Mark Herring

Herring was born in Johnson City, Tennessee, and moved to Leesburg, Virginia at the age of 12.{{cite web|url=https://loudounnow.com/2018/02/01/the-real-deal-as-herrings-profile-rises-loudouns-homegrown-ag-stays-in-touch-with-his-roots/|title=As Herring's Profile Rises, Loudoun's Homegrown AG Stays in Touch with His Roots|last=Mercker|first=Jan|date=2018-02-01|website=Loudoun Now|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-05}} Raised by Jane Rankin Herring,{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Karen |date=2022-07-26 |title=Local political leader Charlie Waddell dies at the age of 90 |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/local-political-leader-charlie-waddell-dies-at-the-age-of-90/article_dff7bc14-0cf7-11ed-88ad-03f96c83540d.html |access-date= |website=Loudoun Times-Mirror |language=en}} a single mother, he graduated from Loudoun Valley High School in 1979 and worked in construction and many other jobs to pay for college.{{cite web|url=http://www.insidenova.com/news/herring-will-seek-second-term-as-ag/article_380e681a-cd6e-5ebb-9ff1-b5987fee53f2.html|title=Herring Will Seek Second Term As AG|last=InsideNoVa.com|website=INSIDENOVA.COM|date=September 2, 2015 |language=en|access-date=2019-02-05}}{{cite web|url=https://heavy.com/news/2019/02/mark-herring/|title=Mark Herring: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|last=Prengel|first=Kate|date=2019-02-04|website=Heavy.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-05}} He eventually obtained a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in foreign affairs and economics at the University of Virginia.{{Cite news|last1=Schneider|first1=Gregory S.|last2=Vozzella|first2=Laura|title=Virginia's three leaders engulfed in turmoil, with Herring disclosure from college days|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/va-atty-gen-herring-appears-in-blackface-in-photo-from-college-days/2019/02/06/9aa4aff8-2a26-11e9-984d-9b8fba003e81_story.html|access-date=2020-10-19|issn=0190-8286}} He also obtained a Master of Arts in foreign affairs from UVA. He later obtained a J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law.

He served in elected office on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors from 2000 to 2003,{{cite web |url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/50846/mark-herring |title=Senator Mark R. Herring (VA) |access-date=June 8, 2011}}{{Cite web|last=Leonor|first=Mel|date=2 September 2020|title=Attorney General Mark Herring will seek third term and will not run for governor|url=https://dailyprogress.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/attorney-general-mark-herring-will-seek-third-term-and-will-not-run-for-governor/article_1b929d77-9582-5915-93a9-72f75c3326d3.html|access-date=2020-10-19|website=The Daily Progress|language=en}}{{Cite journal|title=Loudoun County November 2, 1999 General and Special Elections Results".|url=https://www.loudoun.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/86|journal=Loudoun County Office of Elections|pages=7}} and was the town attorney for Lovettsville, Virginia, from 1992 to 1999.{{Cite web|last=Szabo|first=Patrick|date=2020-10-12|title=Local, State Leaders Celebrate the Life of Former Lovettsville Mayor Walker|url=https://loudounnow.com/2020/10/12/local-state-leaders-celebrate-the-life-of-former-lovettsville-mayor-walker/|access-date=2020-10-19|website=Loudoun Now|language=en-US}}

Herring was elected to the Senate of Virginia in a special election triggered by Republican Bill Mims' appointment as chief deputy attorney general of Virginia.{{Cite web|last=Leonor|first=Mel|date=2 September 2020|title=Attorney General Mark Herring will seek third term and will not run for governor|url=https://roanoke.com/news/local/attorney-general-mark-herring-will-seek-third-term-and-will-not-run-for-governor/article_81907ced-46ec-573b-a1ef-fddfc24c7089.html|access-date=2020-10-19|website=The Roanoke Times|language=en}} He was re-elected to a full term in the 2007 election, and re-elected again in 2011.

He is the principal with The Herring Law Firm, P.C., in Leesburg, Virginia.

