year Harvard Law student [[Anne Holton]].<ref name="Pilot"/> He graduated from Harvard Law School with a [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] degree in 1983.<ref name="Burton10"/> Kaine and Holton moved to Holton's hometown of Richmond, Virginia, after graduation,<ref name="Pilot"/> and Kaine was [[Admission to the bar in the United States|admitted]] to the Virginia bar in 1984.<ref name="timeline"/>

==Legal career and Richmond City Council==
After graduating from law school, Kaine was a [[law clerk]] for Judge [[R. Lanier Anderson III]] of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit]], in [[Macon, Georgia]].<ref name="timeline"/> He then joined the Richmond law firm of Little, Parsley & Cluverius, P.C.<ref name="timeline"/> In 1987, Kaine became a director of the law firm of Mezzullo & McCandlish, P.C.<ref name="timeline"/> He practiced law in Richmond for 17 years, specializing in [[fair housing]] law and representing clients discriminated against on the basis of [[racial discrimination|race]] or [[Disability discrimination|disability]].<ref name="NGABio">[http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_virginia/col2-content/main-content-list/title_kaine_tim.default.html Virginia: Past Governors' Bios: Tim Kaine], National Governors Association (accessed July 21, 2016).</ref> He was a board member of the Virginia chapter of Housing Opportunities Made Equal, which he represented in a landmark [[redlining]] discrimination lawsuit against [[Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.]] arising from the company's practices in Richmond.<ref name="CadeiBoring">{{cite web|author=Emily Cadei|url=http://europe.newsweek.com/tim-kaine-vice-president-boring-480693?rm=eu|title=Tim Kaine, the "boring" Hillary Clinton VP possibility, isn't actually that boring|date = July 15, 2016|access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref><ref name="StolbergSharpElbows">Sheryl Gay Stolberg, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/23/us/politics/tim-kaine-history.html Tim Kaine: A Self-Effacing Senator in a Sharp-Elbows Era], ''The New York Times'' (July 22, 2016).</ref> Kaine won a $100.5 million verdict in the case; the judgment was overturned on appeal, and Kaine and his colleagues negotiated a $17.5 million [[Settlement (law)|settlement]].<ref name="StolbergSharpElbows"/>

Kaine did regular ''[[pro bono]]'' work.<ref name="CadeiBoring" /> In 1988, he started teaching legal ethics as an [[adjunct professor]] at the [[University of Richmond School of Law]].<ref name="timeline"/><ref name="NGABio"/> Kaine taught at the University of Richmond for six years; his students included future [[Virginia Attorney General|Virginia attorney general]] [[Mark Herring]].<ref name="NGABio"/><ref name="Baratko">Trevor Baratko, [http://www.loudountimes.com/news/article/for_a_professor_and_his_pupil_politics_align534 For a professor and his pupil, politics align], ''[[Loudoun Times-Mirror]]'' (October 19, 2012).</ref> He was a founding member of the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness.<ref name="CadeiBoring" />

Kaine had a largely apolitical childhood, but he became interested in politics in part due to the influence of his wife's family and his experience attending Richmond city council meetings.<ref name=dwyer/> In 1994, he was elected the 2nd district member of the [[city council]] of the [[independent city]] of [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], defeating incumbent city councilor Benjamin P.A. Warthen by 97 votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Timeline: Sen. Tim Kaine's life and career |url=https://richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/timeline-sen-tim-kaines-life-and-career/article_175ae370-7205-561d-9e8e-e5cc24bf4926.html |website=Richmond Times-Dispatch |access-date=April 10, 2021 |language=en |date=July 22, 2016}}</ref><ref name="jmahler1"/> He took his seat on July 1 and retained the position until September 10, 2001, when he resigned; William J. Pantele was appointed to succeed him.<ref>{{cite news |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |title=Praising Kaine |date=June 1, 1994|page=A-10}}</ref><ref name="BiegelsenNiceGuy">Amy Biegelsen, [http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/whatandaposs-a-nice-guy-like-tim-kaine-doing-in-a-job-like-this/Content?oid=1383040 What's a Nice Guy Like Tim Kaine Doing in a Job Like This?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010043444/https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/whatandaposs-a-nice-guy-like-tim-kaine-doing-in-a-job-like-this/Content?oid=1383040 |date=October 10, 2023 }}, (Richmond, Va.) ''Style Weekly'' (February 25, 2009).</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=HISTORY OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA |url=https://chpn.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/members1948topresent.pdf |publisher=The Office of the City Clerk of Richmond, Virginia |access-date=April 10, 2021 |date=February 10, 2009}}</ref> Kaine spent four terms on the city council, the latter two as mayor of Richmond.<ref name="NGABio"/><ref name="SchwartzmanNiceGuy">Paul Schwartzman, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/whats-a-nice-guy-like-sen-tim-kaine-doing-in-a-race-like-this/2016/07/13/f7965652-47a3-11e6-bdb9-701687974517_story.html What's a nice guy like Sen. Tim Kaine doing in a campaign like this?], ''The Washington Post'' (July 14, 2016).</ref>

==Mayor of Richmond (1998–2001)==
On July 1, 1998, Kaine was elected mayor of Richmond, succeeding Larry Chavis.<ref name="SinclairKaine">Melissa Scott Sinclair, [http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/is-kaine-able/Content?oid=1385212 Is Kaine Able?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010043840/https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/is-kaine-able/Content?oid=1385212 |date=October 10, 2023 }}, (Richmond, Va.) ''Style Weekly''.</ref><ref name="JohnsonHickey" /> The majority-black Richmond City Council{{efn|Until 2004, the mayor of Richmond was chosen by the city council from among its membership; under the present system, the mayor is chosen by popular vote.<ref name="BiegelsenNiceGuy"/>}} chose him by an 8 to 1 vote,<ref name="jmahler1" /> making him the city's first white mayor in more than ten years,<ref name="BiegelsenNiceGuy" /><ref name="SchwartzmanNiceGuy" /> which was viewed as a surprise.<ref name="SinclairKaine" /> [[Rudy McCollum]], an African American city councilor also interested in the mayoralty, decided to back Kaine after a private meeting between the two, clearing the way for him.<ref name="jmahler1">{{cite news|last1=Mahler|first1=Jonathan|title=Tim Kaine Recalled for Commitment to Richmond's African-Americans|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/01/us/politics/tim-kaine-richmond-race.html|access-date=August 1, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 31, 2016}}</ref> Previous mayors had treated the role as primarily ceremonial,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mayor Kaine|date=July 3, 1998|work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|page=A-16|via=nl.newsbank.com}}</ref> with the [[city manager]] effectively operating the city; Kaine treated it as a full-time job, taking a more hands-on role.<ref name="SinclairKaine" />

As mayor, Kaine used a sale-leaseback arrangement to obtain funds to renovate the historic Maggie L. Walker High School and reopen it in 2000 as a [[Magnet school|magnet]] [[Governor's Schools (Virginia)|governor's school]], the [[Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies]], which "now serves the top students in Central Virginia".<ref>{{cite news|first1=George |last1=Allen|first2= Paul |last2=Goldman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/opinion/13allen.html |title=Little Restored Schoolhouse |work=The New York Times |date=October 12, 2009}}</ref> Three elementary schools and one middle school were also built in Richmond under Kaine.<ref name="LessigUnity">{{cite web |url=https://www.dailypress.com/2001/06/03/kaine-says-his-ability-to-unify-is-important/ |title= Kaine says his ability to unify is important |author= Hugh Lessig |date= June 3, 2001 |publisher= Newport News, Va. Daily Press |access-date= April 5, 2011 |archive-date= April 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403011142/http://articles.dailypress.com/2001-06-03/news/0106030026_1_lieutenant-governor-city-hall-project-exile |url-status= live }}</ref> Along with [[Commonwealth's Attorney|Commonwealth's attorney]] David Hicks, U.S. attorney [[James Comey]], and police chief Jerry Oliver, Kaine supported [[Project Exile]], an initiative that shifted gun crimes to federal court, where defendants faced harsher sentences.<ref name="SinclairKaine"/> Though controversial, the effort gained widespread support and the city's [[homicide rate]] fell by 55% during Kaine's mayoralty.<ref name="SinclairKaine"/><ref name="WhoriskeyEdges">Peter Whoriskey, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2001/11/07/kaine-edges-out-katzen-for-states-no-2-office/bec3db88-a2ae-450a-9eae-b52395c284bb/ Kaine Edges Out Katzen For State's No. 2 Office], ''The Washington Post'' (November 7, 2001).</ref> Kaine touted Project Exile during his 2001 campaign for lieutenant governor.<ref name="LessigUnity"/><ref name="WhoriskeyEdges"/>

On several occasions, Kaine voted against tax increases, and he supported a [[tax abatement]] program for renovated buildings, which was credited for a housing renovation boom in the city.<ref name="SinclairKaine"/> ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine named Richmond one of "the 10 best cities in America to do business" during Kaine's term.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.virginia.edu/content/virginia-gov-tim-kaine-address-university-virginia%3Fs-class-2006-final-exercises-sunday-may | title=Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine to Address University Of Virginia's Class of 2006 at Final Exercises on Sunday, May 21 |work=UVA Today |date= May 16, 2006}}</ref>

According to John Moeser, a professor emeritus of urban studies and planning at [[Virginia Commonwealth University]] and later a visiting fellow at the [[University of Richmond]]'s Center for Civic Engagement, Kaine "was energetic, charismatic and, most important, spoke openly about his commitment to racial reconciliation in Richmond."<ref name="SinclairKaine"/> ''The New York Times'' wrote that Kaine "was by all accounts instrumental in bridging the city's racial divide".<ref name="StolbergSharpElbows"/> In the early part of his term, Kaine apologized for Richmond's role in [[Slavery in the United States|slavery]];<ref name="LessigUnity"/><ref>{{cite news|first=Bob |last=Gibson |url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/slavery-apology-measure-ignites-legislative-debate/article_e84bedbc-c63f-5a01-951e-9b26fc1365d8.html |title=Slavery apology measure ignites legislative debate | work= [[The Daily Progress]] |date=January 16, 2007}}</ref> the apology was generally well received as "a genuine, heartfelt expression".<ref name="LessigUnity"/> In the latter part of his term, there was a contentious debate over the inclusion of a portrait of [[General officers in the Confederate States Army|Confederate general]] [[Robert E. Lee]] in a set of historic murals to be placed on city floodwalls.<ref name="jmahler1"/><ref name="JohnsonHickey">{{cite news |first1=Gordon |last1=Hickey |first2=Carrie |last2=Johnson |title=Council Supports Mural of Lee: El-Amin's Proposal Rejected on 8–1 Vote After Heated Hearing |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |date=July 27, 1999 |url=http://vaudc.org/rejected.html |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-date=March 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322103535/http://vaudc.org/rejected.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Many African Americans were outraged that Lee would appear on city walls, while Southern heritage groups demanded that the picture remain.<ref name="jmahler1"/> Kaine proposed a compromise whereby Lee would appear as part of a series of murals that also included figures like [[Abraham Lincoln]] and [[Powhatan Beaty]].<ref name="jmahler1"/> The NAACP criticized his stance, but Kaine argued that placing Lee on the floodwall made sense in context, and that "Much of our history is not pleasant; you can't whitewash it."<ref name="StolbergSharpElbows"/><ref name="JohnsonHickey"/> His proposal passed the council by a 6–3 vote.<ref name="jmahler1"/>

During his mayoralty, Kaine drew criticism for spending $6,000 in public funds on buses to the [[Million Mom March]], an anti-gun-violence rally in [[Washington, D.C.]]; after a backlash, he raised the money privately and reimbursed the city.<ref>{{cite news|first=Liz |last=Halloran |url=https://www.npr.org/2012/05/16/152827431/virginia-senate-race-battle-of-the-former-governors |title= Tale of the Tape: Ex-Governors Duke It Out In Va. |publisher=NPR |date=May 17, 2012}}</ref>

==Lieutenant governor of Virginia (2002–2006)==
[[File:US Navy 030820-N-4294K-006 Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Capt. T.F. Keeley briefs Virginia's Lt. Governor, Tim Kaine, on the cockpit of an F-14 Tomcat.jpg|thumb|left|Kaine in an F-14 Tomcat while touring a naval base in 2003]]
Kaine ran for [[Lieutenant Governor of Virginia|lieutenant governor of Virginia]] in [[2001 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election|2001]]. He joined the race after state senator [[Emily Couric]] dropped out due to pancreatic cancer and endorsed Kaine as her replacement.<ref name="Convictions"/> In the Democratic [[Partisan primary|primary election]], Kaine ran against [[Virginia House of Delegates|state delegate]] [[Alan A. Diamonstein]] of [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]], and state delegate [[Jerrauld Jones|Jerrauld C. Jones]] of [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]].<ref>Hank Shaw, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=duwyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fwgGAAAAIBAJ&pg=6553%2C6707214 Difference Few among Democrats], ''Free Lance-Star'' (May 21, 2001).</ref> Kaine won the nomination, with 39.7% of the vote to Diamonstein's 31.4% and Jones's 28.9%.<ref name=LtGovPrimaryResult/>

In the general election, Kaine won with 925,974 votes (50.35%), edging out his [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] opponent, state delegate [[Jay Katzen]], who received 883,886 (48.06%).<ref name="LtGovGenResult">[http://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/view/42657/ Elections Database: 2001 Lieutenant Governor General Election], Virginia Department of Elections.</ref> [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] Gary Reams received 28,783 votes (1.57%).<ref name="LtGovGenResult"/>

Kaine was inaugurated on January 12, 2002, and was sworn in by his wife [[Anne Holton]], a state judge.<ref>[http://www.richmond.com/uploaded_photos/image_f166e6f2-bf51-56a7-a1b6-63ddc07adc4a.html Tim Kaine and Anne Holton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625051422/http://www.richmond.com/uploaded_photos/image_f166e6f2-bf51-56a7-a1b6-63ddc07adc4a.html |date=June 25, 2017 }} ([[Associated Press]] photo by Steve Helber) (January 12, 2002).</ref>

==Governor of Virginia (2006–2010)==
===Election===
{{Main|2005 Virginia gubernatorial election}}
[[File:Tim Kaine parade.jpg|right|thumb|Kaine at the Covington Labor Day Parade in Virginia, September 4, 2006]]
In 2005, Kaine ran for [[governor of Virginia]] against Republican candidate [[Jerry W. Kilgore]], a former [[Attorney General of Virginia|state attorney general]]. Kaine was considered an underdog for most of the race,<ref>{{cite news |first=Vicki |last=Haddock |url=http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/DEMOCRATS-GET-RELIGION-Left-leaning-politicians-2484568.php |title=Democrats Get Religion: Left-leaning politicians have a come-to-Jesus moment, bringing their faith out of the closet to challenge conservatives' claimed moral hegemony |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=November 5, 2006 |quote=One of the few marquee Democratic victors in 2005 was Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, an underdog....}}</ref> trailing in polls for most of the campaign.<ref name="RealClearAggregator">[http://realclearpolitics.com/Congressional/VA_Gov_05.html 2005 Virginia Gubernatorial Election:  November 8, 2005], [[RealClearPolitics]].</ref> Two September polls showed Kaine trailing Kilgore—by four percentage points in a ''Washington Post'' poll and by one point in a [[Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc.|Mason-Dixon]]/''[[Roanoke Times]]'' poll.<ref name="SlussDeadHeat">{{cite news |first=Michael |last= Sluss |url=http://www.roanoke.com/webmin/news/kaine-kilgore-in-a-dead-heat/article_42034e5c-510f-5526-ba3a-d24e7b9da906.html |title= Kaine, Kilgore in a dead heat |work=Roanoke Times |date=September 17, 2005}}</ref><ref name="ShearDeanPoll">{{cite news |first1=Michael D. |last1=Shear |first2=Claudia |last2=Deane |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/10/AR2005091001115.html |title=Poll Shows Kilgore Ahead of Kaine in Va. |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=September 11, 2005}}</ref> The final polls of the race before the election showed Kaine slightly edging ahead of Kilgore.<ref name="RealClearAggregator"/><ref name="FiskeLifeAfter">Warren Fiske, [http://pilotonline.com/news/government/politics/life-after-the-campaign-for-jerry-kilgore/article_83df1f9b-f5df-56bd-a114-50c60a1f57e2.html Life after the campaign for Jerry Kilgore] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821201107/http://pilotonline.com/news/government/politics/life-after-the-campaign-for-jerry-kilgore/article_83df1f9b-f5df-56bd-a114-50c60a1f57e2.html |date=August 21, 2016 }}, ''The Virginian-Pilot'' (April 30, 2006).</ref>

Kaine ultimately prevailed, winning 1,025,942 votes (51.7%) to Kilgore's 912,327 (46.0%).<ref name="2005OfficialResults">[http://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/view/40573/ Elections Database: 2005 Governor General Election], Virginia Department of Elections.</ref> A third candidate, [[Independent (politician)|independent]] [[Virginia Senate|state Senator]] [[Russ Potts|H. Russell Potts Jr.]], ran as an "[[independent Republican (United States)|independent Republican]]"<ref name="JenkinsCentrist">[[Chris L Jenkins]], [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42229-2005Mar16.html Kaine Launches Va. Campaign on a Centrist Path: Democrat Pitches Fiscal Responsibility in Gubernatorial Bid], ''The Washington Post'' (March 17, 2005), B01.</ref><ref>{{cite news| first1=Rosalind S. |last1=Helderman |first2=Chris L. |last2=Jenkins |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53243-2005Feb25.html |title=Independent Republican' Potts Joins Race in Va. |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 26, 2005}}</ref> and received 43,953 votes (2.2%).<ref name="2005OfficialResults"/>

Kaine emphasized fiscal responsibility and a centrist message.<ref name="ShearDeanPoll"/><ref name="JenkinsCentrist"/> He expressed support for controlling [[Urban sprawl|sprawl]] and tackling longstanding traffic issues, an issue that resonated in the [[northern Virginia]] [[exurbs]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Shear |first= Michael D.|date=October 18, 2005 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/17/AR2005101701638.html |title=AR Kaine Sounds Slow-Growth Note in Exurbs |newspaper= The Washington Post}}</ref> He benefited from his association with the popular outgoing Democratic governor, [[Mark Warner]], who had performed well in traditionally Republican areas of the state.<ref name="SlussDeadHeat"/> On the campaign trail, Kaine referred to the "Warner-Kaine administration" in speeches and received Warner's strong backing.<ref name="JenkinsCentrist"/><ref name ="WP">Michael D. Shear, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/08/AR2005110800371_pf.html Democrat Kaine Wins in Virginia], ''The Washington Post'' (November 9, 2005) ("From the beginning, Kaine's strategy was to target voters who like Warner. He repeatedly took credit for the accomplishments of the 'Warner-Kaine administration,' and he appeared frequently with the governor.").</ref> Kilgore later attributed his defeat to Warner's high popularity and President [[George W. Bush]]'s sharply declining popularity; Bush held a rally with Kilgore on the campaign's final day.<ref name="FiskeLifeAfter"/>

The campaign turned sharply negative in its final weeks, with Kilgore running television [[attack ad]]s that falsely claimed that Kaine believed that "[[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] doesn't qualify for the death penalty."<ref name="FactCheck">[http://dev.factcheck.org/2005/10/no-death-penalty-for-hitler-gop-ad/ No Death Penalty For Hitler? GOP Ad Goes Too Far] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816201445/http://dev.factcheck.org/2005/10/no-death-penalty-for-hitler-gop-ad/ |date=August 16, 2016 }}, [[FactCheck.org]], [[Annenberg Public Policy Center]] (October 19, 2005).</ref> The ads also attacked Kaine for his service ten years earlier as a court-appointed attorney for a death-row inmate.<ref name="WaPoDeath">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/11/AR2005101101733.html Editorial: Death Penalty Smear], ''The Washington Post'' (October 12, 2005).</ref> The editorial boards of ''The Washington Post'' and a number of Virginia newspapers denounced the ads as a "smear" and "dishonest."<ref name="FactCheck"/><ref name="WaPoDeath"/><ref>Editorial: "Death penalty demagoguery," ''[[The Roanoke Times]]'' (October 13, 2005).</ref> Kaine responded with an ad "in which he told voters that he opposes capital punishment but would take an oath and enforce the death penalty. In later polls, voters said they believed Kaine's response and were angered by Kilgore's negative ads."<ref name ="WP"/>

