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Elizabeth Guzman

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Elizabeth Guzman
Image of Elizabeth Guzman
Prior offices
Virginia House of Delegates District 31
Successor: Delores Oates

Elections and appointments
Last election

June 18, 2024

Education

Associate

Northern Virginia Community College

Bachelor's

Capella University

Graduate

University of Southern California

Personal
Religion
Christian
Profession
Social worker
Contact

Elizabeth Guzman (Democratic Party) was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 31. She assumed office in 2018. She left office on January 10, 2024.

Guzman (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District. She lost in the Democratic primary on June 18, 2024.

Guzman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Guzman immigrated to the United States from Peru. She received her associate degree in office administration and management from Northern Virginia Community College, her bachelor's degree in public safety from Capella University, her M.P.A. from American University, and her master's degree in social work from the University of Southern California. Her professional experience includes working as a public administrator and a social worker.[1] In 2017, Guzman and Hala Ayala were the first Hispanic women in the state's history to be elected to the House of Delegates.[2][3]

Committee assignments

2023-2024

Guzman was assigned to the following committees:

2020-2021

Guzman was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Guzman was assigned to the following committees:


The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2024

See also: Virginia's 7th Congressional District election, 2024

Virginia's 7th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 18 Democratic primary)

Virginia's 7th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 18 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 7

Eugene Vindman defeated Derrick Anderson in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 7 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Eugene Vindman
Eugene Vindman (D) Candidate Connection
 
51.2
 
203,336
Image of Derrick Anderson
Derrick Anderson (R) Candidate Connection
 
48.5
 
192,847
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.3
 
1,116

Total votes: 397,299
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7 on June 18, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Eugene Vindman
Eugene Vindman Candidate Connection
 
49.3
 
17,263
Image of Elizabeth Guzman
Elizabeth Guzman Candidate Connection
 
15.1
 
5,283
Image of Briana Sewell
Briana Sewell
 
13.4
 
4,706
Image of Andrea Bailey
Andrea Bailey Candidate Connection
 
12.5
 
4,381
Image of Margaret Franklin
Margaret Franklin Candidate Connection
 
5.8
 
2,034
Image of Carl Bedell
Carl Bedell Candidate Connection
 
2.1
 
738
Image of Clifford Heinzer
Clifford Heinzer Candidate Connection
 
1.8
 
621

Total votes: 35,026
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 7 on June 18, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Derrick Anderson
Derrick Anderson Candidate Connection
 
45.2
 
16,338
Image of Cameron Hamilton
Cameron Hamilton Candidate Connection
 
37.2
 
13,448
Image of Jonathon Myers
Jonathon Myers Candidate Connection
 
12.9
 
4,660
Image of John Prabhudoss
John Prabhudoss Candidate Connection
 
2.0
 
729
Image of Maria Martin
Maria Martin
 
1.7
 
625
Image of Terris Todd
Terris Todd Candidate Connection
 
1.0
 
373

Total votes: 36,173
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Guzman in this election.

2023

See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2023

General election

General election for Virginia State Senate District 29

Incumbent Jeremy McPike defeated Nikki Baldwin in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 29 on November 7, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jeremy McPike
Jeremy McPike (D)
 
56.2
 
29,641
Image of Nikki Baldwin
Nikki Baldwin (R) Candidate Connection
 
43.4
 
22,872
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.4
 
189

Total votes: 52,702
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Virginia State Senate District 29

Incumbent Jeremy McPike defeated Elizabeth Guzman in the Democratic primary for Virginia State Senate District 29 on June 20, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jeremy McPike
Jeremy McPike
 
50.2
 
6,321
Image of Elizabeth Guzman
Elizabeth Guzman
 
49.8
 
6,271

Total votes: 12,592
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Virginia State Senate District 29

Nikki Baldwin defeated Maria Martin in the Republican primary for Virginia State Senate District 29 on June 20, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Nikki Baldwin
Nikki Baldwin Candidate Connection
 
50.0
 
2,605
Image of Maria Martin
Maria Martin
 
50.0
 
2,603

Total votes: 5,208
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Guzman in this election.

2021

House of Delegates election

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2021

General election

General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 31

Incumbent Elizabeth Guzman defeated Ben Baldwin in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 31 on November 2, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Elizabeth Guzman
Elizabeth Guzman (D)
 
52.0
 
18,384
Image of Ben Baldwin
Ben Baldwin (R) Candidate Connection
 
47.8
 
16,888
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
54

Total votes: 35,326
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 31

Incumbent Elizabeth Guzman defeated Rod Hall, Idris O'Connor, and Kara Pitek in the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 31 on June 8, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Elizabeth Guzman
Elizabeth Guzman
 
53.8
 
3,201
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Rod Hall
 
35.7
 
2,125
Image of Idris O'Connor
Idris O'Connor Candidate Connection
 
5.9
 
354
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Kara Pitek
 
4.6
 
275

Total votes: 5,955
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Ben Baldwin advanced from the Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 31.

