Elizabeth Guzmán

Elizabeth Guzmán
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 14, 2026
Preceded byIan Lovejoy
Constituency22nd district
In office
January 10, 2018 – January 10, 2024
Preceded byScott Lingamfelter
Succeeded byDelores Riley Oates (redistricting)
Constituency31st district
Personal details
BornFebruary 13, 1973 or 1974
Lima, Peru
PartyDemocratic
SpouseCarlos Guzmán[1]
Children4
EducationNorthern Virginia Community College
Capella University (BA)
American University (MPA)
University of Southern California (MSW)
WebsiteCampaign website

Elizabeth Rosalina Guzmán is an American politician and social worker serving as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates for the 22nd district since 2026. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as a member of Virginia's House of Delegates from 2018 to 2024. Guzmán was first elected in 2017 after defeating incumbent Republican Scott Lingamfelter, and was re-elected in 2025 after defeating incumbent Republican Ian Lovejoy.

As a Delegate, Guzmán passed legislation to repeal Virginia's prohibition on public sector collective bargaining and provide paid sick leave to home health care workers.[2]

Guzmán was Virginia co-chair of the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign. In June 2020, Guzmán was elected at the Democratic Party of Virginia State Convention to represent the Commonwealth of Virginia at the DNC.[3]

Early life

Born in Peru, Guzmán immigrated to the United States and became a social worker.[4][5]

Career

In 2017, Guzmán ran for state delegate and unseated eight-term incumbent Republican Delegate Scott Lingamfelter.

Guzmán and Hala Ayala became the first Hispanic women elected to the House, both in Virginia's November 2017 election.[6] Their terms began in January 2018.

Guzmán was invited by Nancy Pelosi to deliver the Spanish language response to the 2018 State of the Union Address,[7][5]

As a Delegate, Guzmán passed legislation to repeal Virginia's Jim Crow-era prohibition on public sector collective bargaining and provide paid sick leave to home health care workers.[2]

Guzmán is a progressive, and has criticized the Virginia Democratic Party for its traditionally centrist ideology.[8]

Guzmán worked as a Court Appointed Service Advocate for CASA CIS, a nonprofit.[9]

In 2023, Guzman voted against stiffening penalties for drug dealers if a user dies of a drug overdose.[10][11]

2021 lieutenant governor campaign

Guzmán announced her candidacy for Lieutenant Governor in October 2020.[12] Guzman came in third place in the first straw poll of the cycle at a Hunter Mill District Democratic Committee meeting, behind 1st place Sam Rasoul and 2nd place Sean Perryman. On April 17, Guzman withdrew from the lieutenant governor's race to focus on her reelection campaign for delegate.[13]

2023 Virginia senate campaign

In December 2022, Guzmán announced her intention to challenge incumbent senator Jeremy McPike in the Democratic primary.[14] She earned 49.76% of the vote, but conceded rather than go to a recount.[15]

2024 congressional campaign

In November 2023, Guzmán announced her candidacy to replace Abigail Spanberger in Virginia's 7th congressional district.[16] She had been endorsed by the Latino Victory Fund, Virginia AFL-CIO, Progressive Campaign Change Committee, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and the Amalgamated Transit Union. However, she placed second in the primary, losing to Eugene Vindman.

2025 Virginia house campaign

Guzmán again ran for the Virginia House of Delegates in 2025, this time in the 22nd district.[17] She defeated Republican incumbent Ian Lovejoy by nearly ten points, reflecting the broader Democratic victory in the 2025 House of Delegates election.[18]

Electoral history

Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
June 13, 2017[19][20] Primary Elizabeth R. Guzman Democratic 3,062 52.2
Sara E. Townsend Democratic 2,809 47.8
Nov 7, 2017[21] General Elizabeth R. Guzman Democratic 15,466 53.99
L. Scott Lingamfelter Republican 12,658 44.19
Nathan D. Larson Independent 481 1.68
Write Ins 39 0.14
Nov 5, 2019[22] General Elizabeth R. Guzman Democratic 14,630 52.63
Darrell H. "D.J." Jordan, Jr. Republican 13,125 47.22
Nov 2, 2021[23] General Elizabeth R. Guzman Democratic 18,384 52.0
Ben Baldwin Republican 16,888 47.8
June 20, 2023[15] Primary Jeremy S. McPike Democratic 6,269 50.24
Elizabeth R Guzman Democratic 6,209 49.76

Awards

In May 2019, Guzman was given “The First” award from Latino Victory Fund.[24] The Library of Virginia selected her as one of the changemakers in its "New Virginians" program.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ Lani Seelinger. Who Is Carlos Guzman? Elizabeth Guzman's husband will stand by her side at SOTU Archived January 31, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Bustle.com. January 30, 2018
  2. ^ a b "Collective Bargaining Bill Passed by the Virginia House of Delegates". AFSCME. February 10, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  3. ^ "2020 Democratic Party of Virginia State Convention Results". Democratic Party of Virginia. June 22, 2020. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  4. ^ Gregory S. Schneider. Va. Democrats cheer Guzman, tapped for Spanish-language response to Trump Archived January 30, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Washington Post. January 26, 2018
  5. ^ a b Gregory S., Schneider (January 30, 2018). "'A little fire, a little spice': Elizabeth Guzman promises lively rebuttal to State of the Union". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 30, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  6. ^ Nuño, Stephen A. (November 8, 2017). "First Two Latinas Are Elected to Virginia House of Delegates, Making History". NBC News. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  7. ^ Caygle, Heather; Kim, Seung Min (January 25, 2018). "Rep. Kennedy to deliver Democrats' State of the Union response". Politico. Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  8. ^ "Spanish-Language SOTU Respondent: Democrats 'Cannot be Centrist Any More'". January 29, 2018. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  9. ^ Beauchamp, Sarah (January 30, 2018). "Where Did Elizabeth Guzman Go To College? The Politician Was Always Driven". Bustle. Archived from the original on October 30, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  10. ^ "Senate panel derails Youngkin's felony homicide for dealers plan".
  11. ^ "Roll Call: VA HB1642 – 2023 – Regular Session".
  12. ^ "Del. Elizabeth Guzman announces run for lieutenant governor". WAVY.com. October 6, 2020. Archived from the original on October 15, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  13. ^ Earl, Robin (April 17, 2021). "Del. Elizabeth Guzman withdraws from lieutenant governor's race". Fauquier Times. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  14. ^ "Guzman announces primary challenge to state Sen. McPike". December 13, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "VPAP: June 20 Primaries".
  16. ^ Armus, Teo (November 30, 2023). "Va. Del. Elizabeth Guzman launches bid for Spanberger's congressional seat". Washington Post.
  17. ^ "House of Delegates District 22". The Virginia Public Access Project. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  18. ^ Schmidt, Markus (November 5, 2025). "Blue wave rebuilds the House: Democrats soar to at least 64 seats in Virginia". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  19. ^ "vpap.org". The Virginia Public Access Project. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  20. ^ "2017 House of Delegates Democratic Primary". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 18, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  21. ^ "November 2017 List of Candidates by District" (PDF). Virginia State Board of Elections.
  22. ^ "Elections: House of Delegates District 10". www.vpap.org. Virginia Public Access Project. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  23. ^ "2021 November General". results.elections.virginia.gov. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  24. ^ Kloosterman, Tomas (April 23, 2019). "Latino Victory Fund Re-Endorses Virginia Delegates Hala Ayala and Elizabeth Guzman". Latino Victory. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  25. ^ "Elizabeth Guzman · Virginia Changemakers". Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
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