In the election, Kaine won by large margins in the Democratic strongholds such as [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]] and northern Virginia's inner suburbs (such as [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]] and [[Arlington, Virginia|Arlington]]), as well as in the Democratic-trending [[Fairfax County, Virginia|Fairfax County]].<ref name ="WP"/><ref name="Dao">James Dao, [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/09/us/democrat-wins-race-for-governor-in-virginia.html Democrat Wins Race for Governor in Virginia], ''The New York Times'' (November 9, 2005).</ref> Kaine also won Republican-leaning areas in Northern Virginia's outer suburbs, including [[Prince William County, Virginia|Prince William County]] and [[Loudoun County, Virginia|Loudoun County]], where George W. Bush had beat [[John Kerry]] in the [[United States presidential election in Virginia, 2004|previous year's presidential election]],<ref name="ShearKaineWins">Michael D. Shear, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/08/AR2005110800371_pf.html Democrat Kaine Wins in Virginia], ''The Washington Post'' (November 9, 2005).</ref> and performed "surprisingly well in Republican strongholds like [[Virginia Beach]] and [[Chesapeake, Virginia|Chesapeake]]."<ref name="Dao"/> Kaine also defeated Kilgore in the burgeoning Richmond suburbs.<ref name="ShearKaineWins"/> Kilgore led in [[southwest Virginia]] and in the [[Shenandoah Valley]].<ref name="ShearKaineWins"/>

===Tenure===
Kaine was sworn in as governor at the [[Capitol (Williamsburg, Virginia)|colonial Capitol]] at [[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]], on January 14, 2006, the first governor since [[Thomas Jefferson]] to be inaugurated there.<ref name="NGABio"/>

Kaine was chairman of the [[Southern Governors' Association]] from 2008 to 2009.<ref name="UVAGuide">[http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi00993.xml A Guide to the Governor Timothy M. Kaine Administration Electronic Files, Email, 2002–2010 (bulk 2006–2009): Biographical Information], [[Library of Virginia]] (Accession Number 44708)</ref>

====Democratic response to State of the Union address====
On January 31, 2006, Kaine gave the [[Democratic response to 2006 State of the Union address|Democratic response]] to President [[George W. Bush]]'s [[2006 State of the Union address]]. In it, he criticized the Bush administration's [[No Child Left Behind Act]] for "wreaking havoc on local school districts"; criticized congressional Republicans for cutting student loan programs; and condemned as "reckless" Bush's spending increases and [[Bush tax cuts|tax cuts]].<ref name="06DemResponse">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/31/AR2006013101246.html Transcript: Virginia Governor Tim Kaine's Response], [[Congressional Quarterly|CQ]] Transcriptions (reprinted by ''The Washington Post'') (January 31, 2006); see [https://www.c-span.org/video/?190900-3/state-union-response video of the response] via [[C-SPAN]].</ref> Kaine praised bipartisan initiatives in Virginia "to make record investments in education" and to improve veterans' access to veterans' benefits.<ref name="06DemResponse"/> He criticized the Bush administration's conduct of the [[Iraq War]] and treatment of U.S. soldiers, saying that "the American people were given inaccurate information about reasons for invading Iraq"; "our troops in Iraq were not given the best [[body armor]] or the best intelligence"; and "the administration wants to further reduce military and veterans' benefits."<ref name="06DemResponse"/>

====Energy, the environment, and conservation====
As governor, Kaine protected {{convert|400000|acre|km2}} of Virginia land from development, fulfilling a promise he made in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sean |last=Gorman |url=http://www.politifact.com/virginia/promises/macker-meter/promise/1161/preserve-400000-acres-open-space/ |title= Macker-Meter: Preserve 400,000 acres of open space |work=PolitiFact |date=June 1, 2015| quote= It's becoming a tradition for winning gubernatorial candidates to make campaign promises to preserve 400,000 acres from development. Tim Kaine did it in 2005 and state figures show he met his pledge.}}</ref><ref>[http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/clinfo Virginia Conservation Lands Database], [[Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation]] (accessed July 22, 2016) ("DCR was also responsible for tracking the progress of Former Governor Tim Kaine's 4-year, 400,000 acre Land Conservation Goal").</ref> His conservation efforts focused on [[conservation easement]]s (voluntary easements that preserve the private ownership of a piece of land while also permanently protecting it from development); a substantial Virginia land preservation tax credit encouraged easements.<ref name="WHSV">{{citation |url=http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/37839519.html |title= Kaine Announces Near Record Land Conservation |publisher= [[WHSV-TV]] |date= January 19, 2009 |access-date= July 22, 2016 |archive-date= April 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426143509/https://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/37839519.html |url-status= dead }}</ref> From 2004 to 2009, the [[Virginia Outdoors Foundation]] (a quasi-governmental entity set up in 1966 to preserve open land in the state) protected more land than it had in the previous 40 years, a fact Kaine touted as his term drew to a close.<ref name="WHSV"/>

As governor, Kaine established the Climate Change Commission, a bipartisan panel to study climate change issues.<ref name="WheelerClimateCmn">Lydia Wheeler, [http://pilotonline.com/inside-business/news/environmental-utilities/mcauliffe-reconvenes-climate-commission-tim-kaine-formed-the-group-in/article_51388a24-24f3-5289-aa61-d0d634eb7d5e.html McAuliffe reconvenes climate commission Tim Kaine formed the group in 2008 when he was governor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708070525/http://pilotonline.com/inside-business/news/environmental-utilities/mcauliffe-reconvenes-climate-commission-tim-kaine-formed-the-group-in/article_51388a24-24f3-5289-aa61-d0d634eb7d5e.html |date=July 8, 2016 }}, ''The Virginian-Pilot'' (July 3, 2014).</ref> The panel was shuttered under Kaine's Republican successor, Governor [[Robert F. McDonnell]], but revived (as the Governor's Climate Change and Resiliency Update Commission) under McDonnell's successor, Democratic Governor [[Terry McAuliffe]].<ref name="WheelerClimateCmn"/><ref>Jenna Portnoy, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/mcauliffe-sets-solar-energy-goal-for-va-government/2015/12/21/2da3ba86-a7ff-11e5-8058-480b572b4aae_story.html McAuliffe sets solar energy goal for Va. government], ''The Washington Post'' (December 21, 2015).</ref>

In 2008, Kaine supported a [[Fossil-fuel power station|coal-fired power plant]] project in [[Wise County, Virginia|Wise County]], clashing with environmentalists who opposed the project.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/29/AR2008032901844.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Kaine Says Coal-Burning Power Plant Is Necessary | first=Tim | last=Craig | date=March 30, 2008 | access-date=May 25, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=http://appvoices.org/2007/12/13/2138/|title=Wise County VA residents speak out against coal plant|website=Appalachian Voices|date=December 13, 2009}}</ref>

In 2009, Kaine expressed support for tighter restrictions on [[mountaintop removal coal mining]] imposed by the Obama administration.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=971|title=Statement of Governor Kaine on Tougher Restrictions on Mountaintop Mining Proposed by Obama Administration|publisher=Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia|date=June 8, 2009|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115143328/https://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=971|archive-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref>

====Healthcare and public health====
In October 2006, Kaine signed an [[Executive order (United States)|executive order]] [[Smoking ban|banning smoking]] in all government buildings and state-owned cars as of January 1, 2007.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shear|first1=Michael D.|title=Kaine Bans Smoking in Most Government Offices|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/26/AR2006102600820.html|access-date=May 4, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 27, 2006}}</ref> He signed legislation [[Smoking ban|banning smoking]] in restaurants and bars, with some exceptions, in March 2009, making Virginia the first Southern state to do so.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fiore |first1=Faye |title=For tobacco states, a change is in the air |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jan-03-la-na-tobacco3-2010jan03-story.html |access-date=May 3, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 3, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kumar|first1=Anita|title=Smoking Ban Signed as VA Democrats Take Aim at GOP Nominee|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/09/AR2009030900832.html|access-date=May 4, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 10, 2009}}</ref>

In 2007, the Republican-controlled [[Virginia General Assembly]] passed legislation, with "overwhelming bipartisan support", to require girls to receive the [[HPV vaccine]] (which immunizes recipients against [[Human papillomavirus|a virus]] that causes [[cervical cancer]]) before entering high school.<ref name="CraigOptOut">Tim Craig, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/27/AR2007022700771.html Kaine Wants Stronger Opt-Out for HPV Vaccine], ''The Washington Post'' (February 28, 2007).</ref><ref name="TimCraigSign">{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Craig |date=March 3, 2007 |title=Kaine Says He'll Sign Bill Making Shots Mandatory |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/02/AR2007030200117.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date= May 4, 2016}}</ref> Kaine expressed "some qualms" about the legislation and pushed for a strong opt-out provision,<ref name="CraigOptOut"/> ultimately signing a bill that included a provision allowing parents to opt out of the requirement without citing a reason.<ref name="TimCraigSign"/>

In 2007, Kaine secured increases in state funding for nursing in the [[Virginia General Assembly]] and announced a 10% salary increase for nursing faculty above the normal salary increase for state employees, plus additional funds for scholarships for [[Master of Science in Nursing|nursing master's programs]]. The initiatives were aimed at addressing a shortage of practicing nurses.<ref>Jane Ford, [https://www.news.virginia.edu/content/virginia-gov-timothy-kaine-announces-10-percent-increase-nursing-faculty-salaries Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine Announces 10 Percent Increase in Nursing Faculty Salaries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930132247/http://news.virginia.edu/content/virginia-gov-timothy-kaine-announces-10-percent-increase-nursing-faculty-salaries |date=September 30, 2015 }}, ''UVA Today'' ([[University of Virginia]]) (February 28, 2007).</ref>

====Virginia Tech shooting====
After the 2007 [[Virginia Tech shooting]], in which [[Seung-Hui Cho]] killed 32 people, Kaine appointed an eight-member Virginia Tech Review Panel,<ref name="VaTechReport">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/documents/vatechreport.pdf Mass Shootings at April 16, 2007: Report of the Review Panel Presented to Governor Kaine, Commonwealth of Virginia] (August 2007).</ref> chaired by retired [[Virginia State Police]] superintendent W. Gerald Massengill, to probe the event.<ref name="CraigReviewSet">Tim Craig, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/01/AR2007050101674.html Thorough Review Set Of Va. Tech], ''The Washington Post'' (May 2, 2007).</ref><ref>[http://www.remembrance.vt.edu/2007/archive/kaine.html Transcript of Gov. Tim Kaine's Convocation remarks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821080635/http://www.remembrance.vt.edu/2007/archive/kaine.html |date=August 21, 2016 }}, [[Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University]] (April 17, 2007).</ref> The commission members included specialists in psychology, law, forensics and higher education as well as former [[Secretary of Homeland Security]] [[Tom Ridge]].<ref name="CraigReviewSet"/> The commission first met in May 2007,<ref name="CraigReviewSet"/> and issued its findings and recommendations in August 2007.<ref name="VaTechReport"/> Among other recommendations, the panel proposed many [[mental health]] reforms. Based on the panel's recommendations, Kaine proposed $42 million of investment in mental health programs and reforms, included "boosting access to outpatient and emergency mental health services, increasing the number of case managers and improving monitoring of community-based providers."<ref>[http://wric.com/2007/12/14/kaine-announces-mental-health-changes/ Kaine Announces Mental Health Changes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728000216/http://wric.com/2007/12/14/kaine-announces-mental-health-changes/ |date=July 28, 2016 }}, Associated Press (December 14, 2007).</ref> In April 2007, Kaine signed an executive order instructing state agencies to step up efforts to block gun sales to people involuntarily committed to inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment centers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/30/AR2007043000556.html|title=Ban on Sale Of Guns to Mentally Ill Is Expanded|date=May 1, 2007|access-date=June 25, 2007|author=Tim Craig|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Kaine, who had been in [[Japan]] on a trade mission at the time of the shootings, received widespread praise for his quick return to the state and his handling of the issue.<ref name="alook">{{cite news|last=Vozzella|first=Laura|title=A look at the Virginia Senate candidates' records as governor|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/a-look-at-the-virginia-senate-candidates-records-as-governor/2012/11/01/7d3de83c-221a-11e2-bdfa-eebc58545bc7_story.html|access-date=November 8, 2012|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 2, 2012}}</ref>

====Budget and economy====
Among Kaine's greatest challenges as governor came during the [[2008 financial crisis]]; ''The Washington Post'' wrote that "perhaps his greatest success was keeping the state running despite [the crisis]."<ref name="alook"/> Amid the [[Great Recession]], unemployment in Virginia remained lower than the national average.<ref name="SchoenCNBC">John W. Schoen, [https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/21/possible-hillary-vp-pick-tim-kaine-brings-solid-economic-record.html Possible Hillary VP pick Tim Kaine brings solid economic record], CNBC (July 22, 2016).</ref> During Kaine's tenure as governor, the unemployment rate in Virginia rose from 3.2% to 7.4%, a smaller increase than the national rate, which rose from 4.7% to 9.9% during the same period.<ref name="SchoenCNBC" />

As governor, Kaine approved about $3.31 billion in [[general fund]] spending cuts, and after his term in office, the Virginia General Assembly adopted about $1.33 billion in additional budget cuts that Kaine had recommended, for a total of $4.64 billion in cuts.<ref>Warren Fiske, [http://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2012/oct/24/tim-kaine/tim-kaine-says-he-cut-5-billion-spending-governor/ Tim Kaine says he cut $5 billion in spending as governor], ''PolitiFact'' (October 24, 2012).</ref> ''The Washington Post'' wrote, "Unable to raise taxes and required by law to balance the budget, he was forced to make unpopular cuts that led to such things as shuttered highway rest stops and higher public university tuition."<ref name="alook"/> Virginia was one of three states to earn the highest grade in terms of management in a report by the nonpartisan Pew Center on the States.<ref name="GeigerBest">{{cite web|author=Jacob Geiger|url=http://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2011/apr/07/tim-kaine/tim-kaine-says-virginia-named-best-managed-state-b/|title=Tim Kaine says Virginia named best managed state, best for business while he was governor|work=PolitiFact|date=April 7, 2011}}</ref> Virginia took first place each year from 2006 to 2009 in ''Forbes'' magazine's "Best States For Business" rankings.<ref name="GeigerBest" />

====Infrastructure and transportation====
[[File:Kaine Warner.png|thumb|right|Governor Kaine with U.S. senators [[John Warner]] and [[George Allen (U.S. politician)|George Allen]]]]
In July 2007, during the debate on the [[Silver Line (Washington Metro)|Silver Line]] of the [[Washington Metro]] through [[Tysons Corner, Virginia|Tysons Corner]], Kaine supported an elevated track solution rather than a tunnel, citing costs and potential delays that would put federal funding at risk.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/06/AR2006090601340.html |title=No Tunnel For Tysons, Kaine Says |date=September 7, 2006|access-date=May 4, 2016|first=Alec |last=MacGillis |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

In 2006, Kaine pressed the general assembly to support a legislative package to ease severe [[traffic congestion]] by spending about $1 billion annually for [[highway construction]], repairs to aging roads, [[mass transit]], and other transportation projects. The money would be raised through increases in taxes and fees that would have raised an estimated $4 billion in revenue over four years.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sean Gorman|url=http://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2016/jul/28/donald-trump/donald-trump-says-tim-kaine-proposed-4-billion-tax/|title=Donald Trump says Tim Kaine proposed $4 billion tax increase during first week as governor|work=PolitiFact|date=July 28, 2016|quote=Six days after taking office in January 2006, Kaine proposed an unsuccessful measure to raise $1 billion a year to deal with long-standing transportation woes. Trump's campaign points to a next-day article in The Washington Post that said the plan would generate close to $4 billion by the time Kaine's term ended in 2010. Kaine wanted to raise taxes on auto insurance and vehicle purchases in addition to increasing car registration fees.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Robert Farley|url=http://www.factcheck.org/2016/08/kaine-vs-pence-on-unemployment/|title=Kaine vs. Pence on Unemployment|work=FactCheck.org|publisher=Annenberg Public Policy Center|date=August 5, 2016|quote=Not long after taking office, Kaine proposed higher taxes on auto insurance and purchases, as well as higher fees for car registration and stiffer fines for driving offenses. ''The Washington Post'' estimated the higher taxes and fees would raise revenue of $1 billion a year, or $4 billion total over the four years of Kaine's term. The extra money would have been earmarked to ease the state's transportation woes — going to mass transit, highway construction and road projects.}}</ref><ref>Michael D. Shear & Rosalind S. Helderman, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/20/AR2006012000884_pf.html Va. Leaders Push Increase In Taxes, Fees To Aid Roads], ''The Washington Post'' (January 21, 2006): "Kaine ... and a bipartisan group of state senators offered competing proposals Friday to raise taxes and fees, with each plan generating close to $4 billion by 2010, to relieve the state's congested transportation network. ... Kaine is seeking higher taxes on auto insurance and the purchase of a car as well as stiffer fees for car registration and driving offenses. With nearly $1 billion more to spend each year, the new governor said, he can double the state's support for mass transit, increase highway construction by 90 percent and revive stalled road projects. The money would help build a connected network of carpool or express toll lanes on all of Northern Virginia's major highways, buy rail cars for Virginia Railway Express and Metro, widen Interstates 95 and 66, and fix traffic bottlenecks."</ref> The Democratic-controlled Senate supported the plan, but the Republican-controlled House was unwilling to approve the taxes necessary to carry out the project, and the effort failed even after a [[special session]] of the legislature was called over the stalemate.<ref name="ShearTrafficBudget">Michael D. Shear, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/28/AR2006032801767_pf.html Kaine Tries to Steer Support for Traffic Budget], ''The Washington Post'' (March 29, 2006).</ref><ref>Corey Dade, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121755102020902911#CAMPLIF Kaine's Versatile Appeal Gives Him a Shot to Run With Obama], ''The Wall Street Journal'' (August 1, 2008).</ref><ref>[http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2006/03/13/66372.htm Va. Gov. Kaine Calls Special Session to Address Transportation Funding], ''Insurance Journal'' (March 13, 2006).</ref>

In 2007, Republicans in the General Assembly passed their own transportation-funding bill. Rather than a statewide tax increase to finance the transportation improvements, as Kaine and most legislative Democrats favored, the Republican bill called for transportation funding "to come from borrowing $2.5 billion and paying the debt costs out of the general fund"; authorized local tax increase in Northern Virginia; increased fees and taxes on rental cars, commercial real estate, and hotels; and increased [[traffic infraction]] fines and driver's licenses fees.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Michael D. |last1=Shear |first2= Tim |last2=Craig |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/23/AR2007022301367.html |title= Va. GOP Lawmakers Hammer Out Transportation Bill |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 24, 2007}}</ref><ref name="ShearRoadsBill">{{cite news|first1=Michael D. |last1=Shear |first2= Amy |last2=Gardner |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/24/AR2007022400750_pf.html |title= Va. House, Senate Approve Roads Bill |newspaper = The Washington Post |date=February 25, 2007}}</ref>

Kaine and most legislative Democrats opposed the Republican legislation, calling it inadequate to address traffic congestion and arguing that the withdrawal of funds from the general fund would affect core services such as health care, law enforcement, and education.<ref name="ShearRoadsBill"/><ref>Michael D. Shear, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/22/AR2007022201205.html Kaine Warns Lawmakers About Transit Bill], ''The Washington Post'' (February 23, 2007).</ref> Kaine ultimately signed a bill with amendments reflecting "concerns by local government officials and a bipartisan group of lawmakers who were concerned that the plan took too much money from the state's general fund."<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040402579.html Final Endorsement of Road Funding, Albeit With Tepid Praise and Regret], ''The Washington Post'' (April 5, 2007).</ref>