{{Main|2013 Virginia Attorney General election}}

File:Leedemsopeningday2013 (37) (8636601377).jpg

On July 24, 2012, he announced that he would run for the office of Attorney General of Virginia, in the 2013 elections.{{cite web|url=http://www.leesburgtoday.com/news/article_af2ff448-d594-11e1-9b4a-001a4bcf887a.html|title=Herring To Run For Attorney General Seat|access-date=July 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830021405/http://www.leesburgtoday.com/news/article_af2ff448-d594-11e1-9b4a-001a4bcf887a.html|archive-date=August 30, 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/herring_to_seek_attorney_general_post_restore_credibility_to_the_office424/|title=Herring to seek attorney general post, restore 'credibility' to the office | access-date = July 24, 2012}} On April 2, 2013, The Democratic Party of Virginia certified that Herring's name would appear on the June primary ballot.{{cite news | last = Walker | first = Julian | title = McAuliffe named Dem governor nominee, 4 others make ballot | work = The Virginian-Pilot | date = April 2, 2013 | url = http://hamptonroads.com/2013/04/mcauliffe-named-dem-governor-nominee-4-others-make-ballot | access-date = April 3, 2013 | archive-date = May 22, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130522200121/http://hamptonroads.com/2013/04/mcauliffe-named-dem-governor-nominee-4-others-make-ballot | url-status = dead }} Herring defeated Justin Fairfax in the Democratic primary on June 11, 2013, winning narrowly by a margin of 52% to 48%.{{cite news | author = Pershing, Ben and Errin Whack | title = Democrats give nod to Northam, Herring in statewide races | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = June 11, 2013 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/voter-turnout-sparse-for-down-ticket-races-in-virginia/2013/06/11/dc9c4364-d2a0-11e2-8cbe-1bcbee06f8f8_story.html | access-date = June 12, 2013}}

He faced Republican Mark Obenshain in the general election. On the night of the election, Obenshain held a 1,200-vote lead over Herring. Vote totals fluctuated as ballots were canvassed in the following days, and the race remained too close to call. On November 12, 2013, with all ballots counted, Herring held a 165-vote lead, or less than 0.01%, and Obenshain requested a recount.{{cite web|last=Korff|first=Jay|title=Virginia election 2013: Mark Herring claims Attorney General victory|date=November 12, 2013|url=http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/11/va-attorney-general-race-herring-s-lead-slips-over-obenshain-96784.html|publisher=WJLA|access-date=November 13, 2013}} Herring's total increased during the recount, so Obenshain conceded the election on December 18, 2013, and later that day, the recount ended with Herring winning by 907 votes, or 0.04%.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/mark-obenshain-mark-herring-virginia-attorney-general-race-101285.html|title=GOP Sen. Mark Obenshain concedes in Virginia attorney general race|author=Emily Schultheis|work=POLITICO|date=December 18, 2013 |access-date=August 7, 2015}}{{cite news|title=It's official: Recount results show 907 vote margin for Herring|url=http://www.dailypress.com/news/politics/shad-plank-blog/dp-virgiina-politics-its-official-herring-wins-with-907-vote-margin-20131219,0,789429.post|date=December 19, 2013|access-date=January 2, 2014|work=Daily Press|first=Dave|last=Ress|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103110535/http://www.dailypress.com/news/politics/shad-plank-blog/dp-virgiina-politics-its-official-herring-wins-with-907-vote-margin-20131219,0,789429.post|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|last1=Rogers|first1=Alex|title=With 164 Vote Attorney General Victory, Virginia Democrats Sweep State|url=https://swampland.time.com/2013/11/13/with-106-vote-attorney-general-victory-virginia-democrats-sweep-state/|magazine=Time|date=November 13, 2013|access-date=27 November 2016}} Herring was sworn into office on January 11, 2014.{{cite news|title=McAuliffe sworn in as Virginia governor|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/mcauliffe-sworn-in-as-virginia-governor/2014/01/11/998095f0-7951-11e3-8963-b4b654bcc9b2_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 11, 2014|access-date=October 1, 2020}}

