Virginia can’t afford to sit out this election.

During his first homecoming rally after becoming Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential nominee, Senator Tim Kaine discussed the history of the Commonwealth — and reminded Virginians that we have the power to decide this election.

Why Hillary chose me as her running made has a lot to do with Virginia. I have my own modest charms, I can’t deny that. But when Hillary Clinton was thinking about who she wanted as a running mate, Virginia was important.

I love history, and I know that Virginia was really important for a long time, but it’s been 170 years since a Virginian was vice president or president. Five of the first 10 presidents were from Virginia. Three of the first 10 vice presidents were from Virginia. But then a complete goose egg since 1845. Why did that happen?

Susan Dunn wrote a book called Dominion of Memories, and it asked that question: Why did Virginia produce all the leaders in the first seventy years and then virtually none for the next 100-plus when it comes to presidential politics?

The answer is pretty clear: Because we were so bent and determined to push people away because of the color of their skin, and even because of their gender — that we could not be all we could be.

We called ourselves a commonwealth. Commonwealth means that the wealth we hold, we hold in common. But we weren’t always living that way. Unfortunately, we weren’t letting all people sit around the table.

First, it was slavery. Then, it was Reconstruction. Then, it was Jim Crow. Then, it was massive resistance. Then, it was fighting against the civil rights movement.

When I was born there were school systems in Virginia that were closed down rather than let kids learn together if their skin colors were different. When I was born, women didn’t get to go to the University of Virginia and other major universities in this Commonwealth because of their gender. And there was no way a state was going to be a leader and be as successful if — because of the color of your skin or where you came from or your gender — we pushed you away from the table and said we’re not interested in what you can contribute to society.

However, you have been the generation of Virginians that, after more than 150 years, have said it’s time to turn and not face backward but face forward and march forward, rather than living in the past. And that’s why we’re important.

We started to turn the battleship in the late ’60s. It been slow, but it is happening. A big piece fell into place was when we elected Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. Past presidential candidates took our votes for granted, but President Obama was the first in 2008 to say, “Hey, I think something is going on in Virginia.”

I was one of the people that kept telling him, “I think you can win Virginia. I think you can win Virginia. If you invest in us, if you put your faith in the Virginia voter, you’re not going to see a bad poll. You’re going to win Virginia. And then you’re going to be president, not in spite of Virginia, but partly because of Virginia.”

And that’s just what happened. Virginians made that happen. You made that happen.

Now both parties have to come to Virginia. I don’t care whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, or Independent. It’s much better to live in a state where nobody can take you for granted. Here, all of the candidates have to come and make their case to you and ask for your help and ask for your support — and that’s the state we live in now. That’s the commonwealth we live in now because of the great work that you’ve done.

So this is a Virginia story. I tell you Hillary is rock-solid serious about winning Virginia. And guess what: We don’t have to stay up and see whether there’s a hanging chad in Florida or a weird voting booth in Ohio — we’ve got this thing right in our hands. If we win Virginia, she’ll be the next president of the United States.

There’s so much at stake in this election, which is why I’ve been doing my homework and studying extra hard to prep for my debate against Trump’s running mate — and I hope I can count on you to get my back tonight. Chip in to show that you’re standing with Hillary and me — so we can continue fighting on behalf of Virginians and all Americans.