Campaign finance

Lieutenant Governor election

See also: Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2021

Virginia gubernatorial election, 2021 (June 8 Democratic primary)

Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2021 (May 8 Republican convention)

General election

General election for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia

Winsome Sears defeated Hala Ayala in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia on November 2, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Winsome Sears
Winsome Sears (R)
 
50.7
 
1,658,767
Image of Hala Ayala
Hala Ayala (D)
 
49.2
 
1,608,691
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
3,808

Total votes: 3,271,266
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia on June 8, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Hala Ayala
Hala Ayala
 
37.6
 
181,168
Image of Sam Rasoul
Sam Rasoul
 
24.3
 
116,816
Image of Mark Levine
Mark Levine
 
11.2
 
53,735
Image of Andria McClellan
Andria McClellan
 
10.6
 
51,015
Image of Sean Perryman
Sean Perryman Candidate Connection
 
8.1
 
38,925
Image of Xavier Warren
Xavier Warren
 
4.1
 
19,903
Image of Elizabeth Guzman
Elizabeth Guzman (Unofficially withdrew)
 
4.1
 
19,803

Total votes: 481,365
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican convention

Republican Convention for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Winsome Sears in round 5 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.


Total votes: 12,555
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

2019

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2019

General election

General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 31

Incumbent Elizabeth Guzman defeated Darrell Jordan in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 31 on November 5, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Elizabeth Guzman
Elizabeth Guzman (D) Candidate Connection
 
52.6
 
14,630
Image of Darrell Jordan
Darrell Jordan (R) Candidate Connection
 
47.2
 
13,125
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
42

Total votes: 27,797
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2017

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2017

General election

Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2017. All 100 house seats were up for election. The general election took place on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on June 13, 2017. The filing deadline for primary election candidates was March 30, 2017. The filing deadline for non-party candidates and candidates nominated by methods other than a primary was June 13, 2017.[4] Elizabeth Guzman (D) defeated incumbent Scott Lingamfelter (R) and Nathan Larson (Independent) in the Virginia House of Delegates District 31 general election.[5]

Virginia House of Delegates, District 31 General Election, 2017
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Elizabeth Guzman 54.07% 15,466
     Republican Scott Lingamfelter Incumbent 44.25% 12,658
     Independent Nathan Larson 1.68% 481
Total Votes 28,605
Source: Virginia Department of Elections
Races we watched
Races to Watch-2017-badge.png

Ballotpedia identified 13 races to watch in the Virginia House of Delegates 2017 elections: four Democratic seats and nine Republican seats. Based on analysis of these districts' electoral histories, these races had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could possibly have led to shifts in a chamber's partisan balance.

This district was a Race to Watch because the incumbent won less than 55 percent of the vote in 2015 and the presidential candidate of the opposite party won in 2016. Incumbent Scott Lingamfelter (R) was first elected to the seat in 2001. He won re-election in 2015 with 53.4 percent of the vote, defeating his Democratic challenger by 6.8 points. He won in 2013 by 1.0 points. District 31 was one of 51 Virginia House districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 31 by 10.3 points. Democrat Barack Obama won the seat in the 2012 presidential election by 7.4 points. As of 2017, District 31 covered parts of Fauquier County and parts of Prince William County.

Democratic primary election

Elizabeth Guzman defeated Sara Townsend in the Virginia House of Delegates District 31 Democratic primary.[6]

Virginia House of Delegates, District 31 Democratic Primary, 2017
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Elizabeth Guzman 52.15% 3,062
Sara Townsend 47.85% 2,809
Total Votes 5,871

Republican primary election

Incumbent Scott Lingamfelter ran unopposed in the Virginia House of Delegates District 31 Republican primary.[7]

Ballotpedia will publish vote totals here after they become available.
Virginia House of Delegates, District 31 Republican Primary, 2017
Candidate
Green check mark transparent.png Scott Lingamfelter Incumbent

Campaign themes

2024

Campaign website

Guzman’s campaign website stated the following:

ELIZABETH ON AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE

  1. Medicare Negotiation: Elizabeth supports allowing Medicare to negotiate the price of all prescription drugs for every American. By doing so, she aims to lower costs and make essential medications more accessible to patients.
  2. Closing the Medicaid Coverage Gap: During her time in the General Assembly, Elizabeth led efforts to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to over 400,000 Virginians. Now, as a social worker, she focuses on preventing people on Medicaid from losing their insurance due to expiring Medicaid subsidies from the pandemic.
  3. Public Option: Elizabeth advocates for adding a public option to Medicare. This would give individuals under 65 the choice to buy into the system at lower rates than they would pay for private insurance.
  4. Importing Drugs: Elizabeth supports allowing the FDA to import drugs from other countries. This measure aims to bring down costs and increase competition in the pharmaceutical market.
  5. Expanded Benefits: Elizabeth believes in enhancing Medicare by adding dental, vision, and hearing benefits. These additional benefits would improve overall healthcare access and quality for seniors and eligible individuals.
  6. Opposing Privatization: Elizabeth opposes efforts to privatize Medicare’s benefits behind a paywall that only benefits high-income Medicare beneficiaries. Benefits should be available to all seniors, regardless of how much money they have.

ELIZABETH ON REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM

  1. Abortion Access: Elizabeth opposes restrictive abortion bans and will vote against any legislation that threatens a woman’s right to choose. She firmly believes in keeping politicians out of personal healthcare decisions. She has been vocal about the devastating impact of state abortion bans on women’s health and autonomy.
  2. Codifying Roe v. Wade: Elizabeth strongly supports codifying the landmark decision of Roe v. Wade into federal law. This would ensure continued access to safe and legal abortion across the United States.
  3. Contraceptive & IVF Access: Elizabeth advocates for easy access to all forms of contraceptives. Empowering individuals to make informed choices about their reproductive health is essential. Elizabeth also believes in enshrining federal protections for IVF into law.
  4. Right to Travel for Reproductive Care: Elizabeth believes in safeguarding the right to travel for reproductive care. Ensuring that individuals can access necessary services without unnecessary barriers is crucial for achieving reproductive freedom.

ELIZABETH ON EDUCATION

  1. Fully Fund Public Schools: Our schools urgently need additional funding to address issues like crumbling infrastructure and teacher pay.
  2. Lower College Costs and Address Student Debt: Elizabeth supports efforts to lower college costs and ensure that college remains a pathway toward achieving the American Dream. She also supports Congressional action to cancel student debt for millions of Americans.
  3. Universal Pre-K: Elizabeth advocates for expanding access to universal pre-K, providing a strong foundation for children’s learning.

ELIZABETH ON WORKER RIGHTS AND COST OF LIVING

  1. $15/Hour Minimum Wage: Elizabeth supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, ensuring fair compensation for workers.
  2. Pass the PRO Act: Elizabeth is a strong supporter of the PRO Act, which aims to prevent methods that big corporations use to hinder union formation.
  3. Paid Family and Medical Leave: Elizabeth believes in establishing a federal paid family and medical leave program, allowing workers to prioritize their health without risking their jobs.
  4. Overtime Pay Guarantee: Elizabeth proposes guaranteeing overtime pay for workers to ensure fair compensation for their extra hours.
  5. 7% Income Cap for Childcare: To alleviate rising childcare costs, Elizabeth supports increasing federal funding for childcare, ensuring that no family spends more than 7% of their income on this expense.

ELIZABETH ON IMMIGRATION

  1. Protecting DREAMers: Elizabeth is a strong advocate for protecting DREAMers—undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. She believes in providing them with a pathway to citizenship, recognizing their contributions to American society and their deep ties to this country.
  2. Allocating More Funding for Immigration Judges: The backlog of asylum cases in the immigration system is a significant challenge. Elizabeth proposes allocating additional funding to hire more immigration judges. These judges play a crucial role in adjudicating asylum claims, ensuring a fair and efficient process for those seeking refuge in the United States.
  3. Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Elizabeth supports comprehensive immigration reform. This involves creating an orderly and legal system that addresses various aspects of immigration, including pathways to citizenship, border security, family reunification, and employment-based immigration. By reforming the system, she aims to provide those seeking a better life with a fair shot at achieving the American Dream like she was able to.

ELIZABETH ON CLIMATE CHANGE

  1. Reducing Dependence on Fossil Fuels: Elizabeth recognizes the urgency of addressing climate change. She advocates for transitioning away from fossil fuels and investing in cleaner energy sources. Solar, wind, and nuclear power are key components of this transition. By promoting renewable energy, she aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
  2. Infrastructure Funding for Climate Mitigation: Elizabeth supports securing infrastructure funding specifically for climate mitigation efforts. This includes projects related to renewable energy infrastructure, electric vehicle charging stations, public transportation, and resilient infrastructure to withstand the impacts of climate change (such as sea-level rise and extreme weather events).
  3. Building Upon the Inflation Reduction Act Investment: The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has already made significant investments in various areas, including climate-related initiatives. Elizabeth proposes building upon this momentum. By leveraging existing funding and expanding it further, she aims to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and promote a sustainable energy future.