====Education====
Under Kaine, participation in Virginia in [[early childhood education]] increased by 40.2% due to his expansion of the Virginia Preschool Initiative, which makes pre-kindergarten more accessible to four-year-olds from households close to the poverty line.<ref name="MadsenECE">{{cite web|author=Nancy Madsen|title=Tim Kaine says pre-kindergarten program expanded 40 percent when he was governor|url=http://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2012/may/11/tim-kaine/tim-kaine-says-pre-kinderdarten-program-expanded-4/|work=PolitiFact|date=May 11, 2012}}</ref> Kaine sought increases to the budget for preschool programs every year during his term as governor.<ref name="MadsenECE"/> Virginia was rated as the best state to raise a child in a 2007 report by ''[[Education Week]]'' and the Pew Center on the States.<ref name="GeigerBest" />

===Cabinet and appointments===
Kaine made the following appointments to his [[Virginia Governor's Cabinet]]:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi00982.xml |title=A Guide to the Governor Timothy M. Kaine, Executive Office-Chief of Staff, Records, 2006–2009 |publisher= [[Library of Virginia]]}}</ref>
* Chief of Staff: William Leighty (2006–2007), Wayne Turnage (2007–2010)
* [[Virginia Secretary of Administration|Secretary of Administration]]: [[Viola Baskerville]] (2006–2010)
* [[Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry|Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry]]: [[Robert Bloxom]] (2006–2010)
* [[Virginia Secretary of Commerce|Secretary of Commerce and Trade]]: [[Patrick Gottschalk]] (2006–2010)
* [[Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia|Secretary of the Commonwealth]]: [[Katherine Hanley]] (2006–2010)
* [[Virginia Secretary of Education|Secretary of Education]]: [[Thomas R. Morris]] (2006–2010)
* [[Virginia Secretary of Finance|Secretary of Finance]]: [[Jody Wagner]] (2006–2008), [[Ric Brown]] (2008–2010)
* [[Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources|Secretary of Health and Human Resources]]: [[Marilyn Tavenner]] (2006–2010)
* [[Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources|Secretary of Natural Resources]]: [[Preston Bryant]] (2006–2010)
* [[Virginia Secretary of Public Safety|Secretary of Public Safety]]: [[John W. Marshall]] (2006–2010)
* [[Virginia Secretary of Technology|Secretary of Technology]]: [[Aneesh Chopra]] (2006–2009), [[Leonard Pomata]] (2009–2010)
* [[Virginia Secretary of Transportation|Secretary of Transportation]]: [[Pierce Homer]] (2006–2010)
* Counselor to the Governor: Lawrence Roberts (2006–2009)
* Counselor to the Governor: Mark Rubin (2009–2010)
* Assistant for Commonwealth Preparedness: Robert P. Crouch (2006–2010)
* Senior Advisor for Workforce: Daniel G. LeBlanc (2006–2010)

As governor, Kaine made a number of appointments to the [[Courts of Virginia|Virginia state courts]]. He made two appointments{{efn|The [[Virginia Constitution]] gives the [[Virginia General Assembly]] the power to appoint state judges, but gives the governor of Virginia to power to make judicial appointments [[Recess appointment|when the General Assembly is out of session]].<ref name="MarkonSniperJudge"/><ref name="Petska"/> Once the General Assembly convenes, it has thirty days to confirm the appointments; if it does not, the seats become vacant.<ref>Julian Walker & Michelle Washington, [http://pilotonline.com/news/government/politics/virginia/norfolk-s-judge-griffith-won-t-be-reappointed/article_cd0f707e-44c1-58aa-b8e8-a78b5b29ed53.html Norfolk's Judge Griffith won't be reappointed] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821205355/http://pilotonline.com/news/government/politics/virginia/norfolk-s-judge-griffith-won-t-be-reappointed/article_cd0f707e-44c1-58aa-b8e8-a78b5b29ed53.html |date=August 21, 2016 }}, ''Pilot-Virginian'' (March 11, 2008).</ref> The General Assembly typically confirms the governor's choices, as it did with both of Kaine's appointments.<ref name="MarkonSniperJudge"/><ref name="Petska"/>}} to the [[Supreme Court of Virginia]],<ref name="Petska">Alicia Petska, [http://www.roanoke.com/news/local/kaine-plan-to-oust-va-supreme-court-appointee-is-worrisome/article_e9af7064-dc60-53ab-b4bc-fc99c724f47a.html Kaine: Plan to oust Va. Supreme Court appointee is worrisome], ''Roanoke Times'' (August 9, 2015)</ref> naming [[Chesapeake, Virginia|Chesapeake]] circuit judge [[S. Bernard Goodwyn]] to the Court in 2007<ref name="WalkerConfirm">{{cite news |first=Julian |last=Walker |url=http://pilotonline.com/news/government/politics/virginia/lawmakers-confirm-judges-appointments/article_75c5a1c1-7df8-5e73-acbc-2e59614970ce.html |title=Lawmakers confirm judges' appointments |work=Virginian-Pilot |date=February 9, 2008 |access-date=July 22, 2016 |archive-date=July 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727022638/http://pilotonline.com/news/government/politics/virginia/lawmakers-confirm-judges-appointments/article_75c5a1c1-7df8-5e73-acbc-2e59614970ce.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Court of Appeals of Virginia|Virginia Court of Appeals]] Judge [[LeRoy F. Millette Jr.]] in 2008.<ref name="MarkonSniperJudge">Jerry Markon, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/27/AR2008082700037.html Sniper Judge Takes Seat on Virginia Supreme Court], ''The Washington Post'' (August 28, 2008).</ref>{{Efn|Millette was formerly a [[Prince William County, Virginia|Prince William County]] Circuit Judge whom Kaine had previously elevated to the [[Court of Appeals of Virginia]] via an interim appointment.  Nine months later, Kaine elevated Millette to the Supreme Court via an interim appointment.<ref name="MarkonSniperJudge"/><ref name="Petska"/>}}

On September 27, 2007, just weeks after appointing [[Esam Omeish]] to the 20-member Virginia Commission on Immigration, Kaine learned that Omeish had made videos [[Palestinian genocide accusation|accusing Israel of genocide]] and calling for President Bush's impeachment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/virginia-governor-tim-kaine-accepts-resignation-of-controversial-appointee |title=Virginia Governor Tim Kaine Accepts Resignation of Controversial Appointee | work=Fox News Channel |date= September 27, 2007 |access-date= July 24, 2016}}</ref> He immediately requested and received Omeish's resignation and said that [[background check]]s would be more thorough in the future.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21016079 |title=Immigration official resigns after 'jihad' remark|date=September 27, 2007| access-date=July 24, 2016|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

==Democratic National Committee chair (2009–2011)==
In the [[2009 Democratic National Committee chairmanship election]] on January 21, 2009, Kaine was elected chair of the [[Democratic National Committee]].<ref name="CSPAN 2009">{{Cite web |date=January 21, 2009 |title=Democratic National Committee Winter Meeting |website=c-span.org |publisher=[[C-SPAN]] |url=https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/democratic-national-committee-winter-meeting/200545}}</ref><ref name="NBC 2009">{{cite web |title=DNC formally elects Kaine chairman |website=NBC News |date=January 21, 2009 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28776345 |access-date=May 2, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=85387 | access-date = July 31, 2016 | publisher = The American Presidency Project | first = Barack | last = Obama | title = Remarks Announcing the Appointment of Tim Kaine as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee | archive-date = August 18, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818173508/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=85387 | url-status = dead }}</ref>{{efn|Introducing Kaine, President Obama refers repeatedly to the "chairman" (not "chair"), of the Democratic National Committee.}} He had turned down the position the first time it was offered to him, expressing misgivings about accepting a partisan position,<ref name="SchwartzmanNiceGuy"/> but took the job at Obama's request.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tim Kaine and the Future of Obama For America|author=Chris Cillizza|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/white-house/kaine-and-the-future-of-obama.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160725032935/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/white-house/kaine-and-the-future-of-obama.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 25, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 5, 2009|access-date=April 26, 2016}}</ref> He served as chair part-time while continuing to serve as governor of Virginia.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/why-tim-kaine-so-low-key-dnc-chair-80993|title=Why Is Tim Kaine So Low-Key as DNC Chair?|last=Bailey|first=Holly|date=October 20, 2009|newspaper=Newsweek|access-date=October 10, 2016}}</ref> Kaine's main goals as DNC chair "were protecting the party's seats in Congress during the [[United States elections, 2010|2010 midterms]] and integrating the president's campaign apparatus, [[Organizing for America]], and its technological acumen into the party machinery."<ref name="Caldwell">Patrick Caldwell, [https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/07/tim-kaine-vice-president-hillary-clinton-virginia-senate He's No One's Idea of a Liberal Hero, But Tim Kaine Is a Natural Fit for Clinton: Behind the Virginia senator's moderate reputation is a history of quiet progressive activism], ''Mother Jones'' (July 7, 2016).</ref> In the 2010 midterms, the DNC under Kaine's leadership outraised the [[Republican National Committee]] (RNC) by $30 million,<ref name="Caldwell"/> but Democrats [[United States House of Representatives elections, 2010|lost control of the House]] and [[United States Senate election, 2010|lost seats in the Senate]] amid the [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party backlash]]. Kaine was not generally blamed for the losses.<ref name="Caldwell"/>

Kaine kept a low profile in the position in comparison to his counterpart, RNC chairman [[Michael Steele]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/10/tim-kaine-nice-guy-in-a-nasty-time-044156|title=Tim Kaine: Nice guy in a nasty time|last=Smith|first=Ben|date=October 26, 2016|newspaper=POLITICO|access-date=October 10, 2016}}</ref> He focused more on fundraising and maintaining party unity than on attacking political opponents.<ref name=":2" />

In February 2011, after Kaine spoke to union leaders in [[Madison (town), Wisconsin|Madison]], Organizing for America got involved in [[2011 Wisconsin Act 10|Wisconsin's budget battle]] and opposed Republican-sponsored anti-union legislation. It made phone calls, sent emails, and distributed messages on [[Facebook]] and [[Twitter]] to build crowds for rallies.<ref name="anti-union">{{cite news |first1=Brady |last1=Dennis |first2=Peter |last2=Wallsten |date=February 18, 2011 |title=Obama joins Wisconsin's budget battle, opposing Republican anti-union bill |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/17/AR2011021707325.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=March 27, 2012 }}</ref>

After completing his term as governor in January 2010, Kaine taught part-time at the [[University of Richmond]], teaching a course in spring 2010 at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies and another in fall 2010 at the [[University of Richmond School of Law]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 27, 2010 |title=Governor Kaine to Teach at Law School |url=http://news.richmond.edu/features/article/-/1152/governor-kaine-to-teach-at-law-school-kaine-to-teach-at-the-university-of-richmond-school-of-law-in-the-fall-of-2010.html |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |access-date=June 18, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818192052/http://news.richmond.edu/features/article/-/1152/governor-kaine-to-teach-at-law-school-kaine-to-teach-at-the-university-of-richmond-school-of-law-in-the-fall-of-2010.html |website=University of Richmond}}</ref> He said he had chosen to teach at a private university rather than a public university "because it would not have been right for a sitting governor to be seeking employment at an institution when he writes the budget and appoints the board of the institution."<ref name="TalkGov">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2010/01/11/DI2010011102408.html |title=Talk with Gov. Tim Kaine |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 13, 2010}}</ref>

==U.S. Senate (2013–present)==
===Elections===

==== 2012 ====
{{main|2012 United States Senate election in Virginia}}
[[File:VA Annandale VA Labor Walk (8124858323).jpg|thumb|right|Tim Kaine and supporters, October 20, 2012]][[File:Tim Kaine, official 113th Congress photo portrait.jpg|thumb|left|Kaine's First Senate Portrait in 2013|150x150px]]
After Senator [[Jim Webb]]'s decision not to seek reelection, Kaine announced on April 5, 2011, that he would run for Webb's seat. He was initially reluctant to return to public office, but Webb, Senator Mark Warner, and other Virginia Democrats saw Kaine as the strongest potential Democratic candidate and convinced him to run.<ref name="Convictions"/> Kaine named Lawrence Roberts as his campaign chairman.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2016/07/25/Kaine-provides-Clinton-ticket-with-more-lobbying-fundraising-ties/5991469437503/ |title=Kaine provides Clinton ticket with more lobbying, fundraising ties |publisher=UPI.com |date=July 25, 2016 |access-date=May 31, 2020}}</ref> Mike Henry was chosen as his campaign manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/Tim-Kaine-Mike-Henry-Campaign-Manager-2012-207100-1.html|title=Mike Henry Returns to Va. Politics to Run Kaine Campaign | last=Trygstad |first=Kyle |date=July 7, 2011|work=Roll Call|access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref> Kaine filmed announcement videos in [[English language|English]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Cillizza |first=Chris |date=April 5, 2011 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/tim-kaine-announces-for-senate-in-virginia/2011/04/05/AFPgp0jC_blog.html |title=Tim Kaine announces for Senate in Virginia |newspaper=The Washington Post | access-date = April 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>O'Brien, Michael (April 5, 2011)  [https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/87656-kaine-announcement-launches-premier-senate-race-of-2012/ "Tim Kaine launches Virginia Senate bid"], ''The Hill''. Retrieved April 5, 2011.</ref> and was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/kaine-hits-the-road-to-tout-economic-plan/2012/04/04/gIQAgUoDwS_story.html "Kaine hits the road to tout economic plan"], ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved April 5, 2012.</ref> He defeated former senator and governor [[George Allen (U.S. politician)|George Allen]] in the general election.<ref name="2012 Races">{{cite news|title=Republicans fight to reclaim the Senate majority: 2012 races to watch|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/republicans-fight-reclaim-senate-majority-2012-races-watch/story?id=16474470&page=3|newspaper=ABC|date=June 1, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Convictions">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/tim-kaines-moral-convictions-and-political-ambitions/2012/10/18/38d473ba-0996-11e2-858a-5311df86ab04_story.html |title=Tim Kaine's convictions and ambitions |date=October 18, 2012|newspaper=The Washington Post|author=Hendrix, Steve}}</ref>

==== 2018 ====
{{Main|2018 United States Senate election in Virginia}}[[File:Tim Kaine 116th official portrait.jpg|thumb|right|Kaine's Second Senate Portrait in 2019|150x150px]]
After the 2016 election, Kaine said he would run for reelection to the Senate in 2018. He expressed his desire to emulate [[John Warner]], who represented Virginia in the Senate for 30 years.<ref name="nolan">{{cite news |last=Nolan |first=Jim |date=November 17, 2016 |title=Tim Kaine says he won't run for president in 2020 |newspaper=[[Richmond Times-Dispatch]] |url=http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/article_cd9f08c2-9594-585d-a558-b4b7bbc55ced.html}}</ref> He added that he would not run for president or vice president in the future.<ref name="nolan" />

In his 2018 Senate campaign against Republican nominee and Trump ally [[Corey Stewart]], Kaine had the endorsement of ''[[The Richmond Times-Dispatch]]'', marking the first time in decades the paper had endorsed a Democrat.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Folley |first1=Aris |date=October 27, 2018 |title=Virginia paper backs Kaine over Trump ally Corey Stewart |language=en |work=The Hill |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/413483-virginia-paper-backs-kaine-over-trump-ally-cory-stewart/amp/ |access-date=October 28, 2018 |quote=The Virginia newspaper's endorsement marks the first time in decades the publication has backed a Democrat for statewide office, according to its website.}}</ref>

After taking an early lead in his race against Stewart, Kaine worked to support other Democrats who, in seven districts, were challenging incumbent Republicans for House seats.<ref>{{cite web |author=Antonio Olivo |date=September 8, 2018 |title=Kaine, far ahead in his Senate race, tries to expand the map in Virginia for other Democrats |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/kaine-far-ahead-in-his-senate-race-tries-to-expand-the-map-in-virginia-for-other-democrats/2018/09/08/a861a608-ac83-11e8-8a0c-70b618c98d3c_story.html |access-date=November 12, 2018 |quote=Kaine, far ahead in campaign cash and poll numbers over Stewart, has traveled this summer to all seven House districts where Democratic challengers — five of them first-time candidates — are taking on a Republican incumbent. |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Kaine defeated Stewart by more than 15 points.<ref name="wtop2018">{{cite web |date=November 6, 2018 |title=2018 Virginia General Election Results |url=https://wtop.com/local-politics-elections-news/2018/11/2018-virginia-general-election-results/ |access-date=November 12, 2018 |publisher=WTOP |quote=Tim Kaine (D) 15.71 point margin}}</ref>

==== 2024 ====
{{Main|2024 United States Senate election in Virginia}}
On January 20, 2023, Kaine announced his candidacy for reelection in 2024 at a press conference in [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]]. Members of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] were relieved by the news, as they believed his retirement would have made the race much more competitive.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Zaslav |first1=Ali |last2=Barrett |first2=Ted |last3=Foran |first3=Clare |date=January 20, 2023 |title=Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine announces he's running for reelection in 2024 |work=[[CNN]] |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/20/politics/tim-kaine-running-reelection/index.html |access-date=January 20, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Manchester |first=Julia |date=January 20, 2023 |title=Sen. Tim Kaine says he will run for reelection in Virginia |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3821058-sen-tim-kaine-says-he-will-run-for-reelection-in-virginia/ |access-date=January 20, 2023}}</ref> Kaine defeated Republican [[Hung Cao]] in the general election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fox5dc.com/news/kaine-wins-re-election-virginia-senate|title=Kaine wins re-election for Virginia Senate|first=Elissa|last=Salamy|publisher=Fox 5 Washington D.C.|date=November 5, 2024|accessdate=November 20, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4972050-tim-kaine-wins-reelection-virginia/|title=Tim Kaine wins reelection in Virginia|first=Julia|last=Manchester|work=The Hill|date=November 5, 2024|accessdate=November 20, 2024}}</ref>

Kaine made a surprise appearance on the November 2, 2024, episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. Guest host [[John Mulaney]] portrayed a game show contestant who is tasked with naming people who walk on screen; he fails to give Kaine's name and is subsequently ridiculed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moreno |first1=Sabrina |title=Tim Kaine makes surprise SNL appearance |url=https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/11/03/tim-kaine-saturday-night-live-john-mulaney |work=Axios |date=November 3, 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Littleton |first1=Cynthia |title=Tim Kaine Makes Surprise Appearance in 'SNL' Sketch With John Mulaney; Sarah Sherman Plays Margaret Atwood |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/tim-kaine-surprise-snl-john-mulaney-1236198656/ |work=Variety |date=November 3, 2024}}</ref>

===Tenure===
Kaine was sworn in on January 3, 2013, reuniting him with [[Mark Warner]], the senior senator. Kaine was lieutenant governor when Warner was governor of Virginia.

