RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — When Virginia Sen. Donald McEachin made an offhand comment during dinner about his distant relation to Alexander Hamilton, it drew a shocked reply from a colleague who also claims to be a descendant of the Founding Father: “Hold on. You’re kidding me.”
No kidding, McEachin — who is black — told Sen. Chap Petersen, who is white. Both lawmakers are Democrats and already were friends before learning they may share a common lineage. But Petersen drew quizzical looks a few days later when he referred during a Senate floor speech to a kinship with McEachin.Read More…http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a063d0a60e964706b4d829810bed48e3/unlikely-duo-va-senators-claim-connections-hamilton