Terry McAuliffe

After losing the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election, he founded Common Good Virginia, which claims it is “committed to supporting Democratic candidates in the Commonwealth in 2024 and beyond.” In 2025, he was named co-chair of Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future.  ³

Politics

Terry McAuliffe began working in national politics at the age of 23, when he worked as the national finance director for President Jimmy Carter on his re-election campaign. He co-chaired President Bill Clinton’s 1996 campaign. In 2000, he was elected the chairman of the Democratic National Committee and later the chair of the Democratic National Convention. He was also the chairman of then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign.  ¹

McAuliffe helped to establish the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.  ¹

In 2004, he was one of five members on the board of directors of the Clinton Foundation. He stayed in that position until 2013, and then later rejoined the board of directors in 2024.  ²

After losing a bid to return to the governorship in 2021, he founded Common Good Virginia, which claims it is “committed to supporting Democratic candidates in the Commonwealth in 2024 and beyond.” The group cites areas of concern including education, healthcare, and raising the minimum wage.  ^{4  5}

In 2025, he joined Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future as a co-chair.  ³

Governor of Virginia

In 2009, Terry McAuliffe ran for Governor of Virginia unsuccessfully. In 2013, he ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, and in the general election, he defeated then-state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R). He ran again for Governor of Virigina, which does not allow consecutive terms for governors, in 2021, this time losing to Republican Glenn Youngkin.  ^{6  7}

During his time in office, McAuliffe vetoed a then-record 120 bills.  ⁸

In 2016, McAuliffe announced that he would restore the voting ability of 13,000 convicted felons.  ⁹

In 2016, McAuliffe vetoed a bill that would have allowed parents to opt their children out of reading assignments that included sexually explicit content.  ¹⁰

In 2017, McAuliffe vetoed three bills concerned with immigration enforcement, including one that would have prevented sanctuary cities from being established in Virginia.  ¹¹

In 2017, McAuliffe vetoed a bill that would have restricted Planned Parenthood from receiving state funds in Virginia.  ¹²

McAuliffe advocated that universal background checks be instituted for firearm purchases.  ¹³

McAuliffe opposed the use of coal as an energy source, stating he would not build coal plants as governor.”  ¹⁴

Personal Life and Business Ventures

Terry McAuliffe identifies as a Catholic. He attended the Catholic University of America and Georgetown University Law Center.  ¹⁵

In 1985, McAuliffe helped to found the Federal City National Bank; he was elected chairman three years later, becoming the “youngest elected chairman of a federally chartered bank in the history of the United States.”  ¹⁶

In 1996, he acquired a business called American Heritage Homes, a large home-building business in Central Florida.  ¹⁷

Later, he founded a company called GreenTech Automotive, stepping down from it in 2013 to run for governor in Virginia.  ¹⁸