On June 11, 2013, Kaine delivered a speech on the Senate floor in support of the bipartisan "[[Gang of Eight (immigration)|Gang of Eight]]" immigration bill. The speech was entirely in Spanish, marking the first time a senator had ever made a speech on the Senate floor in a language other than English.<ref>{{cite news|last=Peralta|first=Eyder|title=With A Speech In Spanish, Tim Kaine Makes Senate History|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/12/191010737/with-a-speech-in-spanish-tim-kaine-makes-senate-history|access-date=June 12, 2013|publisher=NPR|date=June 13, 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Tim Kaine 2016.jpg|thumb|left|Kaine speaking in 2016]]
As a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Kaine pushed for a new congressional authorization of military force for the [[American-led intervention in Syria|American operations]] against [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] (ISIL).<ref name="jherb">{{cite news|last1=Herb|first1=Jeremy|title=How Kaine rehabbed his VP resume|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/clinton-vp-pick-kaine-experience-226035|access-date=July 23, 2016|newspaper=Politico|date=July 22, 2016}}</ref> Kaine supported the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]] with [[Iran]], though he also helped Republican senator [[Bob Corker]] hold a vote on a resolution of disapproval of the deal.<ref name="jherb"/> Kaine has taken several trips throughout the [[Middle East]], meeting with the leaders of states such as Turkey and Israel.<ref name="jherb"/>

While in the Senate, Kaine has continued to teach part-time at the [[University of Richmond]], receiving a salary of $16,000 per year.<ref>[http://pfds.opensecrets.org/N00033177_2014_A.pdf United States Senate Financial Disclosures: Annual Report for Calendar 2013 (Amendment 1): The Honorable Timothy M. Kaine (Kaine, Tim)] (filed July 22, 2015).</ref>

Kaine has voted with his party more than 90% of the time.<ref name=voxpick>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2016/7/22/12244762/tim-kaine-hillary-clinton-vice-president-running-mate-announcement|title=Tim Kaine is Clinton's VP pick, a mostly safe choice that will piss off pro-choice activists|last=Matthews|first=Dylan|date=July 23, 2016|website=Vox|access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Tim_Kaine#Analysis|title=Tim Kaine – Ballotpedia|access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref> According to ''The Washington Post'', Kaine has "crafted a largely progressive record as a senator."<ref name=GearanLiberals/> He reportedly has good relations with both Democratic and Republican senators.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/kaine-gop-buds-226071|title=Tim Kaine's Republican fan club|website=[[Politico]]|access-date=July 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wbur.org/npr/487050100/hillary-clinton-picks-tim-kaine-as-her-vice-presidential-running-mate|title=Hillary Clinton Picks Tim Kaine As Her Vice Presidential Running Mate|date=July 22, 2016 |publisher=[[WBUR]]|access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/288953-gop-senators-praise-kaine/|title=Vulnerable GOP senators praise Kaine|last=Firozi|first=Paulina|newspaper=The Hill|date=July 23, 2016|access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref>

During the 2016 vice-presidential campaign, Kaine frequently criticized Donald Trump, saying that Trump "as commander-in-chief scares me to death" and had a "bizarre fascination with strongmen and authoritarian leaders".<ref name="He">Alan He, [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/tim-kaine-says-trump-has-authoritarian-tendencies/ Tim Kaine says Trump has "authoritarian tendencies"], CBS News (February 7, 2017).</ref> In 2017, after Trump took office, Kaine continued to criticize his "authoritarian tendencies", citing his attacks on media, judges, and peaceful protesters.<ref name="He"/> At an event at [[George Mason University]], Kaine said that with Trump in office, Americans "are in a 'living experiment' to see whether or not the Constitution still works to check executive power."<ref>Niels Lesniewski, [http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/tim-kaine-trumps-presidency-tests-power-constitution#sthash.le3I4fDO.dpuf Tim Kaine on the Constitution's '230-Year Checkup'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414161806/https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/tim-kaine-trumps-presidency-tests-power-constitution#sthash.le3I4fDO.dpuf |date=April 14, 2019 }}, ''Roll Call'' (February 14, 2017).</ref>

In February 2017, Kaine met with [[Pope Francis]] at a general audience at the [[Vatican City|Vatican]]. Kaine also met with the [[Jesuit Refugee Service]] to discuss refugees and met with Vatican officials to discuss Latin American issues.<ref>Max Greenwood, [https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/320742-tim-kaine-discusses-refugee-crisis-with-pope-francis-during/ Kaine discusses refugee crisis with Pope Francis during Vatican visit], ''The Hill'' (February 22, 2017).</ref><ref name="WTKR">[http://wtkr.com/2017/02/22/sen-tim-kaine-meets-pope-francis-in-vatican-city/ Sen. Tim Kaine meets Pope Francis in Vatican City], WTKR (February 23, 2017).</ref> The same month, Kaine delivered an address, "The [[Truman Doctrine]] at 70", at London's [[Chatham House]].<ref name="WTKR"/><ref>[https://www.chathamhouse.org/event/truman-doctrine-70 The Truman Doctrine at 70] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509031528/https://www.chathamhouse.org/event/truman-doctrine-70 |date=May 9, 2019 }}, Royal Institute of International Affairs (February 24, 2017).</ref>

===Committee assignments===
* [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]]
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities|Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities]]
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support|Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support]] (chair)
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower|Subcommittee on Seapower]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Committee on Foreign Relations]]
** [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy|Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy]]
** [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, and Bilateral International Development|Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, and Bilateral International Development]]
** [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues|Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues]] (chair)
* [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions|Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions]]
** [[United States Senate Health Subcommittee on Children and Families|Subcommittee on Children and Families]]
** [[United States Senate Health Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security|Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on the Budget|Committee on the Budget]]

=== Caucuses ===
In January 2014, Kaine and Senator [[Rob Portman]] established the bipartisan Senate Career and Technical Education Caucus (CTE Caucus), which focuses on [[vocational education]] and [[technical education]].<ref>[http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-portman-announce-career-and-technical-education-caucus Kaine, Portman Announce Career & Technical Education Caucus] (press release), Office of U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (January 30, 2014).</ref> Kaine and Portman co-chair the caucus.<ref>[http://www.acteonline.org/caucus/ Policy and Advocacy: House/Senate CTE Caucus] (accessed July 22, 2016).</ref><ref name="HerbPartyLine">Jeremy Herb, [https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/tim-kaine-clinton-vp-policy-226036 Kaine on the issues: Not always taking the party line], ''Politico'' (July 23, 2016).</ref> In 2014, Kaine and Portman introduced the CTE Excellence and Equity Act to the Senate; the legislation would provide $500 million in federal funding, distributed by competitive grants, to [[high school]]s to further CTE programs.<ref name="NolanCTE">Jim Nolan, [http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/article_445d6173-b897-5463-b3e4-700f49cf1aa7.html Kaine to introduce legislation on high school career and technical education], ''Richmond Times-Dispatch'' (March 16, 2016).</ref> The legislation, introduced as an amendment to the [[Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act|Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006]], would promote [[apprenticeship]]s and similar initiatives.<ref name="NolanCTE" /> Kaine and Portman introduced similar legislation, the Educating Tomorrow's Workforce Act, in 2017.<ref>[http://augustafreepress.com/kaine-continues-career-technical-education-push-new-bill/ Kaine continues career, technical education push with new bill], ''Augusta Free Press'' (March 15, 2017).</ref>

==Vice presidential candidacy==
===2008 speculation===
{{Main|2008 United States presidential election}}
{{See also|2008 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection}}
Kaine announced his support for [[Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign|Barack Obama's presidential bid]] in February 2007. It was maintained that Kaine's endorsement was the first from a statewide elected official outside of [[Illinois]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkQ04Tk7dTk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/CkQ04Tk7dTk| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Gov. Tim Kaine Supports Barack Obama|last=BarackObamadotcom|date=February 9, 2008|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Because Kaine was a relatively popular governor of a Southern state, there was media speculation that he was a potential nominee for [[Vice President of the United States|vice president]].<ref name="APVeepstakes08">{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna26336195 |title=Sources: Bayh, Kaine out of Obama's VP race – Politics|date=August 22, 2008|agency=Associated Press|access-date=October 2, 2010}}</ref> Obama had supported Kaine in his campaign for governor, saying, "Tim Kaine has a message of fiscal responsibility and generosity of spirit. That kind of message can sell anywhere."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/03/vetting-obamas-man/ |title=Vetting Obama's 'man' |first = Christina | last = Bellantoni |work=[[The Washington Times]] |date=August 3, 2008}}</ref> On July 28, 2008, [[Politico]] reported that Kaine was "very, very high" on Obama's shortlist for vice president,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2008/07/kaine-very-very-high-on-vp-shortlist-012115 |title=Kaine very high on Obama's short VP list |first1=Ben|last1=Smith|first2=Amie|last2=Parnes|publisher=Politico |access-date =July 28, 2008}}</ref> a list that also included Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] of New York, Governor [[Kathleen Sebelius]] of Kansas, Senator [[Evan Bayh]] of Indiana, and Senator [[Joe Biden]] of Delaware.<ref>{{cite news| title= Running Mates|url=http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/candidates/vice-presidents.html | work=The New York Times | access-date=May 25, 2010}}</ref> Obama ultimately selected Biden.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/23/biden.democrat.vp.candidate/index.html | publisher=CNN | title=Obama introduces Biden as running mate | date=August 23, 2008 | access-date=May 25, 2010}}</ref> It was later reported that Obama told Kaine, in breaking the news to him, "You are the pick of my heart, but Joe [Biden] is the pick of my head".<ref>{{cite news|author=Glenn Thrush |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/16/us/politics/biden-obama-history.html |title=Obama and Biden's Relationship Looks Rosy. It Wasn't Always That Simple.  |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 16, 2019 |access-date=May 31, 2020}}</ref> Obama later wrote that he had ultimately narrowed down the choice for his running mate to Kaine and Biden. He said, "At the time, I was much closer to Tim",<ref name="ObamaPLp162">{{cite book |last1=Obama |first1=Barack |title=A Promised Land |date=2020 |publisher=Viking |location=Great Britain |isbn=978-0-241-49151-5 |page=162}}</ref> but Obama and his advisers [[David Axelrod (political consultant)|David Axelrod]] and [[David Plouffe]] wondered whether voters would accept a ticket of "two relatively young, inexperienced, and liberal civil rights attorneys" and Obama felt the contrast between him and Biden was a strength, and that Biden's age and experience would reassure voters concerned that Obama was too young to be president.<ref name="ObamaPLpp164-5">{{cite book |last1=Obama |first1=Barack |title=A Promised Land |date=2020 |publisher=Viking |location=Great Britain |isbn=978-0-241-49151-5 |pages=164–165}}</ref>

===2016 campaign===
{{Main|2016 United States presidential election}}
{{See also|Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign|2016 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection}}
[[File:Clinton Kaine.svg|thumb|Clinton/Kaine logo]]
[[File:Tim Kaine at Clinton Kaine rally Aug 2016 1.jpg|right|thumb|Kaine at a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, August 2016.]]
[[File:Tim Kaine by Gage Skidmore.jpg|right|thumb|Kaine speaking at a campaign event in Phoenix, Arizona in November 2016.]]
Kaine endorsed [[Hillary Clinton]] for president in 2016 and campaigned actively for her in seven states during the primaries. He had been the subject of considerable speculation as a possible running mate for her, with several news reports indicating that he was at or near the top of Clinton's list of people under consideration, alongside figures such as [[Elizabeth Warren]] and [[Julian Castro]].<ref name="politico.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/kaine-rises-to-top-of-clintons-veep-list-224702 |title=Sources: Kaine rises to top of Clinton's veep list|first1=Annie|last1=Karni|first2=Gabriel|last2=Debenedetti|publisher=Politico|date=June 23, 2016|access-date=June 23, 2016}}</ref><ref name="jzeleny">{{cite news|last1=Zeleny|first1=Jeff|last2=Merica|first2=Dan|title=Clinton closing in on running mate search|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/21/politics/hillary-clinton-vice-president-search/|access-date=June 21, 2016|publisher=CNN|date=June 21, 2016}}</ref>

The ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' reported that Clinton's husband, former president [[Bill Clinton]], supported Kaine as his wife's vice-presidential selection, noting his domestic and national security résumé.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/21/us/politics/tim-kaine-bill-hillary-clinton-vp.html|title=Bill Clinton Said to Back Virginia's Tim Kaine for Vice President|first1=Amy|last1=Chozick|first2=Jonathan|last2=Martin|website=The New York Times|date=July 20, 2016|access-date=July 20, 2016}}</ref> On July 22, 2016, she announced Kaine would be her running mate in the election.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chozick|first1=Amy|title=Hillary Clinton Selects Tim Kaine, a Centrist Senator From a Swing State, as Running Mate|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/23/us/politics/tim-kaine-hillary-clinton-vice-president.html |access-date=July 22, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=July 22, 2016}}</ref> Clinton introduced Kaine as her choice in a joint appearance at a rally at [[Florida International University]] in [[Miami, Florida|Miami]] the next day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/election/hillary-clinton/article91471462.html|title=At FIU, Kaine joins Clinton on stage for first time as VP pick|work=[[Miami Herald]]|last1=Mazzei |first1=Patricia |last2=Sherman |first2=Amy |last3=Daugherty|first3=Alex|date=July 23, 2016|access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref> The [[2016 Democratic National Convention]] nominated him for vice president on July 27, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/tim-kaine-nominated-democratic-vice-presidential-candidate/story?id=40934814|title=Tim Kaine Nominated as the Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|last1=Keneally|first1=Meghan|last2=Struyk|first2=Ryan|date=July 27, 2016|access-date=July 27, 2016}}</ref>

Kaine was the first Virginian since [[Woodrow Wilson]] to be on a [[List of United States major party presidential tickets|major-party ticket]],<ref>Ben Geier, [http://fortune.com/2016/07/22/tim-kaine-finally-brings-glory-to-old-virginia-as-clintons-vp-pick/ Tim Kaine Finally Brings Glory to Old Virginia as Clinton's VP Pick], ''Fortune'' (July 22, 2016).</ref> and the first Virginian to run for vice president on a major-party ticket since [[John Tyler]] in [[1840 United States presidential election|1840]]; he was also the first senator or former senator from Virginia to be on a major-party ticket since Tyler.<ref name="rtd">{{cite news|last1=Schapiro|first1=Jeff|title=Schapiro: Don't underestimate Tim Kaine, say ex-foes Jerry Kilgore, George Allen|url=http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/article_ec6f11cf-861f-5166-b27a-69d86bf2c173.html|access-date=July 22, 2016|newspaper=Richmond Times-Dispatch|date=July 20, 2016}}</ref>

In accordance with longstanding political custom in the U.S., upon being nominated for vice president, Kaine publicly released his full [[Tax return (United States)|tax returns]] for the previous ten [[Tax year|years]].<ref>[http://www.taxhistory.org/www/website.nsf/web/presidentialtaxreturns Presidential Tax Returns], [[Tax History Project]], [[Tax Analysts]] (accessed September 14, 2016).</ref><ref name="EderBennett">Steve Eder & Kitty Bennett, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/13/us/politics/hillary-clinton-tim-kaine-taxes.html Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine Show New Tax Returns, Pressuring Donald Trump], ''The New York Times'' (August 12, 2016).</ref> He also publicly released medical records; his physician, [[Brian P. Monahan]], the [[Attending Physician of the United States Congress]], wrote that Kaine was "in overall excellent health."<ref>Burgess Everett, [https://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/tim-kaine-medical-records-228171 Kaine releases health records], ''Politico'' (September 14, 2016).</ref><ref>[https://www.hillaryclinton.com/page/medical-information/ Hillary Clinton, Tim Kaine release additional medical information while Donald Trump defies decades-old tradition of disclosure] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007092714/https://www.hillaryclinton.com/page/medical-information/ |date=October 7, 2016 }}, [[Hillary for America]] (September 14, 2016).</ref> In September Kaine published a campaign book co-authored with Clinton, ''[[Stronger Together (book)|Stronger Together]]''.<ref name = daily>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/hillary-clinton-releases-campaign-book-titled-stronger-article-1.2779939 |title=Hillary Clinton, Tim Kaine release campaign book titled 'Stronger Together' |first=Adam |last=Edelman |date=September 6, 2016 |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|access-date=October 2, 2016}}</ref>

In Kaine's preparations for the [[2016 United States presidential debates|vice-presidential debate]] in October 2016, lawyer [[Robert Barnett (lawyer)|Robert Barnett]] played the role of Republican nominee [[Mike Pence]].<ref>Annie Karni, [https://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/robert-barnett-mike-pence-tim-kaine-presidential-debates-228316 Exclusive: Robert Barnett to play Mike Pence in Tim Kaine debate prep], ''Politico'' (September 17, 2016).</ref> (During Pence's own debate preparations, [[Governor of Wisconsin|Wisconsin governor]] [[Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker]] played Kaine.)<ref>Mike Allen, [https://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/tim-kaine-scott-walker-debate-prep-228317 Exclusive: Here's who's playing Tim Kaine in GOP debate prep], ''Politico'' (September 17, 2016).</ref> Pence was criticized after the debate for not defending Trump's comments,<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Elliott|first1=Philip|title=Why Mike Pence Didn't Defend Donald Trump|url=https://time.com/4519050/vice-presidential-debate-pence-trump/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|publisher=Time Magazine|access-date=October 5, 2016}}</ref> while Kaine was criticized for being too aggressive and interrupting.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wagner|first1=John|title=Tim Kaine seemed like he was trying too hard at the VP debate|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/tim-kaine-seemed-like-he-was-trying-too-hard-at-the-vp-debate/2016/10/05/069b3790-8a24-11e6-b24f-a7f89eb68887_story.html|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=October 5, 2016}}</ref> According to [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]], Kaine interrupted 70 times during the debate, while Pence interrupted 40 times.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Struyk|first1=Ryan|title=Tim Kaine Interrupted Mike Pence 70 Times in Vice Presidential Debate|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/tim-kaine-interrupted-mike-pence-70-times-vice/story?id=42583803|website=ABC News|access-date=October 5, 2016}}</ref>

Despite winning a plurality of the national popular vote, the Clinton-Kaine [[Ticket (election)|ticket]] lost the [[Electoral College (United States)|Electoral College]], and thus the election, to the Trump-Pence ticket on November 8, 2016.<ref>Jugal K. Patel & Wilson Andrews, [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/18/us/elections/donald-trump-electoral-college-popular-vote.html Trump's Electoral College Victory Ranks 46th in 58 Elections], ''The New York Times'' (December 18, 2016).</ref> This is the only election Kaine has ever lost. Clinton-Kaine narrowly won Virginia, the only Southern state to vote for the Democratic ticket, a victory attributed in part to Kaine.<ref name="PortnoyPenceReturns">Jenna Portnoy, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/tim-kaine-returns-to-the-senate-seemingly-untarnished-by-devastating-loss/2016/11/09/27851fc2-a6a1-11e6-8042-f4d111c862d1_story.html Tim Kaine returns to the Senate, seemingly untarnished by devastating loss], ''The Washington Post'' (November 9, 2016).</ref>

==Political positions==
In terms of political ideology, ''[[FiveThirtyEight]]'' gives Kaine an average score of −37 (−100 is the most liberal, and 100 is the most conservative).<ref name="538Splashy">{{cite web|author=Harry Enten|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/hillary-clinton-tim-kaine-vp/|title=Hillary Clinton Picks Tim Kaine, Betting She Can Beat Trump Without a Splashy VP|website=FiveThirtyEight|date=June 22, 2016|language=en-US}}</ref> ''FiveThirtyEight'' characterizes him as a "mainstream Democrat" and notes that his ideology score is very similar to that of [[Joe Biden]].<ref name="538Splashy" /> Three conservative groups—the [[American Conservative Union]], the [[Club for Growth]], and [[Heritage Action]]—gave Kaine 0% ratings in the few years before 2016,<ref name="GearanLiberals">{{cite web|author=Anne Gearan|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/07/22/clinton-teased-liberals-with-elizabeth-warren-and-gave-them-tim-kaine-she-should-be-fine/|title=Will liberals be upset with Tim Kaine?|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 22, 2016|language=en-US|access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref> while the liberal group [[Americans for Democratic Action]] gave Kaine a 90% rating in 2014.<ref>[http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2014.pdf 2014 Congressional Voting Record] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507090841/http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2014.pdf |date=May 7, 2016 }}, ''ADA Today'' ([[Americans for Democratic Action]]).</ref> [[The New York Times|''The'' ''New York Times'']] wrote that "in hyperpartisan Washington, he is often seen as a centrist" while also describing him as an "old-fashioned liberal...driven by Jesuit ideals."<ref name="StolbergSharpElbows"/>

===Abortion, birth control, and sex education===
Kaine, a [[Roman Catholic]], personally opposes [[abortion]],<ref name="KilforeAbortion">Ed Kilgore, [https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/06/tim-kaine-the-evolution-of-pro-choice-politics.html Tim Kaine and the Evolution of Pro-Choice Politics], ''New York'' (June 23, 2016).</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Darren |last1=Samuelsohn |first2=Daniel |last2=Strauss |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/tim-kaine-abortion-predicament-225053 |title=Tim Kaine's abortion predicament |work=Politico |date=June 4, 2016}}</ref> but is "largely inclined to keep the law out of women's reproductive decisions."<ref name="KilforeAbortion"/> He has said, "I'm a strong supporter of ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' and women being able to make these decisions. In government, we have enough things to worry about. We don't need to make people's reproductive decisions for them."<ref>Manu Raju, [http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/15/politics/tim-kaine-abortion-roe-v-wade/ Tim Kaine: 'I'm a strong supporter of Roe v. Wade'], CNN (July 15, 2016).</ref> Kaine supports some legal restrictions on abortion, such as requiring [[Minors and abortion|parental consent for minors]] (with a judicial bypass procedure) and banning [[Late termination of pregnancy|late-term abortions]] in cases where the woman's life is not at risk.<ref name=radar>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/07/kaine-keep-roe.html |title=Kaine: Keep Roe, Hussein Needed to Go |work=Political Radar |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=July 31, 2008 |access-date=July 31, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805122928/http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/07/kaine-keep-roe.html |archive-date=August 5, 2008 }}</ref>