ELIZABETH ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION

  1. Reinstating the Federal Assault Weapons Ban: Elizabeth advocates for reinstating the federal ban on assault weapons, which proved effective in combating mass shootings when it was in effect from 1994 to 2004.
  2. Establishing Federal Red Flag Laws: Red flag laws allow authorities to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others. Elizabeth supports implementing federal red flag laws, especially for domestic abusers, to prevent tragedies and ensure responsible gun ownership.
  3. Closing the Gun Show Loophole: The gun show loophole allows some private sellers to sell firearms without conducting background checks. Elizabeth believes in closing this loophole to ensure that all gun sales—whether at gun shows or elsewhere—undergo thorough background checks.
  4. Enforcing Universal Background Checks: Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of universal background checks for all gun purchases. This measure aims to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands and enhance public safety.

ELIZABETH ON DEMOCRACY AND VOTING RIGHTS

  1. For The People Act: Elizabeth supports the For The People Act, which aims to enhance voting rights, improve election security, and reduce the influence of money in politics. Key provisions include automatic voter registration, expanded early voting, and campaign finance reform.
  2. Freedom to Vote Act: The Freedom to Vote Act is another critical piece of legislation that Elizabeth endorses. It addresses voting access, election integrity, and voter protection. It includes provisions such as restoring voting rights for individuals released from prison and designating Election Day as a national holiday.
  3. John Lewis Voting Rights Act: Elizabeth supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which seeks to restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This act would establish a national standard for early voting days, address partisan gerrymandering, and protect against discriminatory voting practices. Additionally, it would make threatening election workers a federal crime.

ELIZABETH ON FOREIGN POLICY/MILITARY

  1. Investment in Veterans: Elizabeth emphasizes the need to invest in veterans after their service ends. This includes workforce development programs tailored to veterans’ needs and increased funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Ensuring veterans have access to housing, healthcare, and employment opportunities is crucial.
  2. Support for Ukraine: Elizabeth stands firmly in support of Ukraine’s fight for survival. She advocates for continued assistance to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. This includes military aid, diplomatic support, and economic assistance.
  3. Standing Up to Autocrats: Elizabeth believes in holding autocratic leaders accountable. Whether it’s standing up to Vladimir Putin or other authoritarian regimes, she emphasizes the importance of defending democratic values and human rights.
  4. Supporting Our Allies: Elizabeth supports providing aid to our allies, especially those involved in conflict, while ensuring we uphold human rights and democratic principles. This approach ensures that U.S. assistance promotes positive change and aligns with American values of freedom and liberty.

Increased Humanitarian Aid in Gaza: Elizabeth recognizes the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. She advocates for increased funding to address urgent needs, including healthcare, food, and shelter for civilians affected by conflict.

ELIZABETH ON JUSTICE

  1. Safety: As a social worker, Elizabeth knows just how important it is for us to be safe in our communities. Whether it’s standing for common-sense gun reform or fighting for safer streets for our kids, Elizabeth always puts the safety of our families first.
  2. George Floyd Justice in Policing Act: Elizabeth supports passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which aims to boost safety and trust in our communities by addressing police misconduct, improving accountability, and promoting transparency. It includes provisions related to banning chokeholds, establishing a national police misconduct registry, and enhancing training.
  3. Reformative Justice: Elizabeth supports policies that provide incarcerated people with the tools they need to become productive members of society upon their release, reducing crime and recidivism.
  4. Cannabis Legalization: Elizabeth supports Congressional action to regulate and tax the sale of cannabis products, providing support and opportunity to those affected by the failed War on Drugs.

ELIZABETH ON LGBTQ+ RIGHTS

Elizabeth is committed to protecting LGBTQ+ individuals’ rights. She supports policies that prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Passing legislation like the Equality Act is essential to protecting the rights of all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

ELIZABETH ON HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION

  1. Federal Renter Protections: Elizabeth supports federal renter protections. These measures aim to ensure fair treatment for renters, prevent eviction, and provide stability in the housing market.
  2. Increasing the Supply of Affordable Housing: Elizabeth advocates for a comprehensive approach to the housing crisis. This includes a $450 billion investment over a decade into the Housing Trust Fund to build or preserve rental units. By increasing the supply of affordable housing, we can address housing shortages and affordability challenges.
  3. Multi-Modal Transportation Infrastructure: To tackle the I-95 backlog and reduce traffic congestion, Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of investing in multi-modal transportation infrastructure. This includes improving public transportation options, such as buses and passenger rail, to provide alternatives to I-95’s bumper-to-bumper traffic.
  4. Frequent and Reliable Service from PWC to Fredericksburg: Elizabeth will work to expand Metro down the I-95 corridor and secure funding for fast, frequent, and reliable passenger rail VRE service connecting Prince William County to Fredericksburg to Richmond. Enhancing rail connectivity will alleviate traffic congestion and improve transportation options for commuters.