{{Main|2017 Virginia Attorney General election}}

Herring faced no opposition in the Democratic primary and won his party's endorsement for re-election.{{Cite news|last1=Portnoy|first1=Jenna|last2=Vozzella|first2=Laura|date=2015-09-02|title=Va. attorney general to seek reelection, won't run for governor in 2017|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/va-attorney-general-to-seek-reelection-wont-run-for-governor-in-2017/2015/09/02/26e61b96-5186-11e5-9812-92d5948a40f8_story.html|access-date=2020-10-19|issn=0190-8286}} He defeated Republican opponent John Donley Adams and won re-election by 53% to 47%.{{Cite web|last=Wilson|first=Patrick|date=7 November 2017|title=Democratic Attorney General Mark R. Herring wins second term|url=https://richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/democratic-attorney-general-mark-r-herring-wins-second-term/article_54218dac-41e4-573d-bfa8-372e0afdb4ad.html|access-date=2020-10-19|website=Richmond Times-Dispatch|language=en}}

{{Main|2021 Virginia Attorney General election}}

On September 2, 2020, Herring announced that he would be seeking re-election as attorney general instead of running for governor. On November 2, 2021, Herring lost his reelection bid to Republican challenger Jason Miyares, a Virginia House delegate.{{cite news|last=Vozzella|first=Laura|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/mark-herring-run-attorney-general/2020/09/02/d36714f4-ed41-11ea-b4bc-3a2098fc73d4_story.html|title=Mark Herring to run again for Virginia Attorney General, skipping governor's race|newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 2, 2020|access-date=September 4, 2020}} He slightly outperformed the other candidates Terry McAuliffe and Hala Ayala, who were all on the Democratic ticket.

On January 23, 2014, Herring announced that he would not defend the Virginia Marriage Amendment in federal court, and filed a brief in a federal lawsuit being brought against the law asking for it to be struck down. Herring said in a press conference announcing the move, "I believe the freedom to marry is a fundamental right and I intend to ensure that Virginia is on the right side of history and the right side of the law."[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/virginia-to-fight-same-sex-marriage-ban/2014/01/23/9e5aa210-8431-11e3-bbe5-6a2a3141e3a9_story.html Va. Attorney General Mark Herring files brief opposing same-sex marriage ban] The Washington Post

Reaction to the announcement was mainly along party lines, with Democrats mostly praising the move and Republicans mostly criticizing it as violating his oath of office.[https://archive.today/20140123231240/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/lawmakers-split-along-partisan-lines-on-ags-move/2014/01/23/d56a3730-8462-11e3-a273-6ffd9cf9f4ba_story.html Va. lawmakers split along party lines on AG’s move] The Washington Post The National Organization for Marriage has called for Herring's impeachment, claiming that the Virginia attorney general is obligated to defend all state laws against challenges.[http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/virginia-gay-marriage-mark-herring-102515.html AG wants Virginia on 'right side of history'], POLITICO In the press conference, Herring said, "There are those who will say that the attorney general is required to defend every challenge to a state law, even a law that is unconstitutional. They could not be more wrong."{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/23/va-ags-office-gay-marriage-ban-unconstitutional/?page=all#pagebreak|title=Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring says gay marriage ban unconstitutional|work=The Washington Times|access-date=August 7, 2015}}

The U.S. District Court in Norfolk ruled the amendment unconstitutional in the case Bostic v. Schaefer on February 13, 2014. On July 28, 2014, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 2–1 opinion upholding the lower court's decision. This was appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States, which denied a writ of certiorari, letting the Fourth Circuit Court's decision stand and legalizing same-sex marriage in Virginia.