In 2009, Kaine signed a bill to create a [[Choose Life license plates|"Choose Life" license plate]], among the more than [[Vehicle registration plates of Virginia|200 Virginia specialty plates]] already offered, the proceeds of which would partly go to [[Heartbeat International (crisis pregnancy center network)|Heartbeat International]], a Christian organization that operates anti-abortion [[crisis pregnancy center]]s.<ref name=chooselife>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/30/AR2009033001766.html|title=Kaine Signs Bill to Create 'Choose Life' Plate|last=Kumar|first=Anita|date=March 31, 2009|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=July 26, 2016}}</ref> Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America expressed disappointment in Kaine's decision.<ref name=chooselife /> Kaine considered such license plate messages a matter of free speech and added that the move was "in keeping with the commonwealth's longtime practice of approving specialty plates with all manner of political and social messages."<ref name=chooselife />

Kaine previously criticized the Obama administration for "not providing a 'broad enough religious employer exemption{{'"}} in the [[contraceptive mandate]] of the [[Affordable Care Act]], but praised a 2012 amendment to the regulations that required insurers to provide [[birth control]] to employees when an employer was an objecting religious organization.<ref>{{cite news|first=Daniel |last= Strauss |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/105676-tim-kaine-praises-obama-on-changing-contraception-rule/ |title= Tim Kaine praises Obama on changing contraception rule |work =The Hill |date=February 10, 2012}}</ref>

In 2005, when running for governor, Kaine said he favored reducing abortions by "Enforcing the current Virginia restrictions on abortion and passing an enforceable ban on partial birth abortion that protects the life and health of the mother"; "Fighting [[teen pregnancy]] through abstinence-focused education"; "Ensuring women's access to health care (including legal contraception) and economic opportunity"; and "Promoting adoption as an alternative for women facing unwanted pregnancies."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kaine2005.org/issues/abortion.php |title=On the Issues: Abortion |date=October 2005 |publisher=Tim Kaine for Governor |access-date=May 28, 2016 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051016194037/http://www.kaine2005.org/issues/abortion.php |archive-date=October 16, 2005 }}</ref>

In 2007, as governor, Kaine cut off state funding for [[abstinence-only sex education]] programs, citing studies that showed such programs were ineffective, while [[comprehensive sex education]] programs were more effective.<ref name="CraigSexEd">Tim Craig, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/12/AR2007111201716.html Abstinence-Only Sex-Ed Funds Cut Off by Kaine], ''The Washington Post'' (November 13, 2007).</ref> Kaine believes that both abstinence and contraceptives must be taught, and that education should be [[evidence-based]].<ref name="CraigSexEd"/>

As a senator, Kaine has received perfect scores from [[Planned Parenthood]] and the [[Abortion-rights movement|abortion-rights]] advocacy group [[NARAL Pro-Choice America|NARAL]].<ref name=voxpick /><ref name=votesmart>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/50772/tim-kaine|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Project Vote Smart|language=en-US|access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref> He has received a score of zero from the [[Anti-abortion movement|anti-abortion]] [[National Right to Life Committee]].<ref name=votesmart />

=== Campaign finance ===
Kaine "strongly disagrees" with ''[[Citizens United v. FEC]]'' (2010).<ref name="Disclose">{{Cite press release|title=Warner, Kaine Push SEC To Require Public Companies To Disclose Their Political Spending To Shareholders|date=August 31, 2015|publisher=Office of U.S. Senator Tim Kaine|url=https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-push-sec-to-require-public-companies-to-disclose-their-political-spending-to-shareholders-}}</ref> In 2015, Kaine joined a group of Senate Democrats in a letter to [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] Chairwoman [[Mary Jo White]] that said the ruling "reversed long-standing precedent and has moved our country in a different and disturbing direction when it comes to corporate influence in politics." They urged the SEC to require [[publicly traded companies]] to disclose political spending to their shareholders to "increase transparency in the U.S. political process".<ref name="Disclose" />

===Capital punishment===
Kaine personally opposes [[capital punishment]], but presided over 11 executions while governor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/24/us/politics/tim-kaine-death-penalty.html|title=On Death Penalty Cases, Tim Kaine Revealed Inner Conflict|date=July 23, 2016|work=The New York Times'|last2=Kaplan|first2=Thomas|first1=Sheryl Gay|last1=Stolberg}}</ref> He said, "I really struggled with [capital punishment] as governor. I have a moral position against the death penalty. But I took an oath of office to uphold it. Following an oath of office is also a moral obligation."<ref name="Convictions" /> During his time in office he commuted one death sentence in June 2008, that of [[Percy Levar Walton]], to [[life imprisonment without parole]] on grounds of mental incompetence, writing that "one cannot reasonably conclude that Walton is fully aware of the punishment he is about to suffer and why he is to suffer it" and thus that executing him would be unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/09/AR2008060901984.html|title=Va. Governor Commutes Death Sentence|last=Markon|first=Jerry|date=June 10, 2008|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Kaine vetoed a number of bills to expand the death sentence to more crimes, saying: "I do not believe that further expansion of the death penalty is necessary to protect human life or provide for public safety needs."<ref name="SomashekharExpansion">Sandhya Somashekhar, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/26/AR2007032601731.html Kaine Vetoes Death Penalty Expansion], ''The Washington Post'' (March 27, 2007).</ref><ref>Harry Minium, [http://pilotonline.com/news/government/politics/virginia/kaine-vetoes-five-bills-that-would-expand-death-penalty/article_ff15dcc4-e608-5c5d-a101-072310df43cb.html Kaine vetoes five bills that would expand death penalty] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821205204/http://pilotonline.com/news/government/politics/virginia/kaine-vetoes-five-bills-that-would-expand-death-penalty/article_ff15dcc4-e608-5c5d-a101-072310df43cb.html |date=August 21, 2016 }}, ''Virginian-Pilot'' (March 27, 2007).</ref> Some of the vetoes were overridden.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.richmond.com/news/article_fd7a512f-95ae-5a75-b91a-0e618d4eb7ab.html|title=Assembly overrides, upholds Kaine vetoes on death penalty|date=April 5, 2007|work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|last2=Shapiro|first2=Jeff E.|first1=Michael|last1=Hardy}}</ref>{{efn|Virginia remains second only to Texas in the number of executions since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976.<ref name="Convictions"/>}}

On July 31, 2019, after Attorney General [[William Barr]] announced that the United States federal government would resume the use of the death penalty for the first time in over 20 years, Kaine co-sponsored a bill banning the death penalty.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/455597-senate-dems-introduce-bill-to-ban-death-penalty/|title=Booker, Durbin and Leahy introduce bill to ban death penalty|first=Tal|last=Axelrod|date=July 31, 2019|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref>

=== Environment, energy, and climate change ===
Kaine acknowledges the [[scientific consensus on climate change]], and in a 2014 Senate speech criticized [[climate change denial|climate change deniers]], as well as those who "may not deny the climate science, but ... deny that the U.S. can or should be a leader in taking any steps" to address the issue.<ref name="KaineClimateChange">[https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-solution-to-climate-change-is-american-innovation Kaine: Solution To Climate Change Is American Innovation], Office of Senator Tim Kaine (March 11, 2014).</ref>

Kaine has expressed concern about [[sea level rise]] (a major consequence of climate change),<ref name="HerbPartyLine" /> and in particular its effect on coastal Virginia.<ref name="KaineClimateChange" /> In 2014, he partnered with two Virginia Republicans—U.S. Representatives [[Rob Wittman]] and [[Scott Rigell]]—to hold a conference on sea-level rise and "local adaptation efforts to protect military installations in the [[Hampton Roads]] area."<ref name="HerbPartyLine" />

Kaine endorses making [[Coal pollution mitigation|coal energy production cleaner]], saying that it is imperative "to convert coal to electricity with less pollution than we do today."<ref name="KaineClimateChange" /> He has criticized those who "frame the debate as a conflict between an economy and the environment", saying that "protecting the environment is good for the economy."<ref name="KaineClimateChange" /> Kaine co-sponsored the Advanced Clean Coal Technology Investment in Our Nation (ACCTION) Act, legislation to increase investment in clean coal technologies.<ref name="KaineEnergy">{{cite web|url=https://www.kaine.senate.gov/issues/energy|title=Tim Kaine Senate Website – Energy|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|access-date=July 21, 2016|archive-date=August 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818110454/http://www.kaine.senate.gov/issues/energy|url-status=dead}}</ref> He voted against legislation to approve the [[Keystone Pipeline|Keystone XL]] pipeline.<ref name="KaineEnergy"/> Kaine supports the use of [[hydraulic fracturing]] (fracking) to harvest natural gas from shale formations. He believes this will reduce carbon pollution.<ref name="KaineEnergy" /> Kaine voted against an amendment introduced by Senator [[Kirsten Gillibrand]] that would have repealed a provision in the [[Energy Policy Act of 2005]] that exempts fracking from the underground injection control provisions of the [[Safe Drinking Water Act]]. As a result, regulation of fracking remains in the hands of state agencies; the EPA cannot regulate it or require a federal permit.<ref name="EnergyWire2015">{{cite news|url=http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060012514|title=Senate votes to keep 'Halliburton loophole'; regulation stays with states|date=January 29, 2015|newspaper=[[EnergyWire]]|first1=Mike|last1=Soraghan}}</ref><ref name="NatEnvScore">{{cite web|url=http://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/timothy-kaine|title=National Environmental Scorecard – Tim Kaine|publisher=League of Conservation Voters|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref> Kaine supports exporting [[liquefied natural gas]] (LNG) to other countries.<ref name="KaineExportLNG">{{cite web|url=https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-streamline-american-lng-exports|title=Kaine Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Streamline American LNG Exports|date=January 7, 2015|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref>

Like his fellow senator from Virginia, [[Mark Warner]], Kaine applauded the [[U.S. Forest Service]]'s plan to close most, but not all, of the [[George Washington National Forest]] to fracking and other [[horizontal drilling]] activities.<ref name="RoanokePark2014">{{cite news|url=http://www.roanoke.com/news/politics/kaine-warner-praise-george-washington-forest-fracking-decision/article_eacfe63e-04c2-589a-8c6a-68f6a7661185.html|title=Kaine, Warner praise George Washington forest fracking decision|date=November 18, 2014|newspaper=[[Waynesboro News Virginian]]|first1=Bob|last1=Stuart}}</ref>

In 2013, Kaine supported [[Offshore drilling on the Atlantic coast of the United States|oil and gas exploration off the coast of Virginia]], saying, "I have long believed that the moratorium on offshore drilling, based on a cost-benefit calculation performed decades ago, should be reexamined."<ref name="KaineEnergy"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.dailypress.com/2013-05-22/news/dp-nws-warner-kaine-offshore-drilling-20130522_1_tim-kaine-oil-drilling-mark-warner|title=U.S. Sens. Warner, Kaine introduce bill to let offshore drilling start in 2020|access-date=July 23, 2016|archive-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817092051/http://articles.dailypress.com/2013-05-22/news/dp-nws-warner-kaine-offshore-drilling-20130522_1_tim-kaine-oil-drilling-mark-warner|url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2015, Kaine reiterated his opposition to the moratorium on offshore drilling.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|author=Sean Gorman|url=http://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2016/aug/29/tim-kaine/tim-kaine-reverses-stance-offshore-drilling/|title=Kaine reverses stance on offshore drilling|work=PolitiFact|date=August 29, 2016}}</ref> In March 2016, Kaine signaled that his position was softening, saying he was "particularly struck by the material objections of the Department of Defense to the incompatibility of drilling with naval operations off Virginia's coast... I have participated in this debate for over a decade as a governor and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. The DOD has been relatively quiet during this public debate and has never shared their objections with me before."<ref name=":0" /> By August 2016, Kaine stated his support for a ban on offshore drilling, bringing his position in line with Hillary Clinton's and the Obama administration's.<ref name=":0" />

Kaine supports the development of solar energy and offshore wind turbines.<ref name="KaineEnergy" /> Based on his votes on environmental issues in the Senate, the [[League of Conservation Voters]] has given Kaine a 95% score for 2018, and a 94% lifetime score.<ref name="NatEnvScore" /> (At the time of his vice-presidential campaign, Kaine had an 88% score for 2015, and a 91% lifetime score.)<ref name="HerbPartyLine" />

In March 2019, Kaine was one of 11 senators to sponsor the Climate Security Act of 2019, legislation forming a new group within the State Department that would be responsible for developing strategies to integrate climate science and data into operations of national security as well as restoring the post of special envoy for the Arctic, which Trump had dismantled in 2017. The proposed envoy would advise the president and the administration on the potential effects of climate on national security and be responsible for facilitating all interagency communication between federal science and security agencies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/433704-new-bill-aims-to-counter-controversial-white-house-climate-security/|title=Democrats offer legislation to counter White House climate science council|first=Miranda|last=Green|date=March 12, 2019|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref>

In April 2019, Kaine was one of 12 senators to sign a bipartisan letter to top senators on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development advocating that the Energy Department be granted maximum funding for carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), arguing that American job growth could be stimulated by investment in viable options to capture carbon emissions released into the atmosphere and expressing disagreement with the Trump's 2020 budget request to combine the two federal programs that include carbon capture research.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/437618-bipartisan-group-of-senators-request-highest-possible-funding-for/|title=Bipartisan senators want 'highest possible' funding for carbon capture technology|first=Miranda|last=Green|date=April 5, 2019|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref>

=== Financial regulation ===
Kaine strongly supports [[financial regulation]] and the [[Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act]].<ref name="GearanLiberals" /> In July 2016, he signed a bipartisan letter that "urged the [[Consumer Financial Protection Bureau]] to 'carefully tailor its rulemaking' [under Dodd-Frank] regarding [[community bank]]s and [[credit union]]s so as not to 'unduly burden' these institutions with regulations aimed at [[commercial bank]]s."<ref name="GearanLiberals" /> The letter prompted criticism from [[Modern liberalism in the United States|progressives]] who viewed it as anti-regulation.<ref name="GearanLiberals" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-clinton-vp-rnc-liberals-rip-into-tim-kaine-for-1469194188-htmlstory.html|title=Liberals rip into Sen. Tim Kaine over letter that they see as pro-banking|last=Rushton|first=Christine|date=July 22, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> [[Democracy for America]] executive director [[Charles R. Chamberlain|Charles Chamberlain]] called the letter "a lobbyist-driven effort to help banks dodge consumer protection standards and regulations designed to prevent banks from destroying our economy." Kaine responded, "it's important you don't treat every [[financial institution]] the same. It wasn't credit unions that tanked the economy, it wasn't local community banks that tanked the economy, generally wasn't regional banks that did things that tanked the economy."<ref name="GearanLiberals" /> He also signed a letter urging that a requirement that regional banks report liquidity levels on a daily basis be loosened.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/liberals-criticize-kaine-for-supporting-regulations-pushed-by-banks/2016/07/21/77c165e2-4f5b-11e6-aa14-e0c1087f7583_story.html|title=Liberals criticize Kaine for supporting regulations pushed by banks|last=Gearan|first=Anne|date=July 21, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

=== Foreign and defense policy ===
In the Senate, Kaine has supported the [[Cuban Thaw|normalization of U.S.–Cuban relations]] and the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action|international nuclear agreement with Iran]].<ref name="KaineClintonComparison">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/23/us/politics/tim-kaine-issues.html|title=How Tim Kaine and Hillary Clinton Compare on the Issues|date=July 22, 2016|work=The New York Times|last2=Rappeport|first2=Alan|first1=Katie|last1=Shepherd}}</ref>

Kaine expressed support for [[Israel]]'s right to defend itself during the [[2014 Gaza War]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/moderate-kaine-toes-a-fine-line-on-israel-issues/ |title=Moderate Kaine toes a fine line on Israel issues |date=July 23, 2016 |work=[[The Times of Israel]]}}</ref> In September 2016, in advance of a [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334|UN Security Council resolution 2334]] condemning [[Israeli settlement]]s in the occupied [[Palestinian territories]], he signed an [[AIPAC]]-sponsored letter urging Obama to veto "one-sided" resolutions against Israel.<ref>{{cite news |title=Senate – Aipac |url=https://www.aipac.org/-/media/publications/policy-and-politics/aipac-analyses/issue-memos/2015/text-of-rounds-gillibrand-letter.pdf |date=September 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019210759/https://www.aipac.org/-/media/publications/policy-and-politics/aipac-analyses/issue-memos/2015/text-of-rounds-gillibrand-letter.pdf|archive-date=October 19, 2016 }}</ref>

In 2015, Kaine expressed support for the [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen|Saudi-led coalition's airstrikes in Yemen]] against [[Houthi]] forces fighting the government of President [[Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/03/27/saudi-arabia-gets-bipartisan-backing-for-yemen-airstrikes|title=Saudi Arabia Gets Bipartisan Backing for Yemen Airstrikes|date=March 27, 2015|work=U.S. News.}}</ref> but in 2018, he was one of seven senators to sign a letter to [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Mike Pompeo]] saying that they found it "difficult to reconcile known facts with at least two" of the Trump administration's certifications that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were attempting to protect Yemeni civilians and were in compliance with U.S. laws on arms sales, citing an inconsistency with a memo from Pompeo to Congress expressly stating that on some occasions the Saudi and Emirates governments had failed to adopt measures to reduce civilian casualties.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/410764-senators-demand-answers-on-trump-administration-support-for-saudi-coalition-in/|title=Senators demand answers on Trump administration backing of Saudi coalition in Yemen|date=October 10, 2018|author=Kheel, Rebecca|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref> Kaine also condemned the Trump administration for its "eagerness to give the Saudis anything they want" after the administration approved the transfer of nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia after the [[Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi|murder of Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi]].<ref>Andrew Desiderio, [https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/04/trump-nuclear-expertise-transfer-saudi-arabia-khashoggi-1353179 Sen. Kaine: Trump approved nuclear tech transfer to Saudis after Khashoggi's murder], ''Politico'' (June 4, 2019).</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/trump-admin-gave-green-light-nuclear-permits-saudi-arabia-after-n1013826|title= Trump admin gave green light to nuclear permits for Saudi Arabia after Khashoggi killing|first1=Dan|last1=De Luce|first2=Robert|last2=Windrem|work=NBC News|date=June 4, 2019}}</ref>

In July 2017, Kaine voted for the [[Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act]] that placed [[United States sanctions against Iran|sanctions on Iran]], [[Russia]], and [[North Korea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00175|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 115th Congress - 1st Session|website=www.senate.gov|date=July 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/senate-joins-house-overwhelmingly-passing-new-russian-sanctions-n787291 |title = Senate joins House in overwhelmingly passing new Russian sanctions|author=Johnson, Alex|work=NBC News|date=July 28, 2017|access-date=September 13, 2020}}</ref>

In 2019, Kaine was one of 34 Senate Democrats to sign a letter to Trump urging him to reconsider cuts to U.S. foreign aid to the [[Northern Triangle]] countries of [[Central America]] in the Fiscal Year 2018 national security appropriations bill. The letter said that Trump had "consistently expressed a flawed understanding of U.S. foreign assistance", viewing it as a gift or charity to foreign governments rather than a tool to promote American interests and [[collective security]]. The senators wrote that U.S. foreign assistance to Central American countries, by improving stability and alleviating poverty in the region, reduced Central American migration flows to the U.S.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/americas/437463-more-than-30-dem-sens-ask-trump-to-reconsider-cutting-foreign/|title=More than 30 Senate Dems ask Trump to reconsider Central American aid cuts|first=Rachel|last=Frazin|date=April 4, 2019|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref>