ELIZABETH ON SOCIAL SECURITY

  1. Privatization of Social Security: Elizabeth vehemently opposes Republican efforts to privatize social security.
  2. Closing Tax Loopholes to Expand Social Security: Elizabeth recognizes the need to strengthen Social Security. She supports closing tax loopholes, particularly the exemption for income above $168,600. By eliminating this cap, we can better ensure the long-term sustainability of Social Security and protect benefits for seniors.

ELIZABETH ON RURAL ISSUES

  1. Protecting Family Farms: Agriculture is a major industry in many rural areas. Elizabeth believes in protecting family farms and ensuring their viability. This includes supporting policies that promote sustainable farming practices, access to markets, and fair prices for agricultural products.
  2. Investing in Rural Infrastructure: Rural communities often face infrastructure challenges. Elizabeth advocates for targeted investments in rural infrastructure, including roads, bridges, broadband, and water systems. These investments can enhance economic development and quality of life.
  3. Funding for Rural Schools and Hospitals: Elizabeth supports increased funding for rural schools and hospitals. Ensuring access to quality education and healthcare services is essential for thriving rural communities.

[8]

—Elizabeth Guzman’s campaign website (2024)[9]

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia
Released May 13, 2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Elizabeth Guzman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Guzman's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I came to America 25 years ago as a single mother with just $300 in my pocket. Working 3 jobs to afford a small apartment for herself and my daughter, I attended NOVA and then Capella University at night. Earning multiple masters degrees, my experiences have motivated me to help those who might otherwise be invisible. Building a successful career as a social worker, I fight to protect children from abuse and help those struggling with their mental health.

When Prince William County made headlines for its attacks on immigrants, I mobilized our community. And when Trump was elected, I stepped up to run for office myself, defeating a 16-year Republican incumbent for a seat in the House of Delegates. I led Democrats in their efforts to pass Obamacare medicaid expansions, giving over 700,000 Virginians access to healthcare. Noticing my message, Speaker Pelosi selected me to give the SOTU response for Spanish language viewers across the country.

In Richmond, I introduced over 100 bills to implement paid-sick leave, hire more school counselors, and lift Virginia’s ban on public sector collective bargaining – drawing praise from across the aisle for ensuring rural communities just like Culpeper, Madison, Greene, and Orange Counties were never left behind.

My husband Carlos and I live in Prince William County where we have raised four children together, all of whom attended PWC’s Public Schools.

  • Effective, Progressive and Electable. We have a number of great choices in this primary and I know as you review our records you will find that I am the best situated in all of those areas to be your nominee for Congress. Most Progressive - Fully implementing Obamacare in Virginia with Medicaid expansion for more than 700,000 Virginians. Increasing the minimum wage. Criminal Justice Reform and Abolishing the Death Penalty. Universal Background checks to buy a gun. Passing the ERA. Record setting new funding for public education. These are only a partial list of the historic achievements I helped to usher in as a Virginia Delegate and then I defeated every MAGA Republican challenger who came at me to roll back our progress.
  • Most Effective - As a Delegate I represented more rural constituents than most other Democrats in Fauquier County while also representing more urban and suburban areas of Prince William County. I learned how to build common ground which is why I was frequently rated as one of the most effective legislators in Virginia. I passed historic state tax relief for veterans and banned the predatory lenders that had crowded Route 1 near Quantico.
  • Most Electable - When I ran for the House of Delegates I defeated a long term Republican incumbent. When Republicans came for me in both of my re-elections spending millions of dollars with attack ads - I won anyways. With my record as one of Virginia’s most progressive legislators I have won every General Election because voters in our community are looking for proven leaders who can deliver real results for them, not professional politicians looking for a job. Nominating a candidate who has not faced down Republicans in elections before would put this seat in jeopardy and with the stakes so high we can not take that risk.

Reproductive freedom, common-sense gun safety reform, expanding workers rights, universal access to health care, investing in education, economic development in our communities, protecting immigrant rights, strengthening LGBTQ+ rights, housing affordability, access to public transit, voting rights, criminal justice reform, tax relief for veterans, and many more.

After Trump was elected President in 2016, my son asked me if we needed to move back to Peru because we speak Spanish at home. The fear in my son's eye is what motivated me to run for Delegate in 2017. I want the legacy I leave to be one of dedication and commitment to bettering the lives of all of our neighbors and creating a safer, more accepting, and livable future for the next generation.

