Kaine adds to Virginia governor’s potential White House ties

Anne Holton, wife of democratic vice presidential candidate U.S. Sen.

Holton’s resignation became effective on July 25.

Holton, whose father Linwood Holton was governor in the early 1970s, pushed a number of issues during her two-and-a-half years in the McAuliffe administration, including school discipline reforms meant to cut suspensions, expulsions and arrests. The state has expanded school breakfast and lunch programs during her tenure, which has been a focus for First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe.

“As Virginia’s Secretary of Education, Anne has been a tireless advocate on behalf of the students of the Commonwealth and an essential leader in securing historic investments in public education during the most recent General Assembly session”, Gov. Terry McAuliffe said Tuesday in a news release about Holton’s departure. “She’s going to be on a bigger stage and what she’s done for the children of Virginia she can do for the children of the United States of America”.

“I remain committed to moving past our Commonwealth’s history of injustice to embrace an honest process for restoring the rights of our citizens, and I believe history and the vast majority of Virginians are on our side”, the governor said in a statement.

McAuliffe appointed Dietra Trent, deputy secretary of education, to replace Holton. Tim Kaine, resigned Tuesday as Virginia’s Secretary of Education. She has been secretary since January 2014.

According to TIME, McAuliffe vowed to individually sign orders restoring voting rights to former felons in the state, beginning with those who had already registered to vote, saying the court’s decision “placed Virginia as an outlier in the struggle for civil and human rights”.

Trent earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice from Hampton University, and completed her master’s and doctoral degrees in Public Administration and Policy from Virginia Commonwealth University.