[[File:Secretary Blinken Attends a Working Breakfast (52138628554).jpg|thumb|Kaine with Secretary of State [[Antony Blinken]] and [[Nancy Pelosi]] on June 10, 2022]]

In 2019, Kaine co-sponsored the South China Sea and East China Sea Sanctions Act, a bipartisan bill reintroduced by [[Marco Rubio]] and [[Ben Cardin]] that was intended to disrupt China's consolidation or expansion of its claims of jurisdiction over both the [[Territorial disputes in the South China Sea|sea and airspace in disputed zones in the South China Sea]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/bill-introduced-to-deter-china-in-south-china-east-china-seas|title=US Bill reintroduced to deter China in South China, East China seas|first=Nirmal|last=Ghosh|date=May 24, 2019|newspaper=The Straits Times}}</ref>

In 2023, Kaine and Rubio co-sponsored a provision in the annual [[National Defense Authorization Act]] that a U.S. president cannot withdraw the U.S. from [[NATO]] without Congress's approval.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Swan |first1=Jonathan |last2=Savage |first2=Charlie |last3=Haberman |first3=Maggie |date=December 9, 2023 |title=Fears of a NATO Withdrawal Rise as Trump Seeks a Return to Power |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/09/us/politics/trump-2025-nato.html |journal=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

On December 30, 2023, Kaine criticized Biden's [[United States support for Israel in the Gaza war|emergency sale of weapons to Israel]] during the [[Gaza war]], stating, "Why should the Admin bypass Congress on arms sales to any nation? Bypassing Congress = keeping the American public in the dark."<ref>{{cite web |title=Biden admin 'keeping the American public in the dark' on Israeli weapons: US senator |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/12/30/israel-hamas-war-live-un-aid-chief-decries-israeli-attack-on-relief-convoy?update=2587987 |website=[[Al Jazeera]] |date=December 30, 2023}}</ref> Some of Biden's closest allies in the Senate, including Kaine, were reportedly pressuring Biden to change his tactics in [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Amiri |first1=Farnoush |last2=Knickmeyer |first2=Ellen |title=Biden's closest allies are stepping up pressure on White House to do more to ease suffering in Gaza |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-congress-joe-biden-war-8d5334a6ffbe36eb77301647affc4e01 |website=Associated Press |date=March 5, 2024 }}</ref>

In 2024, Kaine expressed his support for an independent Palestine, saying, "Since Israel has made plain that it will not accept Palestinian autonomy, the U.S. should no longer condition recognition on Israeli assent, but instead upon Palestinian willingness to peacefully coexist with its neighbors."<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 19, 2024 |title=Kaine Statement on Knesset Vote Rejecting Establishment of Palestinian State {{!}} U.S. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia |url=https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-knesset-vote-rejecting-establishment-of-palestinian-state |access-date=July 21, 2024 |website=www.kaine.senate.gov |language=en}}</ref> In November 2024, Kaine was one of 19 senators to vote to block the United States' arms sales to Israel.<ref>{{cite web|title=Full List of Democrats Who Voted to Block Weapons to Israel|website=[[Newsweek]] |date=November 20, 2024 |url=https://www.newsweek.com/sanders-resolution-block-arms-sale-israel-struck-down-1989047}}</ref>

==== Grand strategy and democracy promotion ====
After the 2016 presidential campaign, Kaine wrote an extensive essay in ''[[Foreign Affairs]]'' outlining his underlying foreign policy philosophy.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Kaine|first=Time|date=August 2017|title=A New Truman Doctrine: Grand Strategy in a Hyperconnected World|url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/2017-06-13/new-truman-doctrine|journal=Foreign Affairs|volume=96| issue =  4|pages=36–53}}</ref> According to Kaine, American foreign policy has suffered a lack of direction since the 1990s because the end of the [[Cold War]] rendered irrelevant America's previous [[grand strategy]], which he identifies as the [[Truman Doctrine]]. This lack of grand strategy makes American actions seem random, complicating the policy-making process and hindering American leaders' efforts to convince the public that American foreign policy is worthwhile. To remedy this, Kaine proposed a new grand strategy based mainly on [[democracy promotion]]. His grand strategy is informed by a [[Polarity (international relations)|tri-polar balance of international power]], with one pole being democratic states including the U.S. and its allies, the second autocratic powers led by [[Russia]] and [[China]], and the third [[Non-state actor|nonstate actors]] (multinational corporations, [[Non-governmental organization|NGOs]], gangs, etc.).

First, Kaine believes that the United States should work to support democracy in already democratic countries, as democracy globally has been declining for many years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/article/freedom-world-2017-freedom-decline-continues-amid-rising-populism-and-autocracy|title=Freedom in the World 2017: Freedom decline continues amid rising populism and autocracy|website=freedomhouse.org|language=en|access-date=January 3, 2018}}</ref> To maintain democracy in democratic countries, Kaine proposes the creation of an [[intergovernmental organization]] consisting of all the world's democracies in which states can cooperate on solutions to problems such as corruption and voter inclusion. He compares this hypothetical group to the [[OECD|Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development]], in which advanced industrialized countries collaborate on economic policy. Kaine believes that this new organization will help democracies remain democratic, as well as promote democracy in other countries by giving them viable democratic examples to emulate. In this way, Kaine says that the U.S. should no longer see itself as the indispensable nation, but rather the "exemplary democracy".

Second, Kaine proposes that democracies should coordinate to best interact with authoritarian states. Depending on the circumstances, democracies should either "confront", "compete", or "cooperate" with autocracies. For example, Kaine observes that the U.S. competes with its authoritarian adversaries by strengthening military and commercial alliances, and confronts them by decrying their [[human rights]] records.<ref name=":3" />

Finally, Kaine believes that democracies and autocracies should cooperate when they have the same interests, such as [[climate change mitigation|combating climate change]].

In July 2017, Kaine expanded on the grand strategy proposed in this essay in an interview at the [[Brookings Institution]] with international relations scholar [[Robert Kagan]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2017/07/31/the-geopolitics-of-democracy-promotion/|title=The geopolitics of democracy promotion|last=Moreland|first=Will|date=July 31, 2017|work=Brookings|access-date=January 3, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

====Afghanistan====
Kaine's website states, "The main mission in Afghanistan—destroying [[Al Qaeda]]—is nearly complete and we should bring our troops home as quickly as we can, consistent with the need to make sure that Afghanistan poses no danger in the broader region."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kaineforva.com/national_security|title=Tim Kaine for U.S. Senate|publisher=Kaineforva.com|access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref>

==== Latin America ====
Kaine believes that American foreign policy has neglected relations with [[Latin America]] and argues for an increased focus on [[the Americas]], saying, "We have seldom paid enough attention to the Americas, in particular, and when we have—whether through the Monroe Doctrine or by battling communist movements during the Cold War—we have focused more on blocking outsiders from building influence in the Western Hemisphere than we have on the nations already there."<ref name=":3" />

==== War powers ====
Kaine is known for "expertise on the constitutional powers of the presidency"<ref name="PortnoyPenceReturns"/> and has said that "war powers questions" are a "personal obsession" of his.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kaine.senate.gov/tim-in-the-news/a-better-approach-to-war-powers|title=A Better Approach to War Powers|date=September 23, 2014|publisher=[[National Defense University (Washington, D.C.)|National Defense University]]|author=Tim Kaine|magazine=PRISM Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-opinions-are-local/wp/2016/07/22/from-the-archive-tim-kaine-probably-is-at-the-top-of-everyones-vp-list/|title=From the archive: Tim Kaine probably is at the top of everyone's VP list|date=July 22, 2016|last2=Goldman|first2=Paul|postscript=;|first1=Norman|last1=Leahy|newspaper=The Washington Post}} republishing post of October 14, 2014.</ref> He has stressed that under the Constitution, "Congress has the power to declare war—and only Congress."<ref name="Matishak">Martin Matishak, [https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/15/kaine-trump-syria-war-powers-524744 Kaine: Trump not a 'king,' can't go to war without Congress], ''Politico'' (April 15, 2018).</ref> Kaine called the 2018 [[2018 bombing of Damascus and Homs|U.S. missile strikes Trump ordered against the Syrian government]] illegal because they were undertaken without congressional approval.<ref name="Matishak"/>

Kaine and Senator [[John McCain]] introduced the War Powers Consultation Act of 2014,<ref name="5QuestionsWarPowers">{{cite web|url=http://warontherocks.com/2014/02/5-questions-with-senator-tim-kaine-on-war-powers-and-national-defense/|title=5 Questions with Senator Tim Kaine on War Powers and National Defense|date=February 10, 2014|website=War on the Rocks|author=Ryan Evans}}</ref> which would replace the [[War Powers Act of 1973]], bringing Congress back into decisions on the deployment of U.S. military forces.<ref name="5QuestionsWarPowers" /> The bill would establish a Congressional Consultation Committee, with which the president would be required to consult regularly regarding significant foreign policy matters before ordering the deployment of the armed forces into a significant armed conflict and at least every two months for the duration of any significant armed conflict.<ref name="5QuestionsWarPowers" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/wars-and-warfare/war-powers-consultation-act-2014/p36302|title=War Powers Consultation Act of 2014|publisher=Council on Foreign Relations|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829030521/http://www.cfr.org/wars-and-warfare/war-powers-consultation-act-2014/p36302|archive-date=August 29, 2016}}</ref> Kaine argued for the bill by citing his "frustration" over the sloppiness of "process and communication over decisions of war", noting that "presidents tend to overreach and Congress sometimes willingly ducks tough votes and decisions. We all have to do better."<ref name="5QuestionsWarPowers" />

In February 2018, Kaine was one of 18 senators to sign a letter to Trump arguing that striking [[North Korea]] with "a preventative or preemptive U.S. military strike would lack either a constitutional basis or legal authority" without congressional approval.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/372311-dem-senators-tell-trump-he-doesnt-have-legal-authority-to-launch-preemptive/|title=Dem senators tell Trump he doesn't have 'legal authority' to launch preemptive strike on North Korea|date=February 5, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref>

In January 2020, Kaine introduced a new war powers resolution that would prohibit the U.S. from entering hostilities against Iran within 30 days unless it was responding to an imminent threat.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/with-iran-war-powers-resolution-kaine-finds-new-way-to-push-his-signature-issue/2020/01/09/bce25018-32f7-11ea-9313-6cba89b1b9fb_story.html|title=With Iran war powers resolution, Kaine finds new way to push his signature issue|last=Portnoy|first=Jenna|date=January 9, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref> The next month, the [[Iran War Powers Resolution]] passed the Senate 55–45, securing the votes of eight Republicans along with the Democrats.<ref>Rachel Oswald, [https://www.rollcall.com/2020/02/13/senate-passes-resolution-that-would-limit-trumps-war-powers-on-iran/ Senate passes resolution that would limit Trump's war powers on Iran], ''Roll Call'' (February 13, 2020).</ref> Trump vetoed the measure,<ref>Nikki Carvajal, [https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/06/politics/trump-veto-iran-war-powers/index.html Trump vetoes Iran War Powers resolution], CNN (May 6, 2020).</ref> and the Senate failed to override the veto.<ref>Connor O'Brien, [https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/07/senate-trump-iran-war-powers-veto-243277 Senate fails to overturn Trump's Iran war powers veto], ''Politico'' (May 7, 2020).</ref>

==== Syria, Iraq, and ISIL ====
In 2014, Kaine argued that the U.S. military intervention against [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] (ISIL) undertaken by Obama was unconstitutional without a new congressional authorization for the [[Military intervention against ISIL|use of military force against ISIL]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Meg Anderson|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/07/23/487082207/where-tim-kaine-and-hillary-clinton-stand-on-key-issues|title=Where Tim Kaine and Hillary Clinton Stand On Key Issues|date=July 23, 2016|publisher=NPR}}</ref> In November 2014, at the [[Halifax International Security Forum]], Kaine and McCain emphasized the necessity of such a congressional authorization, saying: "You just can't have a war without Congress. You can't ask people to risk their lives, risk getting killed, seeing other folks getting killed or injured if Congress isn't willing to do the job to put their thumbprint on this and say, this is a national mission and worth it."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/11/22/politics-end-in-halifax-as-democratic-and-gop-senators-seek-common-ground-on-national-security.html|title=Politics End In Halifax As Democratic and GOP Senators Seek Common Ground on National Security|date=November 22, 2014|author=Tim Mak|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=October 28, 2015}}</ref> After the April [[2017 Shayrat missile strike]] in Syria, ordered by Trump, Kaine said, "There is no legal justification for this. He should not have done this without coming to Congress."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/07/politics/tim-kaine-donald-trump-syria-cnntv/|title=Kaine: 'No legal justification' for Syria strike|date=April 7, 2017|first=Eleanor|last=Mueller|publisher=CNN}}</ref> On ''Meet the Press'', Kaine said, "I'm a strong supporter that the U.S. should [[Humanitarian intervention|take action to protect humanitarian causes]], like the ban on chemical weapons. Where I differ from this administration, and I took the same position with respect to President Obama, we are a nation that's not supposed to take military action, start war, without a plan that's presented to and approved by Congress."<ref>Colin Wilhelm, [https://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/trump-congress-authorization-syria-tim-kaine-237044 Kaine: Trump should have asked Congress to authorize Syria airstrikes], ''Politico'' (April 9, 2017).</ref>

On December 11, 2014, after a five-month campaign by Kaine, the U.S. [[Senate Foreign Relations Committee]] approved by 10–8 (along party lines) a measure authorizing military force against ISIL but barring the use of ground troops.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/226819-senate-panel-approves-isis-measure-barring-ground-troops/|title=Senate panel approves ISIS measure barring ground troops|last=Mali|first=Meghashyam|date=December 11, 2014|work=The Hill}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/08/politics/isis-ted-cruz-tim-kaine-ground-troops/index.html|title=Senators: No ground troops against ISIS|last=Bradner|first=Eric|date=February 8, 2015|publisher=CNN}}</ref> In October 2015, Kaine criticized Obama's approach to the [[Syrian Civil War]], saying that the establishment of humanitarian [[no-fly zone]]s would have alleviated the humanitarian crisis in Syria.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2015/11/23/9780136/isis-tim-kaine-interview|title=Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton's VP pick, told us why he wants the US doing more in Syria|last=Beauchamp|first=Zack|date=July 23, 2016|website=Vox|access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2015/10/31/453393878/sen-tim-kaine-criticizes-obamas-syria-strategy|title=Sen. Tim Kaine Criticizes Obama's Syria Strategy|work=Weekend Edition Saturday|publisher=NPR|last=Kaine|first=Tim|interviewer=Scott Simon|date=October 31, 2015}}</ref>

In April 2018, Kaine criticized Trump for authorizing the launch of a [[Precision-guided munition|precision military strike]] on Syria without consulting Congress, calling the strike an "illegal military act".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tillett|first=Emily|date=April 16, 2018|title=Sen. Tim Kaine on "illegal" Syria strike: "We have a president, not a king"|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sen-tim-kaine-on-striking-syria-without-congressional-approval-we-have-a-president-not-a-king/|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=CBS News|language=en-US}}</ref> In February 2021, Kaine demanded answers from President [[Joe Biden|Biden]] after he ordered airstrikes on Syria against Iran-backed militias without giving "legal justification" to members of Congress beforehand.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Katherine Fung|date=February 26, 2021|title=Senator Tim Kaine demands answers from Biden for not consulting Congress on Syria strike|url=https://www.newsweek.com/senator-tim-kaine-demands-answers-biden-not-consulting-congress-syria-strike-1572372|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref>

In 2023, Kaine and [[Todd Young]] co-sponsored legislation to end 1991 and 2002 congressional resolutions that authorized the use of military force.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Dustin |date=March 16, 2023 |title=Senate advances a bill to repeal Iraq war authorizations |website=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/03/16/1163694370/congress-aumf-iraq-war-authorization-repeal-senate-vote}}</ref> The bill repealed the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in Iraq and passed with a bipartisan majority.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 118th Congress - 1st Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1181/vote_118_1_00077.htm |access-date=October 29, 2024 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>

===Firearms===
Kaine is a firearm owner.<ref name="KaineClintonComparison" /> He has supported expanded [[background check]]s for weapons purchases as well as "restrictions on the sale of combat-style weapons and [[high-capacity magazine]]s."<ref name="KaineClintonComparison" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/21/kaine-gun-control_n_812375.html|title=Kaine Throws Support Behind Gun Control Measure As White House Remains Silent|last=Stein|first=Sam|date=May 25, 2011|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|access-date=July 22, 2016}}</ref> As governor, Kaine oversaw the closing of loopholes in Virginia law that allowed some who had failed background checks to purchase guns.<ref name="KaineClintonComparison" /> In the Senate, he has supported legislation that would require background checks for weapons sold via [[gun show]]s and via the internet.<ref name="KaineClintonComparison" /> He also supports legislation to bar weapons sales to suspected terrorists on the [[No Fly List]].<ref name="KaineClintonComparison" />

In November 2017, Kaine was a cosponsor of the Military Domestic Violence Reporting Enhancement Act, a bill that would form a charge of domestic violence under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and stipulate that convictions be reported to federal databases with the authority to keep abusers from purchasing firearms within three days in an attempt to close a loophole in the UCMJ through which convicted abusers retained the ability to purchase firearms.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bigislandnow.com/2017/11/15/sen-hirono-introduces-military-domestic-violence-reporting-enhancement-act/|title=Sen. Hirono Introduces Military Domestic Violence Reporting Enhancement Act|date=November 15, 2017|publisher=bigislandnow.com}}</ref>

In March 2018, Kaine was one of ten senators to sign a letter to Chairman of the [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions]] [[Lamar Alexander]] and ranking Democrat [[Patty Murray]] requesting they schedule a hearing on the causes and remedies of mass shootings in the wake of the [[Stoneman Douglas High School shooting]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/380313-senate-democrats-request-hearing-on-school-shootings/|title=Senate Dems request health panel hearing on school shootings|date=March 26, 2018|author=Carney, Jordain|newspaper=The Hill|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331051242/https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/380313-senate-democrats-request-hearing-on-school-shootings|archive-date=March 31, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2019, Kaine was one of four senators to cosponsor the Help Empower Americans to Respond (HEAR) Act, legislation that would ban suppressors being imported, sold, made, sent elsewhere or possessed and grant a silencer buyback program as well as include certain exceptions for current and former law enforcement personnel and others. The bill was intended to respond to the [[2019 Virginia Beach shooting|Virginia Beach shooting]], in which the perpetrator used a .45-caliber handgun with multiple extended magazines and a suppressor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/450178-dem-senator-introduces-bill-to-ban-gun-silencers/|title=Democratic senator introduces bill to ban gun silencers|author=Frazin, Rachel|date=June 25, 2019|newspaper=The Hill|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626033024/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/450178-dem-senator-introduces-bill-to-ban-gun-silencers|archive-date=June 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kaine has a 100% rating from the [[Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence]]<ref name="LimaWhite">{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/progressive-group-pans-clinton-vp-kaine-on-trade-226050|title=Kaine unveiling draws mixed reviews from liberals|date=July 22, 2016|work=Politico|last2=White|first2=Ben|first1=Cristiano|last1=Lima|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724161948/http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/progressive-group-pans-clinton-vp-kaine-on-trade-226050|archive-date=July 24, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> and an "F" rating from the [[NRA Political Victory Fund]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Stand Against Tim Kaine |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/campaigns/2012/tim-kaine.aspx |website=nrapvf.org |publisher=NRA-PVF |access-date=September 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925070840/https://www.nrapvf.org/campaigns/2012/tim-kaine.aspx |archive-date=September 25, 2021 |language=en-US |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.advocate.com/election/2016/7/22/hillary-clintons-vp-tim-kaine|title=Hillary Clinton's VP: Time Kaine|last=Broverman|first=Neal|date=July 22, 2016|work=The Advocate|access-date=July 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724133236/http://www.advocate.com/election/2016/7/22/hillary-clintons-vp-tim-kaine|archive-date=July 24, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Health care===
Kaine supports the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] of 2009 (Obamacare), saying in 2012, "I was a supporter and remain a supporter of the Affordable Care Act. I felt like it was a statement that we were going to put some things in the rearview mirror."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wtvr.com/2012/10/08/allen-kaine-to-square-off-in-hotly-contested-senate-debate/|title=Allen, Kaine to square off in hotly contested Senate debate|date=October 8, 2012|publisher=[[WTVR-TV|WTVR]]|author=Jerrita Patterson}}</ref> In 2013, he said that he agreed that changes to the ACA should be debated, but criticized Republicans for "wrapping them up with the threat" of a [[United States federal government shutdown of 2013|federal government shutdown]].<ref>Seung Min Kim, [https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-now/2013/09/kaine-lets-have-obamacare-debate-but-not-now-173794 Kaine: Let's have Obamacare debate – but not now], ''Politico'' (September 29, 2013).</ref>

