Michelle Maldonado
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Assumed office
January 12, 2022
Preceded byLee J. Carter
Constituency50th district (2022–2024)
20th district (2024–present)
Personal details
BornFalmouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseRoberto Maldonado
Children1
EducationColumbia University (BA)
George Washington University (JD)

Michelle Maldonado is an American politician who serves in the Virginia House of Delegates from the 20th district as a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and education

Michelle Maldonado was born in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Her grandmother was the first black person to work as a principal in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She graduated with an undergraduate degree from Barnard College of Columbia University in Latin American studies and Spanish literature and language. She moved to Virginia in 1993, to attended George Washington University Law School. She married Roberto Maldonado Jr., with whom she had one son. She was admitted to the bar in Washington, D.C., and Virginia.[1][2]

Virginia House of Delegates

Maldonado filed to run for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates from the 50th district during the 2021 election. She stated that she was inspired to run for office following the murders of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd, the killing of Breonna Taylor, and the attack on the United States Capitol. She defeated incumbent Delegate Lee J. Carter, who was also running for the Democratic nomination for governor, and activist Helen Zurita in the Democratic primary. After losing the primary Carter stated on Twitter that "This job has made me miserable for the last 4 years. I made a lot of people's lives objectively better, but the constant assassination threats and harassment were terrible for my family and my health. I'm relieved to say that I've done my part, and now it's someone else's turn." During the primary campaign Carter had raised around $84,000, Maldonado raised around $56,000, and Zurita raised around $6,000.[1][3] She defeated Republican nominee Steve Pleickhardt in the general election.[4]

Political positions

Maldonado supports increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour stating that "no person should be working 40 hours a week and still be at, below or close to the poverty line".[1] She declined an endorsement from the NARAL Pro-Choice America during the 2021 election due to their support for the defunding of police.[5]

Electoral history

2021 Virginia House of Delegates 50th district Democratic primary[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Michelle Maldonado 1,558 44.14%
Democratic Lee J. Carter (incumbent) 1,355 38.39%
Democratic Helen Zurita 617 17.48%
Total votes 3,530 100.00%
2021 Virginia House of Delegates 50th district election[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Michelle Maldonado 14,426 54.70%
Republican Steve Pleickhardt 11,893 45.10%
Write-in 52 0.20%
Total votes 26,371 100.00%

References

  1. ^ a b c "Another Democrat announces candidacy for Del. Lee Carter's seat". InsideNoVa. March 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021.
  2. ^ "Meet Michelle". Michelle Maldonado. March 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021.
  3. ^ "Lee Carter knocked off in 50th District primary". InsideNoVa. June 8, 2021. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021.
  4. ^ "Newcomer Michelle Maldonado wins the 50th District House seat". Prince William Times. November 3, 2021. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "Suburban Dems flee from 'defund the police'". Politico. October 14, 2021. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021.
  6. ^ "2021 June Democratic Primary". Virginia Department of Elections. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021.
  7. ^ "2021 November General". Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
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