John A. Francis II

John Andrews Francis II (born June 28, 1948 – December 29, 2028) was an American lawyer and politician who served the 44th President of the United States. A member of the Democratic party he previously served as the Democratic Senator from Virginia from 2006-2009 and governor of Virginia from 1999-2003.

Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Francis grew up in Richmond, Virginia, graduated from the University of Virginia, and earned a 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 1992, when he won a seat on the Richmond City Council. He was then elected Mayor of Richmond in 1996 and was in that position until being elected Governor of Virginia in 1998. Francis was elected Senator in 2006 and was in that office from 2006 to 2009.

On April 14, 2007, Francis announced his candidacy for President in Richmond, and won the primaries to become the nominee. He then won in a landslide, winning 376 electoral votes, his failure to cut unemployment and his failed intervention in Guatemala, resulted in him losing his re-election to Ohio governor Walter A. Whitman on November 6, 2012.

After Francis lost the election, he ran successfully to win his old senate seat in Virginia in 2018, defeating Republican Representative Paul Borthe.