In 2018, Kaine and Senator [[Michael Bennet]] proposed the creation of "Medicare X"—a [[public health insurance option]] modeled after [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] that would be available on ACA [[health insurance marketplace]]s along with private options. The proposal is a more incrementalist alternative to [[Bernie Sanders]]'s push for "[[Medicare for All]]" (single-payer health care).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sullivan|first1=Peter|title=Democrats march toward single-payer health care|url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/375376-democrats-march-toward-single-payer-health-care/|website=The Hill|date=February 25, 2018|access-date=February 25, 2018}}</ref>

In December 2018, Kaine was one of 42 senators to sign a letter to Trump administration officials [[Alex Azar]], [[Seema Verma]], and [[Steve Mnuchin]] arguing that the administration was improperly using Section 1332 of the ACA to authorize states to "increase health care costs for millions of consumers while weakening protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions." The senators requested the administration withdraw the policy and "re-engage with stakeholders, states, and Congress."<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-calls-on-trump-administration-to-stop-pushing-health-insurance-plans-that-weaken-pre-existing-condition-protections/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Calls on Trump Administration to Stop Pushing Health Insurance Plans that Weaken Pre-Existing Condition Protections|date=December 20, 2018|publisher=Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin|via=urbanmilwaukee.com}}</ref>

In January 2019, Kaine was one of six Democratic senators to introduce the American Miners Act of 2019, a bill that would amend the [[Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977]] to swap funds in excess of the amounts needed to meet existing obligations under the Abandoned Mine Land fund to the 1974 Pension Plan as part of an effort to prevent its insolvency as a result of coal company bankruptcies and the [[2008 financial crisis]]. It also increased the [[Black Lung Benefits Act of 1972#Black Lung Disability Trust Fund|Black Lung Disability Trust Fund]] tax and ensured that miners affected by the 2018 coal company bankruptcies would not lose their health care.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.register-herald.com/health/legislation-introduced-to-secure-miners-pensions-and-health-care/article_3dea66bd-f74d-520b-abba-4bb600537361.html|title=Legislation introduced to secure miners pensions and health care|first=Wendy|last=Holdren|date=January 4, 2019|newspaper=The Register-Herald}}</ref>

In December 2016, Kaine was one of 17 senators to sign a letter to Trump asking him to fulfill a campaign pledge to bring down the cost of prescription drugs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/311202-senate-dems-sanders-to-trump-help-lower-drug-prices/|title=Senate Dems, Sanders ask Trump to help lower drug prices|date=December 20, 2016|author=Carney, Jordain|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref> In February 2017, he and 30 other senators signed a letter to Kaléo Pharmaceuticals in response to the opioid-overdose-reversing device Evzio rising in price from $690 in 2014 to $4,500 and requested the company provide the detailed price structure for Evzio, the number of devices Kaléo Pharmaceuticals set aside for donation, and the totality of federal reimbursements Evzio received in the previous year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/02/kaleos-opioid-overdose-drug-went-from-690-to-4500-and-senators-want-answers/|title=Kaléo's opioid overdose drug went from $690 to $4,500—and senators want answers|date=February 9, 2017|work=Ars Technica}}</ref> In February 2019, Kaine was one of 11 senators to sign a letter to insulin manufacturers [[Eli Lilly and Company]], [[Novo Nordisk]], and [[Sanofi]] about increased insulin prices and charging that the price increases caused patients to lack "access to the life-saving medications they need."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/politics/sen-kaine-calls-on-pharmaceutical-companies-to-explain-skyrocketing-insulin-prices/291-e403ed97-1b9a-4092-87ff-4126fa25036d|title=Sen. Kaine calls on pharmaceutical companies to explain skyrocketing insulin prices|date=February 5, 2019|publisher=WVEC}}</ref> In 2022, Kaine voted for the [[Inflation Reduction Act]], which would cap the price of insulin and allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 117th Congress - 2nd Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00325.htm |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>

In August 2019, Kaine was one of 19 Democratic senators to sign a letter to [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Treasury Secretary]] [[Steve Mnuchin]] and [[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services|Health and Human Services Secretary]] [[Alex Azar]] requesting data from the Trump administration on the consequences for healthcare if Texas prevailed in [[California v. Texas|its lawsuit seeking to gut the Affordable Care Act]]. The senators wrote, "Upending the current health care system will create an enormous hole in the pocketbooks of the people we serve as well as wreck state budgets; therefore, we ask for data to help states and Congress better understand the potential consequences of the position the Administration is taking in court."<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-requests-data-from-trump-administration-on-consequences-of-texas-v-united-states-prevailing/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Requests Data from Trump Administration on Consequences of Texas v. United States Prevailing|date=August 1, 2019|publisher=Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin|via=Urban Milwaukee}}</ref>

In September 2019, amid discussions to prevent a government shutdown, Kaine was one of six Democratic senators to sign a letter to congressional leadership advocating legislation that would permanently fund health care and pension benefits for retired coal miners as "families in Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, Alabama, Colorado, North Dakota and New Mexico" would start to receive notifications of health care termination by the end of the following month.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://wvmetronews.com/2019/09/16/manchin-colleagues-send-letter-urging-permanent-funding-for-miners-health-care-pensions/|title=Manchin, colleagues send letter urging permanent funding for miners health care, pensions|date=September 16, 2019|publisher=wvmetronews.com}}</ref>

===Immigration===
Kaine supports the [[Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals]] (DACA) and [[Deferred Action for Parental Accountability]] (DAPA) programs,<ref>Jessica Weiss, [http://www.univision.com/univision-news/politics/tim-kaine-fluent-spanish-speaker-is-clintons-vp-pick Tim Kaine, fluent Spanish speaker, is Clinton's VP pick], Univision News (July 22, 2016).</ref> which allow up to five million undocumented immigrants to gain deferral of deportation and authorization to legally work in the United States.<ref name="KaineClintonComparison" /> Alongside Senator Mark Warner and many other members of Congress, he signed on to an [[amicus brief]] in support of the program in the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] case ''[[United States v. Texas (2016)|United States v. Texas]]''.<ref>Stephen Igo, [http://www.timesnews.net/News/2015/12/04/Warner-Kaine-support-Obama-s-immigration-actions Warner, Kaine support Obama's immigration actions], ''Kingsport Times-News'' (December 4, 2015).</ref><ref>[https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-join-supreme-court-amicus-brief-demonstrating-congressional-support-for-immigration-executive-actions Warner, Kaine Join Supreme Court Amicus Brief Demonstrating Congressional Support For Immigration Executive Actions] (press release), Office of U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (March 8, 2016).</ref>

Kaine also supports comprehensive immigration reform, which would allow persons illegally present in the U.S. to earn legal status by paying a fine and taxes.<ref name="KaineClintonComparison" />

In July 2019, following reports that the Trump administration intended to end protections of spouses, parents and children of active-duty service members from deportation, Kaine was one of 22 senators to sign a letter led by [[Tammy Duckworth]] arguing that the program allowed service members the ability "to fight for the United States overseas and not worry that their spouse, children, or parents will be deported while they are away" and that its termination would cause personal hardship for service members in combat.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://wset.com/news/nation-world/senate-democrats-to-trump-dont-deport-military-families|title=Senate Democrats to Trump: don't deport military families|first=Ida|last=Domingo|date=July 11, 2019|publisher=wset.com}}</ref>

In July 2019, Kaine and 15 other Senate Democrats introduced the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, a bill to mandate that ICE agents get approval from a supervisor before undertaking an immigration raid or other enforcement actions at "sensitive locations" (schools, hospitals, places of worship, and courthouses) except in special circumstances. The bill would also require agents to receive annual training and require ICE to submit an annual report on enforcement actions in those locations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.10news.com/news/bill-would-block-immigration-raids-at-schools-courthouses|title=Bill would block immigration raids at schools, courthouses|date=July 11, 2019|first=Zac|last=Self|publisher=KGTV}}</ref>

===LGBTQ+ rights===
In 2006, Kaine campaigned against [[Marshall-Newman Amendment|an amendment to the Virginia State Constitution]] to ban [[same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR2006110701648.html|title=Ban on Same-Sex Unions Added to Va. Constitution|last=Jenkins|first=Chris L.|date=November 8, 2006|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|access-date=July 24, 2016}}</ref> and in March 2013, he announced his support of same-sex marriage.<ref>{{cite news|first= Rachel |last= Weiner|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2013/03/28/what-you-might-have-missed-from-gay-marriages-big-week/|newspaper=The Washington Post|title= What you might have missed from gay marriage's big week | date= March 28, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Phil |last = Reese |url=http://www.washingtonblade.com/2013/03/26/kaine-two-more-u-s-senators-back-same-sex-marriage/ |title= Kaine, two more U.S. senators back marriage equality | work=Washington Blade |date = March 26, 2013}}</ref>

In the Senate, Kaine co-sponsored the [[Employment Non-Discrimination Act]], which would bar employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.<ref>[https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-final-passage-of-the-employment-non-discrimination-act Kaine Statement on Final Passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act] (press release), Office of Senator Tim Kaine (November 7, 2013).</ref>

In 2005, Kaine said, "No couples in Virginia can adopt other than a married couple. That's the right policy."<ref name=Adoption>{{cite news|last=Marc|first=Fisher|title=Kaine-Kilgore Race Will Be Waged on GOP's Chosen Turf|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61737-2005Feb28.html|access-date=March 19, 2012|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 1, 2005}}</ref> In 2011, he shifted his position.<ref name=Couples>{{cite web|first=Jacob |last=Geiger|title=On whether judges should be allowed to place children with gay couples who wish to adopt.|url=http://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2011/may/27/tim-kaine/tim-kaine-says-unmarried-couples-should-be-allowed/| work=PolitiFact|date=May 27, 2011}}</ref> In 2012, he said, "there should be a license that would entitle a committed couple to the same rights as a married couple."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/virginia-politics/post/tim-kaine-pressed-on-gay-marriage-stance/2012/05/08/gIQAvYPdAU_blog.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Ben | last=Pershing | title=Tim Kaine pressed on gay marriage stance | date=May 8, 2012}}</ref>

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Kaine noted that his position on same-sex marriage was "at odds with the current doctrine of the church that I still attend." He predicted that the [[Roman Catholic Church]] would someday adopt his view.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper = The Washington Post | access-date = September 18, 2016 | date = September 10, 2016 | title = Kaine predicts Catholic church will change its teaching on gay marriage | first = John | last = Wagner |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/09/10/kaine-predicts-catholic-church-will-change-its-teaching-on-gay-marriage/ }}</ref> In response, two bishops heading the doctrine and marriage committees of the [[U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops]] said that the church's position "cannot change" and reaffirmed their opposition to same-sex marriage.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=National Catholic Reporter|url=https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/us-bishops-squelch-tim-kaines-hopes-church-may-embrace-same-sex-marriage|title=US bishops squelch Tim Kaine's hopes that church may embrace same-sex marriage|access-date=September 18, 2016|date=September 14, 2016|first=Brian|last=Roewe}}</ref>

In October 2018, Kaine was one of 20 senators to sign a letter to Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]] urging him to reverse the State Department's policy of denying visas to same-sex partners of LGBTQ diplomats who had unions that were not recognized by their home countries, writing that the Trump administration's refusal to allow LGBTQ diplomats to bring their partners to the U.S. was tantamount to upholding the "[[LGBT rights by country or territory|discriminatory policies of many countries around the world]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/11/democratic-senators-lgbt-diplomats-894174|title=Democratic senators demand Pompeo reverse visa denials for LGBTQ diplomats' partners|first=Jesus|last=Rodriguez|date=October 11, 2018|publisher=Politico}}</ref> In June 2019, Kaine was one of 18 senators to sign a letter to Pompeo requesting an explanation of the State Department's decision not to issue an official statement that year commemorating [[Pride Month]] or issue the annual cable outlining activities for embassies commemorating Pride Month. The signatories to the letter also asked why the LGBTI special envoy position had remained vacant. The authors said that the State Department's moves had sent "signals to the [[international community]] that the United States is abandoning the advancement of LGBTI rights as a foreign policy priority."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.masslive.com/politics/2019/06/us-sens-markey-warren-question-state-department-refusal-to-fly-rainbow-flags-at-embassies-during-pride-month.html|title=US. Sens. Markey, Warren question State Department refusal to fly rainbow flags at embassies during Pride month|date=June 14, 2019|first=Ray|last=Kelly|publisher=masslive.com}}</ref>

In 2022, Kaine voted for the [[Respect for Marriage Act]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mourtoupalas and Blanco |date=November 29, 2022 |title=Here's which senators voted for or against the Respect for Marriage Act |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2022/senator-vote-count-respect-for-marriage-act/}}</ref>

===Taxes===
Kaine supports allowing the [[Bush tax cuts]] to expire for those with incomes above $500,000.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/in-va-senate-race-anti-kaine-message-focuses-more-on-taxes-less-on-obama/2012/10/07/cdba9ac6-0f14-11e2-a310-2363842b7057_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Ben|last=Pershing|title=In Va. Senate race, anti-Kaine message focuses more on taxes, less on Obama |date=October 8, 2012}}</ref>

In 2012, Kaine supported raising the cap on income subject for the [[Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax|FICA (Social Security) payroll tax]] "so that it covers a similar percentage of income as it did in the 1980s under President Reagan, which would greatly extend the solvency of the ([[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]]) program."<ref name="positions">{{cite web|url=http://patch.com/virginia/mclean/tim-kaine-answers-your-questions |date=October 12, 2012|first=Lauren |last=Sausser|title=Tim Kaine Answers Your Questions|access-date=May 4, 2016 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605190226/http://patch.com/virginia/mclean/tim-kaine-answers-your-questions|archive-date=June 5, 2016 }}</ref>

In the Senate, Kaine has supported the [[Marketplace Fairness Act]], which would allow states to require [[Online shopping|online retailers]] to collect sales taxes in the same manner as traditional brick-and-mortar retailers.<ref>David Ress, [https://www.kaine.senate.gov/tim-in-the-news/roanoke-leaders-talk-to-kaine-about-online-sales-tax-postal-service Roanoke leaders talk to Kaine about online sales tax, Postal Service], ''Roanoke Times'' (May 2, 2013).</ref><ref>Jacob Geiger, [http://www.richmond.com/business/local/article_5d3f8738-a1b5-5a1f-a760-283339388e5c.html Legislation on Internet sales tax is big for Va.: Bill in U.S. Senate could produce $168M for roads projects here], ''Richmond Times-Dispatch'' (April 29, 2013).</ref><ref>Aaron Martin, [https://www.kaine.senate.gov/tim-in-the-news/tim-kaine-frustrated-by-stalled-internet-sales-tax-bill Tim Kaine frustrated by stalled internet sales tax bill], [[WSLS]] (July 29, 2013).</ref>

===Trade===
Kaine supported granting Obama [[Trade Promotion Authority]] (TPA or "fast track") to allow him to negotiate [[free trade agreement]]s.<ref name="KaineMay2015">Tim Kaine, [http://www.richmond.com/opinion/their-opinion/guest-columnists/article_290fc6d8-102f-5bfa-a9d0-c74fc5a2df6c.html?mode=jqm Virginia Is a Global Gateway], ''Richmond Times-Dispatch'' (May 16, 2015).</ref> He said the goal should be to "negotiate deals that protect workers' rights, environmental standards and intellectual property, while knocking down tariffs and other barriers that some countries erect to keep American products out."<ref name="KaineMay2015"/>

In July 2016, Kaine said the [[Trans-Pacific Partnership]] (TPP) agreement was "an improvement of the status quo" and an "upgrade of labor standards... environmental standards... intellectual property protections", but maintained that he had not yet decided how to vote on final approval of the agreement, citing "significant concerns" over TPP's dispute resolution mechanism.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jilani|first1=Zaid|title=Hours Before Hillary Clinton's VP Decision, Likely Pick Tim Kaine Praises the TPP|url=https://theintercept.com/2016/07/21/hours-before-hillary-clintons-vp-decision-likely-pick-tim-kaine-praises-the-tpp/|access-date=July 22, 2016|work=The Intercept|date=July 21, 2016}}</ref> Later that July, Kaine said that he could not support the TPP in its current form.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/kaine-comes-out-against-trans-pacific-partnership-deal-226064|title=Kaine comes out against Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal|access-date=July 23, 2016 |date = July 23, 2016| publisher=Politico | first =Doug |last = Palmer }}</ref>

Kaine has been a proponent of [[NAFTA]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chozik|first1=Amy|title=Tim Kaine Seems Likely for Hillary Clinton's No. 2, but Liberals Balk|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/22/us/politics/tim-kaine-hillary-clinton-vice-president.html|access-date=July 22, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=July 21, 2016}}</ref>

In 2025, Kaine introduced several resolutions to end the national emergencies Trump had declared to justify [[Tariffs in the second Trump administration|sweeping global tariffs]]. Kaine and [[Mark Warner]] introduced a resolution to end Trump's national emergency on energy, but it was defeated by the Senate's [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] majority.<ref name="Martin-2025">{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Michel |last2=Manuel |first2=Obed |date=March 5, 2025 |title=Senate to Vote on Trump's Proposed Tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/03/05/nx-s1-5317682/trump-tariffs-canada-china-mexico-senate-vote |access-date=March 11, 2025 |publisher=NPR}}</ref> A resolution to end the emergency justifying American tariffs on Canada narrowly passed the Senate, but was blocked by the House.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hubbard |first=Kaia |date=April 2, 2025 |title=4 Republicans join Senate Democrats to rebuke Trump tariffs on Canada |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-tariffs-canada-senate-democrats/ |access-date=April 3, 2025 |publisher=CBS News}}</ref>

===Transportation, growth, and housing===
Kaine supports some [[smart growth]]-style policies (which he calls "a balanced approach to growth") to control [[Urban sprawl|sprawl]] and improve transportation.<ref>{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Kaine |date=February 9, 2006 |title=How I Won |url=http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=253735&kaid=106&subid=122 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214082521/http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=253735&kaid=106&subid=122 |archive-date=February 14, 2012 |work=Blueprint Magazine |publisher=[[Democratic Leadership Council]] |access-date=June 24, 2016}}</ref> He favors a transportation policy that includes [[public transit]], bicycles, and pedestrians.<ref name=citylab>{{cite news|url=http://www.citylab.com/politics/2016/07/tim-kaine-urbanist/492830/|title=Tim Kaine the Urbanist|work=CityLab|date=July 24, 2016 | first =Anthony | last = Flint |access-date=July 26, 2016}}</ref> As governor, Kaine pushed through a $100 million open-space acquisition initiative.<ref name=citylab /> Under Kaine, [[Amtrak]] service in Virginia was expanded.<ref name="BacqueHSR">Peter Bacque, "High-speed rail line would include various stops in Va.," ''Richmond Times-Dispatch'' (June 4, 2009).</ref><ref>Sarah Krouse, [http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/06/01/daily102.html Amtrak to provide commuter service to Richmond, Lynchburg], ''Washington Business Journal'' (June 5, 2009).</ref><ref>Yonah Freemark, [http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2012/06/18/a-bipartisan-push-for-rail-in-virginia-produces-ridership-successes/ A Bipartisan Push for Rail in Virginia Produces Ridership Successes], ''The Transport Politic'' (June 18, 2012).</ref> He also participated in a White House round-table discussion on [[high-speed rail]] in 2009.<ref name="BacqueHSR"/>

