Mark Rankin Herring (born September 25, 1961) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 47th Attorney General of Virginia from 2014 to 2022. A Democrat, he previously served in the Senate of Virginia since a 2006 special election, representing the 33rd district, made up of parts of Fairfax and Loudoun counties. In 2021, Herring lost re-election for a third term to Republican challenger Jason Miyares. Early life and education Herring was born in Johnson City, Tennessee, and moved to Leesburg, Virginia at the age of 12. Raised by Jane Rankin Herring, a single mother, he graduated from Loudoun Valley High School in 1979 and worked in construction and many other jobs to pay for college. He eventually obtained a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in foreign affairs and economics at the University of Virginia. 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. Early career He served in elected office on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors from 2000 to 2003, and was the town attorney for Lovettsville, Virginia, from 1992 to 1999. 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. 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. Attorney General of Virginia Elections 2013 On July 24, 2012, he announced that he would run for the office of Attorney General of Virginia, in the 2013 elections. On April 2, 2013, The Democratic Party of Virginia certified that Herring's name would appear on the June primary ballot. Herring defeated Justin Fairfax in the Democratic primary in June 11, 2013, winning narrowly by a margin of 52% to 48%. 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. Herring's total increased during the recount, so Obenshain conceded the election on December 18, 2013, and later that day, the recount ended with