Rep. Spanberger is leaving big shoes to fill. I believe it is critical to elect someone who will be able to be effective on Day 1. As the most experienced candidate in this race, I will be ready to fight for working Virginians and bring back investment to the 7th District, just as I did in Richmond. It is also critical that we nominate a Democrat who is tested and has proven they can win these tough swing seats, as I did when I flipped my Republican district in 2017 by double digits and then won re-election in 2019 and 2021.

I have proven I can win elections against Trump and his cronies and deliver real progress back to our
community. I hope I can count on your vote on or before June 18th to be your nominee and ensure we keep
this seat blue and continue to fight for more progress for your family in the United States Congress.

Virginia AFL-CIO, Teamsters Local 639, Latino Victory Fund, CASA In Action, Progressive Campaign Change Committee, AFSCME, CWA, ATU Local 689, PODER PAC, Vote Mama PAC, Six PAC, Neabsco District School Board Member Tracy Blake, Dumfries Councilmember Bryan Field, Dumfries Councilmember Caetrina Peterson, Quantico Councilman Yomosa Dabney, Former Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Virginia Senate President Pro Temp L. Louise Lucas, Delegate Paul Krizek, Delegate Marty Martinez, Delegate Dolores McQuinn, Former State Senator Emilie Miller, Former VA Secretary of Education Atif Qarni, Former House of Delegates Candidate John Q. Smith, Former PWC Neabsco Supervisor Candidate Nate Murphy.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.



2023

Elizabeth Guzman did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.

2021

House of Delegates election

Elizabeth Guzman did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.

Lieutenant Governor election

Elizabeth Guzman did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.

2019

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia
Released August 31, 2019

Candidate Connection

Elizabeth Guzman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Guzman's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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I am a first-generation Immigrant who came looking for opportunities to achieve the American Dream. I found opportunities for my oldest daughter Pamela, worked three jobs, and eventually earned 2 Masters degrees. I am now a public administrator and social worker from the City of Alexandria. I ran to help everyone achieve their American Dream, by making healthcare affordable for every Virginia, ensuring high quality public schools, and investing in our roads and public transit.

Since getting elected, I have kept my promises by standing up for hardworking Virginia families on healthcare, transportation, and empowering women. With hard work, we voted to expand Medicaid to over 400,000 working families, including 10,000 in my own district. I have worked to improve our roads, including improvements to Rte. 29 in Fauquier Co. Finally, I have fought hard to empower women across the Commonwealth, through promotion of the Equal Rights Amendment, and ensure women have a place at the table in healthcare legislation.

  • I have delivered on the promises I made, and helped get Medicaid expanded, increased the felony larceny threshold, and got money for roads in my district.
  • I will continue to fight until every Virginian has access to affordable healthcare and paid time to go to the doctor or take their family to the doctor.
  • Our public education is one of the most important areas to me. I was able to get teacher salary increases the last two years, and was able to get money so that our schools can hire more guidance counselors, so that they have time to talk to our students about the issues that affect them and help all students succeed.

I am extremely passionate about healthcare, education, criminal justice reform, and environmental issues.

I have come across many healthcare issues in my district. Since the expansion of medicaid, many of my constituents now have medical insurance, but are not able to use it. There were two main issues. The first was mainly in the more rural part of the county, where there are not enough doctors for the number of people that live in the area. I worked with my colleagues across the aisle to allow telemedicine in Virginia and to require it is covered by insurance. The other issue is that people do not have time to go to the doctor or take their families to the doctors because of their jobs, and I will continue to fight to ensure that all employees in Virginia have paid time off when they need it.

Education is one of my biggest priorities. I fought for teacher salary increases and to increase the amount of guidance counselors in our school. Our guidance counselors had a work load that was much too high, and they had too many students and were not able to spend time with them. Now this will be improved so that they can spend more time with our students and learn about their issues. It is still not where it needs to be, but we will work until we have reached a rate where the mental health of our students can be taken care of.

You can also find many of the other issues I have fought for through my legislative record.

My values are honesty, transparency, and accountability. These are necessary for anyone holding elected office. Your constituents need to know what you truly stand for and where your positions lie. I am always honest, even when it is not what some people want to hear. I also think transparency and accountability are extremely important. I consistently post on social media, send newsletters, and share what I work on with the district. I also held 24 town halls in my first two years, so that my constituents could ask about my work and tell me where I need to make changes, and what issues they support.

I was typist for six months when I was 16. I used to be good at typing so college kids would pay me to type their papers.

The last song that got stuck in my head is Shallow from the movie A Star is Born.

I was a single, 18 year old mom with big dreams in a new country. When I first moved to the United States, it was just me with my daughter, Pamela. I had to work three jobs to afford a one bedroom apartment, which did not leave much time for me to see my daughter. I worked extremely hard to find better employment and get an education, so I could move up and achieve the American Dream.