In April 2019, Kaine was one of 41 senators to sign a bipartisan letter in support of [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development|U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's]] Section 4 Capacity Building program, a program authorizing HUD to partner with nonprofit community development groups to provide support to [[community development corporation]]s. The letter said that the longstanding program had successfully promoted economic and community development, opposed the proposed elimination of the plan in Trump's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2020, and urged the Senate to support continued funding for Section 4 in Fiscal Year 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ktvz.com/news/wyden-merkley-urge-more-affordable-housing-funds/1069680950|title=Wyden, Merkley urge more affordable housing funds|date=April 16, 2019|publisher=KTVZ|access-date=April 17, 2019|archive-date=April 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418125917/https://www.ktvz.com/news/wyden-merkley-urge-more-affordable-housing-funds/1069680950|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Workers' rights and gender equality===
Kaine is "generally pro-[[Labor unions in the United States|union]]" and has received a 96% lifetime Senate voting rating from the [[AFL–CIO]],<ref name="HerbPartyLine" /> which praised his selection as Clinton's running mate.<ref name="SchleiferLimPraise">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/22/politics/reactions-tim-kaine-pick/|title=Labor, abortion rights groups praise Kaine pick|date=July 22, 2016|publisher=CNN|last2=Lim|first2=Naomi|first1=Theodore|last1=Schleifer}}</ref> But Kaine supports Virginia's longstanding "[[right-to-work law|right-to-work]]" law, which "frees union nonmembers from any legal obligation to pay fees to a union that [[Collective bargaining|bargains collectively]] on their behalf".<ref name="HerbPartyLine" />

Kaine supports the [[Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009|Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act]], which expands the cases in which worker can sue against gender pay discrimination.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.kaine.senate.gov/tim-in-the-news/kaine-pushes-paycheck-fairness-act|title=Kaine pushes paycheck fairness act|date=January 29, 2014|newspaper=[[Daily Press (Virginia)|Daily Press]]|author=Dave Ress}}</ref> After Clinton selected him as her running mate in 2016, Kaine was praised by the [[National Organization for Women]].<ref name="SchleiferLimPraise" /><ref>Alex Seitz-Wald, [http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/hillary-clinton-opts-experience-over-exhilaration-kaine-pick-n615321 Hillary Clinton Opts for Experience Over Exhilaration in Tim Kaine Pick], NBC News (July 22, 2016).</ref>

Kaine favors an increase in the [[Minimum wage in the United States|minimum wage]].<ref name="HerbPartyLine" />

==Personal life==
[[File:Tim Kaine and Anne Holton 2012dncconvention-190 (8049827332) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Kaine with his wife Anne at the [[2012 Democratic National Convention]]]]
In November 1984, Kaine married [[Anne Holton|Anne Bright Holton]], the daughter of [[A. Linwood Holton Jr.]], the 61st governor of Virginia.<ref name="WeddingAnnouncement"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4612976/tim-kaine-political-hero-father-in-law-linwood-holton|title=Tim Kaine on his 'political hero,' father-in-law Linwood Holton|website=C-SPAN.org|language=en-US|access-date=October 4, 2016}}</ref> The couple met while they were students at Harvard Law School.<ref name="Burton10"/> Holton has been a judge for the [[Virginia Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court]] in Richmond.<ref name=vozella /> After serving as [[first lady]] of Virginia during her husband's term, she was appointed by Governor [[Terry McAuliffe]] in 2014 to be Virginia's secretary of education,<ref name=vozella>{{cite news |first=Laura |last= Vozzella |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/mcauliffe-picks-anne-holton-for-education-secretary/2014/01/03/11d0fad2-7492-11e3-8b3f-b1666705ca3b_story.html |title= McAuliffe picks Anne Holton for Va. education secretary | work=The Washington Post' |date=January 3, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2016/07/22/meet-tim-kaines-wife-a-longtime-child-welfare-advocate-and-virginias-secretary-of-education/|title=Meet Tim Kaine's wife, a longtime child welfare advocate and Virginia's secretary of education|newspaper=The Washington Post|date= July 22, 2016 | first1=Moriah | last1=Balingit | first2= Emma | last2 =Brown |access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref> and held that position until July 2016, when she stepped down after her husband was nominated for vice president.<ref>Moriah Balingit, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/anne-holton-wife-of-clintons-running-mate-resigns-as-vas-education-secretary/2016/07/26/d731f682-5360-11e6-b7de-dfe509430c39_story.html Anne Holton, wife of Clinton's running mate, resigns as Va.'s education secretary], ''The Washington Post'' (July 26, 2016).</ref> The couple has three children, one of whom is a [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine]].<ref name="NGABio" /><ref name="timeline"/><ref name="SudermanSelfAssured">Alan Suderman, [http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CAMPAIGN_2016_KAINE_PROFILE_MOOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Self-assured, Kaine brings a steady hand to Clinton ticket] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731194031/http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CAMPAIGN_2016_KAINE_PROFILE_MOOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT |date=July 31, 2016 }}, Associated Press (July 22, 2016).</ref> As of 2016, Kaine and his wife had been congregants of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Richmond, a [[Black Catholicism|mostly black congregation]], for 30 years.<ref name="SudermanSelfAssured"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/tim-kaine/story?id=40280767|title=Tim Kaine: Everything You Need to Know|date=July 22, 2016|work=ABC News|access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref>

Kaine plays the [[harmonica]]<ref>{{cite news | first=Alex |last= Gangitano |url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/hoh/tim-kaines-secret-weapon-the-harmonica |title=Tim Kaine's Secret Weapon: The Harmonica |work=Roll Call |date=March 17, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Joe |last = Heim |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/tim-kaine-talks-hillary-and-the-harmonica/2015/05/14/7338b20c-ede9-11e4-8666-a1d756d0218e_story.html |title= Tim Kaine still gets inspired by people. Just don't ask him to run for president | newspaper =The Washington Post |date=May 28, 2015}}</ref> and often travels with several.<ref name="StolbergSharpElbows"/>

Kaine is fluent in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as a result of his nine months in Honduras.<ref name="KaineSpanish"/> During the 2016 campaign, he became the first member of a presidential ticket to deliver a speech in Spanish.<ref name="PortnoyPenceReturns"/>

On May 28, 2020, Kaine announced that he and his wife had tested positive for [[coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] antibodies.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cole |first=Devan |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/28/politics/tim-kaine-coronavirus-antibodies/index.html |title=Tim Kaine says he and his wife tested positive for coronavirus antibodies - CNNPolitics |date=May 28, 2020 |publisher=CNN |access-date=May 31, 2020}}</ref> In March 2022, it was reported that he has [[Long Covid|long COVID]] symptoms.<ref>{{cite news|last=Flynn |first=Meagan|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/03/02/kaine-long-covid-bill/ |title=Kaine introduces bill to research and combat long covid, after suffering it himself |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=March 3, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kaine, Markey & Duckworth Introduce Bill to Help People Living with Long COVID {{!}} U.S. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia |url=https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-markey-and-duckworth-introduce-bill-to-help-people-living-with-long-covid |access-date=March 18, 2022 |website=www.kaine.senate.gov |date=March 2, 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Sen. Tim Kaine Opens Up About His Experience With Long COVID-19 {{!}} Amanpour and Company | date=March 17, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33EtE0HH6mY |language=en |access-date=March 18, 2022}}</ref>

On April 9, 2024, Kaine's book, ''Walk Ride Paddle: A Life Outside'' was published. In it, he chronicles hiking the 559 miles of the [[Appalachian Trail by state#Virginia|Appalachian Trail in Virginia]], biking the 321-mile length of the [[Blue Ridge Parkway]] and kayaking the [[James River]] from the [[Allegheny Mountains]] to the [[Chesapeake Bay]]. He began these years-long treks in 2019 and did them during weekends and Senate recesses.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 23, 2024 |title=The Post endorses Tim Kaine for U.S. Senate in Virginia |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/09/23/virginia-senate-endorsement-tim-kaine/ |access-date=January 2, 2025 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

===Personality and leadership style===
About 145,000 emails from Kaine and his staff during his term as governor are publicly accessible at the [[Library of Virginia]]. ''Politico'' conducted an analysis of the correspondence and wrote that the messages show Kaine to be a "media-savvy" and detail-oriented "micro-manager" who is also a policy "[[wikt:policy wonk|wonk]]".<ref>{{cite web|author=Darren Samuelsohn|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/tim-kaine-emails-clinton-vp-225983|title=Kaine email trove shows media-savvy micromanager|newspaper=Politico|date=July 23, 2013}}</ref>

According to ''The New York Times'', Kaine "is widely described by people in his political orbit as a likable if less than charismatic figure...guided by moral convictions that flow from his deep Christian faith."<ref name="StolbergSharpElbows"/> On ''[[Meet the Press]]'', Kaine called himself "boring."<ref name="StolbergSharpElbows"/><ref>[http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meet-press-june-26-2016-n599196 Transcript], ''Meet the Press'', NBC News (June 26, 2016).</ref>

==Awards and honors==
Kaine has received the Humanitarian Award from the [[Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities]], then the Virginia Region of the [[National Conference for Community and Justice]] (2000),<ref>[http://www.inclusiveva.org/awards/humanitarian/richmond/richmond-past-honorees/ Richmond Past Honorees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160904123251/http://www.inclusiveva.org/awards/humanitarian/richmond/richmond-past-honorees/ |date=September 4, 2016 }} (website), Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (Retrieved July 23, 2016).</ref> the Virginia Council of Churches' Faith in Action Award (2009),<ref>[http://www.progress-index.com/article/20090523/news/305239975 Virginia Council of Churches honors Gov. Tim Kaine and Bishop Peter James Lee], ''[[The Progress-Index]]'' (May 23, 2009).</ref> the [[University of Richmond School of Law]]'s William Green Award for Professional Excellence (2012),<ref>[http://news.richmond.edu/news/article/-/10472/green-award-honors-anne-holton-and-tim-kaine.html Green Award honors Anne Holton and Tim Kaine], University of Richmond School of Law (March 1, 2012).</ref> the Award for Public Service in the Americas from the [[Inter-American Dialogue]] (2014),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.thedialogue.org/smlfg|title=Inter-American Dialogue {{!}}|website=archive.thedialogue.org|access-date=November 22, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306003535/http://archive.thedialogue.org/smlfg|url-status=dead}}</ref> the [[Appalachian Trail Conservancy]]'s Congressional Award (2015),<ref>[http://www.appalachiantrail.org/home/community/news/2015/07/17/senators-kelly-ayotte-and-tim-kaine-receive-appalachian-trail-conservancy-congressional-award Senators Kelly Ayotte and Tim Kaine Receive Appalachian Trail Conservancy Congressional Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818170855/http://www.appalachiantrail.org/home/community/news/2015/07/17/senators-kelly-ayotte-and-tim-kaine-receive-appalachian-trail-conservancy-congressional-award |date=August 18, 2016 }}, Appalachian Trail Conservancy (2015).</ref> and the [[Center for the National Interest]]'s Distinguished Service Award (2016).<ref>[http://cftni.org/recent-events/2016-distinguished-service-award-dinner-honor-senators-tim-kaine-and-pat-roberts/ 2016 Distinguished Service Award Dinner Honoring Senators Tim Kaine and Pat Roberts], Center for the National Interest (May 23, 2016).</ref> He was made a Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of Isabella the Catholic]] in 2017.<ref>[https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2017-5294 Royal Decree 502/2017, 12 may], Spanish Official Journal (May 13, 2017) {{in lang|es}}.</ref> He received the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) Maritime Leadership Award in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=SCA |title=U.S. Senator Tim Kaine Receives American Shipbuilders' Highest Honor; Maritime Leadership Award |url=https://americanmaritimevoices.org/u-s-senator-tim-kaine-receives-american-shipbuilders-highest-honor-maritime-leadership-award/ |website=American Maritime Voices|date=August 6, 2024 }}</ref>

==Electoral history==
'''2001 lieutenant gubernatorial election'''<br />
{{Election box begin no change | title=Virginia Lieutenant gubernatorial Democratic primary, 2001<ref name=LtGovPrimaryResult>{{cite web |title=Virginia Elections Database of 2001 Lieutenant Governor Democratic Primary |url=https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/view/42645/ |website=Virginia Elections Database |publisher=Virginia Department of Elections |access-date=March 16, 2020}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Tim Kaine
  |votes      = 64,008
  |percentage = 39.66
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Alan Diamonstein]]
  |votes      = 50,753
  |percentage = 31.45
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = J. C. Jones
  |votes      = 46,640
  |percentage = 28.90
}}
{{Election box majority no change
  |votes      = 13,255
  |percentage = 8.21
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes      = 161,401
  |percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=Virginia Lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2001<ref name=LtGovGenResult/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Tim Kaine
  |votes      = 925,974
  |percentage = 50.35
  |change     = +5.30%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Jay K. Katzen]]
  |votes      = 883,886
  |percentage = 48.06
  |change     = -2.10%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = G. A. Reams
  |votes      = 28,783
  |percentage = 1.57
  |change     = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Write-in
  |candidate  = Others
  |votes      = 490
  |percentage = 0.03
  |change     = N/A
}}
{{Election box majority
  |votes      = 42,088
  |percentage = 2.29
  |change     = -2.29%
}}
{{Election box total
  |votes      = 1,839,133
  |percentage =
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box swing with party link
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
  |loser      = Republican Party (United States)
  |swing     = 5.30
}}
{{Election box end}}

'''2005 gubernatorial election'''<br />
{{Election box begin | title=[[2005 Virginia gubernatorial election|Virginia gubernatorial election, 2005]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/Files/ElectionResults/2005/nov2005/html/ |title = General Election- November 8, 2005 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140702063111/http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/Files/ElectionResults/2005/nov2005/html/ |archive-date=July 2, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Tim Kaine
  |votes      = 1,025,942
  |percentage = 51.72%
  |change     = -0.44%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Jerry Kilgore (politician)|Jerry Kilgore]]
  |votes      = 912,327
  |percentage = 45.99%
  |change     = -1.04%
}}
{{Election box candidate
  |party      = Independent
  |candidate  = [[Russ Potts]]
  |votes      = 43,953
  |percentage = 2.22%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate
  |party      = None
  |candidate  = [[Write-in candidate|Write-Ins]]
  |votes      = 1,556
  |percentage = 0.08%
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box majority
  |votes      = 113,615
  |percentage = 5.73%
  |change     = +0.60%
}}
{{Election box turnout
  |votes      = 1,983,778
  |percentage = 44.96%
  |change     = -1.4%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
  |swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}

'''2012 U.S. Senate election'''<br />
{{Election box begin | title=[[2012 United States Senate election in Virginia|United States Senate election in Virginia, 2012]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/search/year_from:2012/year_to:2012/office_id:6/stage:General |title=Virginia Elections Database of Search Elections |publisher=Historical.elections.virginia.gov |access-date=May 31, 2020}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
 | party      = Democratic Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Tim Kaine
 | votes      = 2,010,067
 | percentage = 52.83%
 | change     = +3.24%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = George Allen
 | votes      = 1,785,542
 | percentage = 46.92%
 | change     = -2.28%
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link
 | votes      = 9,410
 | percentage = 0.25%
 | change     = +0.15%
}}
{{Election box total
 | votes      = 3,805,019
 | percentage = 100.0%
 | change     = N/A
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
 | winner      = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

'''2016 vice presidential election'''<br />
{{Election box begin no change |title=[[2016 United States presidential election|United States vice presidential election, 2016]]}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Republican Party (US)
 |candidate = [[Mike Pence]]
 |votes = 62,984,828 (popular votes)<br />305&nbsp;[[Electoral College (United States)|electors]]<br />{{nowrap|(30 states + [[Maine's 2nd congressional district|ME-02]])}}
 |percentage = 46.1% (popular vote)<br />56.7% (electoral vote)
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
 |party = Democratic Party (US)
 |candidate = Tim Kaine
 |votes = 65,853,514 (popular votes)<br />227&nbsp;electors<br />(20 states + [[United States presidential election in the District of Columbia, 2016|DC]])
 |percentage = 48.2% (popular vote)<br />42.2% (electoral vote)
}}
{{Election box end}}

'''2018 U.S. Senate election'''<br />
{{Election box begin | title=[[2018 United States Senate election in Virginia|United States Senate election in Virginia, 2018]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2018%20November%20General/Site/Congress.html|title=2018 November General|website=Elections.virginia.gov/|access-date=February 23, 2019|archive-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108141328/https://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2018%20November%20General/Site/Congress.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
 | party      = Democratic Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Tim Kaine (incumbent)
 | votes      = 1,910,370
 | percentage = 57.00%
 | change     = +4.17%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Corey Stewart
 | votes      = 1,374,313
 | percentage = 41.01%
 | change     = -5.91%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 | party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Matt Waters
 | votes      = 61,565
 | percentage = 1.84%
 | change     = +1.84%
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link
 | votes      = 5,125
 | percentage = 0.15%
 | change     = -0.10%
}}
{{Election box total
 | votes      = 3,351,373
 | percentage = 100.0%
 | change     = N/A
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

'''2024 U.S. Senate election'''<br />
{{Election box begin | title=[[2024 United States Senate election in Virginia|United States Senate election in Virginia, 2024]]<ref>{{cite news|title=2024 November General Official Results|url=https://enr.elections.virginia.gov/results/public/Virginia/elections/2024NovemberGeneral|website=Virginia Department of Elections|access-date=December 19, 2024}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
 | party      = Democratic Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Tim Kaine (incumbent)
 | votes      = 2,417,115
 | percentage = 54.37%
 | change     = -2.63%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Hung Cao
 | votes      = 2,019,911
 | percentage = 45.44%
 | change     = +4.43%
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link
 | votes      = 8,509
 | percentage = 0.19%
 | change     = +0.04%
}}
{{Election box total
 | votes      = 4,445,535
 | percentage = 100.0%
 | change     = N/A
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
'''Governor'''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100115121937/http://www.governor.virginia.gov/ Kaine's Governor website] (Archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060106213632/http://www.ltgov.virginia.gov/NEWLtGov/index.cfm Kaine's Lieutenant governor website] (Archived)
* [http://www.vpap.org/offices/governor/elections/?year_and_type=2005regular 2005 campaign contributions] at the Virginia Public Access Project
* [https://wayback.archive-it.org/663/*/http://www.movingvirginiaforward.com/ Moving Virginia Forward Archived Web Site, 2007] part of [http://www.archive-it.org/public/collection.html?id=663 Virginia's Political Landscape, 2007 Web Archive Collection] at [http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/archival_web_collections Virginia Memory]
* [https://wayback.archive-it.org/1295/*/http://www.movingvirginiaforward.com/ Moving Virginia Forward Archived Web Site, 2009] part of [http://www.archive-it.org/public/collection.html?id=1295 Virginia's Political Landscape, 2009 Web Archive Collection] at [http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/archival_web_collections Virginia Memory]
* [https://wayback.archive-it.org/190/*/http://www.kaine2005.org/ Tim Kaine for Governor Archived Web Site, 2005–2006] part of [http://www.archive-it.org/public/collection.html?id=190 Virginia's Political Landscape, Fall 2005 Web Archive Collection] at [http://www.virginiamemory.com/ Virginia Memory]
* [http://www.archive-it.org/public/collection.html?id=263 Governor Tim Kaine Administration Web Site Archive, 2006–2010]
* [http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/kaine/ Kaine Email Project] at the [[Library of Virginia]]

==External links==
{{Sister project links| q=no |wikt=no |b=no |v=no |c=Category:Tim Kaine |d=Q359888}}
* [https://www.kaine.senate.gov/ U.S. Senate website]
* [https://timkaine.com/ Campaign website]
* {{C-SPAN|49219}}
{{CongLinks | congbio = K000384 | votesmart = 50772| fec = S2VA00142 | congress = timothy-kaine/K000384}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaine, Tim}}
[[Category:Tim Kaine|*]]
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