Elizabeth Guzmán

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. 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.

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.

Early life
Born in Peru, Guzmán immigrated to the United States and became a social worker.

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. 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,

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.

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.

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

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

2021 lieutenant governor campaign
Guzmán announced her candidacy for Lieutenant Governor in October 2020. 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.

2023 Virginia senate campaign
In December 2022, Guzmán announced her intention to challenge incumbent senator Jeremy McPike in the Democratic primary. She earned 49.76% of the vote, but conceded rather than go to a recount.

2024 congressional campaign
In November 2023, Guzmán announced her candidacy to replace Abigail Spanberger in Virginia's 7th congressional district. 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,

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