Due to the difference in partisan representation, the Senate works in a more bipartisan way. Even though the Republicans currently hold a majority, in the House, Republicans still act as if they had a super majority and kill many bills on party line votes without any consideration, while many of these pass the Senate and then survive crossover.

We must act to protect the environment. For too long, energy corporations have dominated the conversation on what Virginia needs to do, which has led to some awful policy that damages the environment. If we do not start to work on the environment, then it will be damaged beyond repair. This needs to start with the off-fossil fuels act, which starts a moratorium on new fossil fuel projects, and with changing Virginia code to allow for new renewable resource projects and for individuals to be able to sell their renewable energy back to the corporations. We also need to start protecting our waterways from microplastics and pollutants.

There needs to be a relationship between the administration and the legislature. Without the legislature, nothing will get done and nothing will get passed, and we are stuck in gridlock. Without the governor signing pieces of legislation, then again nothing is done, and we are in gridlock. We need the two sides to cooperate and work together on issues that will help Virginians, or nothing will get done.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.



2017

Ballotpedia candidate survey

Guzman participated in a survey created by Ballotpedia. The survey was designed to let our readers know more about the candidates and feel confident that they are voting for the best person to represent them. The survey questions appear bolded, and Guzman's responses follow below.

What is the primary job of a state legislator in your view?
My primary job is to be a voice for all my constituents and make sure their voices are being heard at the table when decisions are made. Once elected, I am responsible for reporting back my accomplishments in the House and explain my voting record. My constituents will also know I have an open-door policy where they could reach out to me anytime they need whether they voted for me or not. Finally, I will be an advocate for them and work with my fellow legislators to pass laws that help all hardworking Virginia families.[8]
—Elizabeth Guzman
As a publicly elected leader, who would you emulate? Who do you look up to? Why? What characteristics/values are most important for a legislator?
When I look at elected leaders in Virginia, Tim Kaine is my role model for service. Sen. Kaine has been a consummate fighter for Virginia families and he fought for me and my communities here in Prince William, when Republicans like Corey Stewart targeted immigrant and minority communities with 287(g) policies. He showed courage by standing up for minorities when many thought it was dangerous politically to do so. A legislator should not put the interest of big corporation in front of the interest of their constituents, needs to believe in fighting for all Virginians and fight for making Virginia a more inclusive and welcoming place.[8]
—Elizabeth Guzman
Ideally, what should the government’s role in a state’s healthcare system be? Are there any healthcare policies, actual or hypothetical, that you have an opinion on?
Healthcare is a human right and not a privilege. It is terrible that one of the richest states in the country cannot provide healthcare to all 400,000 poor working Virginians. As a legislator, I will: advocate to expand Medicaid, block the repeal and replace of Obama Care, incentivize employers who provide health care insurance, and work on reduce drug prices. Eventually, I will work for a single-payer healthcare system that will not only be good for hardworking families, but will grow the economy by creating new jobs in the health industry.[8]
—Elizabeth Guzman
What one reform or policy change is most important to you?
I want to raise the minimum wage to a living wage for all Virginia families. Too many families are forced to work 2 or 3 jobs in order to make ends meet, and some never quite do so either. I barely afforded a 1-bedroom apartment when I came here on 3 jobs, so I know what that challenge looks like. I want families to be able to put food on the table and be present for their children's lives because quality time with your children is so important. That's why I will fight to make sure every family is making a living wage.[8]
—Elizabeth Guzman
How do you view the current state of transportation and infrastructure in Virginia? What role, if any, should the state have in those two areas?
Northern Virginia is the fastest growing region and transportation and transportation's infrastructure are major concerns to citizens in my area. Recently, a study concluded that the I-95 corridor in my district is the most congested area after New York and Los Angeles nationwide. We need to invest in smarter, long-term growth solutions that create more public transportation options and reduce the need for larger highways. Having a reliable transportation system thrives the economy of localities. We also need to preserve tax credits and programs that protect green spaces and undeveloped lands, so that we can create more climate friendly transportation plans in Virginia.[8]
—Elizabeth Guzman
What is your opinion on Virginia’s K-12 education system? What issues are important and how can the state legislature address them?
I believe education is the key driver for Virginia's economy and we need to do better about educating our children. They are the future of our country. As a mother of four children raised in the public school system, I saw firsthand how many services we have lost in the school system starting with special education classrooms, less guidance counselors, less social workers, and more students with less money. As a Delegate, I will work to pay teachers in my district a fair wage and ensure our children have the tools to learn in the 21st century including those with special education needs.[8]
—Elizabeth Guzman
What is the ideal relationship between Virginia’s local governments and the state government? What should the state legislature do to promote this ideal relationship?
I view the relationship between local and state government as being one of cooperation and mutual respect. Local governments are most responsive to local needs, but state government needs to support local governments by helping them plan for future growth and providing funds for projects when needed. It is also important that local governments have the ability and access to their representatives to discuss challenges they face, an important duty I expect to fulfill as a Delegate.[8]
—Elizabeth Guzman