In 2019, Mark Herring and the Democratic Party won their case against gerrymandering in Virginia elections when the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the Virginia House GOP's appeal.{{cite web |last1=Times-Dispatch |first1=GRAHAM MOOMAW Richmond |title=U.S. Supreme Court dismisses Va. House GOP's appeal in racial gerrymandering case |url=https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/u-s-supreme-court-dismisses-va-house-gop-s-appeal/article_4de756e1-6623-5828-9d09-ec68beac4682.html |website=Richmond Times-Dispatch |date=June 17, 2019 |access-date=18 June 2019 |language=en}}

{{see also|2019 Virginia political crisis}}

A few days after the controversy began over a blackface picture appearing on Ralph Northam's page in a 1984 medical school yearbook in the context of the 2019 Virginia political crisis, Herring admitted to an incident in which he also wore blackface:{{blockquote|In 1980, when I was a 19-year-old undergraduate in college (at the University of Virginia), some friends suggested we attend a party dressed like rappers we listened to at the time, like Kurtis Blow, and perform a song.{{cite news|last1=Schneider|first1=Gregory S.|last2=Vozzella|first2=Laura|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/va-atty-gen-herring-appears-in-blackface-in-photo-from-college-days/2019/02/06/9aa4aff8-2a26-11e9-984d-9b8fba003e81_story.html|title=Virginia Attorney General Herring says he wore blackface in college|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 6, 2019|access-date=February 6, 2019}}}} Herring had previously called on Northam to resign after the discovery of Northam's yearbook page, saying, "It is no longer possible for Governor Northam to lead our Commonwealth, and it is time for him to step down." He later clarified that the discovery of the yearbook page was not the reason he called for Northam's resignation; he did so because Northam had initially admitted to appearing in the photo, but the following day, "came out with a different and contradictory account, and that was when there was an erosion of trust."{{cite web|last=Vozzella|first=Laura|url=https://pilotonline.com/news/government/politics/virginia/article_819519f6-3f4a-11e9-ade1-7309b654fad3.html|title=It wasn't the blackface: Virginia AG Mark Herring explains why he called for Northam's resignation|work=The Virginian-Pilot|date=March 5, 2019|access-date=May 5, 2019}}

As attorney general of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Mark Herring took the case for Obamacare to the United States Supreme Court.{{cite news |last1=Liptak |first1=Adam |last2=Goodnough |first2=Abby |title=Supreme Court to Hear Obamacare Appeal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/02/us/supreme-court-obamacare-appeal.html |access-date=3 March 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=2 March 2020}}

On June 25, 2020, Herring filed a lawsuit against Advanced Towing Company, LLC, a towing and recovery operator based in Arlington, Virginia. The Complaint alleges that Advanced Towing has violated Virginia and Arlington County towing code provisions, resulting in towing conduct that is “frequently predatory, aggressive, overreaching and illegal.” Virginia State Senator Chap Peterson represented Advanced Towing in the case.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-25|title=ATTORNEY GENERAL HERRING SUES NORTHERN VIRGINIA TOWING COMPANY|url=https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/1747-june-25-2020-herring-sues-northern-virginia-towing-company|access-date=2021-11-11|website=Attorney General Mark Herring}}

Herring and his wife Laura live in Leesburg, Virginia. They have two adult children, daughter Peyton and son Tim.{{cite web|url=https://herringforag.com/about-mark/|title=About Mark|work=Mark Herring for Attorney General|access-date=June 24, 2021}} His step-father was former state Senator Charlie Waddell.{{Cite web |title=Charles L. Waddell Obituary |url=https://www.loudounfuneralchapel.com/obituaries/Charles-Waddell-2/ |access-date= |website=Loudoun Funeral Chapel |language=en}}

;1999

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 1999 Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Leesburg district general election

}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Mark Herring

| votes = 1655

| percentage = 54.10

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = James E. Clem

| votes = 1404

| percentage = 45.90

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 3059

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box end}}

;2003

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2003 Virginia State Senate 27th district general election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Russ Potts (incumbent)

| votes = 26152

| percentage = 58.18

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Mark Herring

| votes = 18460

| percentage = 41.07

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change|

| votes = 335

| percentage = 0.75

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 44947

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box end}}

;2006

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2006 Virginia State Senate 33rd district special election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Mark Herring

| votes = 12,381

| percentage = 61.63

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = D.M. Staton, Jr.

