Elizabeth Guzmán

Elizabeth Guzmán
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 31st district
In office
January 10, 2018 – January 10, 2024
Preceded byScott Lingamfelter
Succeeded byDelores Riley Oates (redistricting)
Personal details
Born1973 or 1974
Lima, Peru
Political 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 a Peruvian-American politician and social worker who represented Virginia's 31st House of Delegates district in Virginia's House of Delegates.[2] She served on the House committees on Privileges and Elections and Cities, Counties, and Towns. Guzman was a Democratic candidate for Virginia Lieutenant Governor in 2021. In 2023, she ran to represent Virginia's 29th Senate district, failing to unseat incumbent Jeremy McPike by only 50 votes.

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.[3]

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.[4][non-primary source needed]

Early life

Born in Peru, Guzmán immigrated to the United States and became a social worker.[5][6]

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.[7] 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,[8][6]

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.[3]

Guzmán introduced a bill in the House of Delegates that would expand the state's definition of child abuse to include parents who do not affirm their child's gender identity or sexual orientation.[9]

Guzmán is a progressive, and has criticized the Virginia Democratic Party for its traditionally centrist ideology.[10]

Guzmán worked as a Court Appointed Service Advocate for CASA CIS, a nonprofit.[11]

In 2023, Guzman voted against stiffening penalties for drug dealers if a user dies of a drug overdose.[12][13]

2021 lieutenant governor campaign

Guzmán announced her candidacy for Lieutenant Governor in October 2020.[14] 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.[15]

2023 Virginia senate campaign

In December 2022, Guzmán announced her intention to challenge incumbent senator Jeremy McPike in the Democratic primary.[16] She earned 49.76% of the vote, but conceded rather than go to a recount.[17]

2024 congressional campaign

In November 2023, Guzmán announced her candidacy to replace Abigail Spanberger in Virginia's 7th congressional district. [18] She has been endorsed by the Latino Victory Fund, Virginia AFL-CIO, Progressive Campaign Change Committee, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Amalgamated Transit Union,

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[17] 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. ^ "Guzman seeks expansion of Medicaid in House of Delegates Bid". Potomac Local News. January 23, 2017. Archived from the original on December 30, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Collective Bargaining Bill Passed by the Virginia House of Delegates". AFSCME. February 10, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Va. parents could face abuse charges for not affirming their LGBTQ child under new bill".
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "Senate panel derails Youngkin's felony homicide for dealers plan".
  13. ^ "Roll Call: VA HB1642 – 2023 – Regular Session".
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "Guzman announces primary challenge to state Sen. McPike". December 13, 2022.
  17. ^ a b "VPAP: June 20 Primaries".
  18. ^ Armus, Teo (November 30, 2023). "Va. Del. Elizabeth Guzman launches bid for Spanberger's congressional seat". Washington Post.
  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.[permanent dead link‍]
  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.