Candidate website

Guzman’s campaign website highlighted the following issues:

Schools
As a mother of four, two of which face mental health challenges, Elizabeth knows the struggle parents face when ensuring that their children are getting a quality education - particularly for those that need additional mental health or disability services. As Delegate for the 31st district, Elizabeth will work to expand funding and opportunities for early childhood education, and will collaborate to foster strategic partnerships with organizations to bring in more programs like Head Start and Early Head Start to the community.

Healthcare
Partisan decision-making has left 400,000 Virginians without access to critical healthcare services that would have been provided under Medicaid expansion in Virginia. As Delegate, Elizabeth will push for the General Assembly to accept funding for the Medicaid expansion initiative - money that hard-working Virginians have already paid into with their federal tax dollars, that is currently being sent out of state - to offer those critical services to Virginians that are uninsured or underinsured. As a dedicated public servant in the field of human services, Elizabeth has witnessed firsthand the struggles many of these hundreds of thousands of Virginians face because of their inability to access or afford health care services.

Economy
Elizabeth believes that no hard-working Virginian should struggle with putting food on the table for their families due to low wages or a lack of economic opportunity. Elizabeth is a strong believer in raising the minimum wage, so that families in the 31st district and across the Commonwealth aren't working 50, 60 hours weeks and still having to choose between paying their bills and feeding their families. For Elizabeth establishing a living wage and promoting economic development is a family issue, because if individuals are making higher wages this will allow them the opportunity to spend more time with their families.

Environment
One of Elizabeth's top priorities as Delegate would be protecting Virginia's many beautiful landmarks, natural spaces, and farmland areas. Elizabeth's grandparents were farmers, and this background gives her strong insight on the growing importance of protecting area farmland, and ensuring it will be there for generations to come by promoting agribusiness and agricultural opportunities in the 31st district, and supporting small family farms.

Immigration
Elizabeth Guzman supports legislation that will issue driver's licenses for all Virginia residents regardless of their Immigration status. This legislation will not only increase Virginia Revenue in the form of property tax, but will also make our roads safer because everyone will have Auto insurance and no one will need to use their Uninsured Motorist coverage. Most importantly, all Virginians will feel that they are part of the community. It is important to mention that all Virginians used to have driver's licenses back in 2001. That privilege was removed after 9/11 attacks.

Veterans
According to the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans, there are more than 1 million of veterans currently facing homelessness due to many reasons, including shortage of affordable housing in the Northern Virginia, and in some cases veterans are not receiving the support they need to transfer their learned skills during service in the civilian world, pushing them into low-paying jobs that do not pay enough to take care of themselves and their families. Many of them also leave without access to health care and aside from physical ailments and injuries, money of them face struggles post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse. We need to create programs and fund existing efforts to help these veterans who performed a great service for our country. They should not be left behind.[8]

—Elizabeth Guzman, [10]

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Elizabeth Guzman campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* U.S. House Virginia District 7Lost primary$318,182 $318,182
2023Virginia State Senate District 29Lost primary$610,230 $402,638
2021Lieutenant Governor of VirginiaLost primary$303,610 $230,835
2021Virginia House of Delegates District 31Won general$1,540,229 $1,055,571
2019Virginia House of Delegates District 31Won general$970,891 N/A**
Grand total$3,743,142 $2,007,226
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Endorsements

2017

In 2017, Guzman’s endorsements included the following:[11]

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Virginia

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

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2023


2022


2021


2020


2019


2018




See also


External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
-
Virginia House of Delegates District 31
2018-2024
Succeeded by
Delores Oates (R)


Senators
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
Democratic Party (8)
Republican Party (5)



Current members of the Virginia State Senate
Leadership
Majority Leader:Scott Surovell
Minority Leader:Ryan McDougle
Senators
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
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District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
Democratic Party (21)
Republican Party (19)



Current members of the Virginia House of Delegates
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Don Scott
Majority Leader:Charniele Herring
Minority Leader:Todd Gilbert
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
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District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
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District 19
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District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
Jas Singh (D)
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
Tony Wilt (R)
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
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District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
Eric Zehr (R)
District 52
District 53
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District 57
District 58
District 59
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Lee Ware (R)
District 73
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District 79
District 80
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District 85
District 86
District 87
District 88
Don Scott (D)
District 89
District 90
District 91
District 92
District 93
District 94
District 95
District 96
District 97
District 98
District 99
District 100
Democratic Party (51)
Republican Party (49)