| votes = 7,689

| percentage = 38.27

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change|

| votes = 20

| percentage = 0.10

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 20,090

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box end}}

;2007

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2007 Virginia State Senate 33rd district election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Mark Herring (incumbent)

| votes = 27,784

| percentage = 56.89

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Patricia Phillips

| votes = 20,994

| percentage = 42.99

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change|

| votes = 55

| percentage = 0.11

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 48,833

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box end}}

;2011

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2011 Virginia State Senate 33rd district election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Mark Herring (incumbent)

| votes = 14,061

| percentage = 54.06

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Patricia Phillips

| votes = 11,915

| percentage = 45.81

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change|

| votes = 30

| percentage = 0.11

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 26,006

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box end}}

;2013

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2013 Virginia Attorney General Democratic primary election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Mark Herring

| votes = 72,861

| percentage = 51.66

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Justin Fairfax

| votes = 68,177

| percentage = 48.34

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 141,038

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2013 Virginia Attorney General election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Mark Herring

| votes = 1,105,045

| percentage = 49.91

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Mark Obenshain

| votes = 1,104,138

| percentage = 49.87

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change|

| votes = 4,892

| percentage = 0.22

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 2,214,075

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box end}}

;2017

Herring ran unopposed in the 2017 Democratic primary.

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2017 Virginia Attorney General election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Mark Herring (incumbent)

| votes = 1,385,389

| percentage = 53.34

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = John Donley Adams

| votes = 1,209,339

| percentage = 46.56

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change|

| votes = 2,486

| percentage= 0.10

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 2,597,214

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box end}}

;2021

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2021 Virginia Attorney General Democratic primary election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Mark Herring (incumbent)

| votes = 274,736

| percentage = 56.63

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Jay Jones

| votes = 210,365

| percentage = 43.37

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 485,101

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2021 Virginia Attorney General election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Jason Miyares

| votes = 1,647,100

| percentage = 50.36

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Mark Herring (incumbent)

| votes = 1,620,564

| percentage = 49.55

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change|

| votes = 2,995

| percentage= 0.09

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 3,297,659

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://www.oag.state.va.us/ Government website]
• [http://www.herringforag.com/ Campaign website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130513134401/http://apps.lis.virginia.gov/sfb1/Senate/senatorwebprofile.aspx?id=254 Senator Mark Herring] at the Senate of Virginia (archived)
• {{VPAP|58276}}
• [http://www.richmondsunlight.com/legislator/mrherring/ Senator Mark Herring (D-Leesburg)] at Richmond Sunlight
• {{C-SPAN|103649}}

{{CongLinks|votesmart=50846}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|us-va-sen}}

{{s-bef|before=Bill Mims}}

{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Member of the Virginia Senate}}
from the 33rd district|years=2006–2014}}

{{s-aft|after=Jennifer Wexton}}

{{s-ppo}}

{{s-bef|before=Steve Shannon}}

{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Virginia|years=2013, 2017, 2021}}

{{s-aft|after=Jay Jones}}

|-

{{s-legal}}

{{s-bef|before=Ken Cuccinelli}}

{{s-ttl|title=Attorney General of Virginia|years=2014–2022}}

{{s-aft|after=Jason Miyares}}

{{s-end}}

{{Virginia Attorneys General}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Herring, Mark}}

Category:1961 births

Category:Presbyterians from Virginia

Category:County supervisors in Virginia

Category:Living people

Category:People from Johnson City, Tennessee

Category:People from Leesburg, Virginia

Category:People from Lovettsville, Virginia

Category:University of Richmond School of Law alumni

Category:University of Virginia alumni

Category:Virginia attorneys general

Category:Virginia lawyers

Category:Democratic Party Virginia state senators

Category:21st-century members of the Virginia General Assembly