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Michelle Maldonado

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Michelle Maldonado
Maldonado in 2024
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office
January 12, 2022 – May 31, 2026
Preceded byLee J. Carter
Succeeded byVacant
Constituency50th district (2022–2024)
20th district (2024–2026)
Personal details
Born
Falmouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseRoberto Maldonado Jr.
Children1
EducationBarnard College (BA)
George Washington University (JD)

Michelle-Ann E. Lopes Maldonado (/ˈmiːʃɛl/ MEE-shel) is an American politician who served in the Virginia House of Delegates as a member of the Democratic Party. She represented the 50th district from 2022 to 2024 and the 20th district from 2024 to 2026.

Early life and education

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Michelle Maldonado was born in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Her grandmother was the first Black person to work as a principal in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She is of Cape Verdean-descent. She graduated with an undergraduate degree from Barnard College of Columbia University in Latin American studies and Spanish literature and language.[1][2][3]

Maldonado moved to Virginia in 1993, to attend 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

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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.[1]

Maldonado defeated incumbent Delegate Lee J. Carter, who was also running for the Democratic nomination for governor, and activist Helen Zurita in the Democratic primary. During the primary campaign Carter had raised around $84,000, Maldonado raised around $56,000, and Zurita raised around $6,000.[1][4] She defeated Republican nominee Steve Pleickhardt in the general election.[5] Maldonado resigned from the House on May 31, 2026, stating that she was caring for a parent with a terminal illness.[6]

Post-House career

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In June 2026, Maldonado became an associate director of AI policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.[7][8]

Political positions

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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.[9]

Electoral history

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2021 Virginia House of Delegates 50th district election[10][11]
Primary election
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%
General election
Democratic Michelle Maldonado 14,426 54.71%
Republican Steve Pleickhardt 11,893 45.10%
Write-in 51 0.19%
Total votes 26,370 100.00%
2023 Virginia House of Delegates 20th district election[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michelle Maldonado 9,740 56.60%
Republican Sharon Ashurst 7,422 43.13%
Write-in 45 0.26%
Total votes 17,207 100.00%
United States House of Representatives Democratic primary election: 10th District, 2024[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Suhas Subramanyam 13,504 30.4%
Democratic Dan Helmer 11,784 26.6%
Democratic Atif Qarni 4,768 10.7%
Democratic Eileen Filler-Corn 4,131 9.3%
Democratic Jennifer Boysko 4,016 9.0%
Democratic David Reid 1,419 3.2%
Democratic Michelle Maldonado 1,412 3.2%
Democratic Adrian Pokharel 1,028 2.3%
Democratic Krystle Kaul 982 2.2%
Democratic Travis Nembhard 722 1.6%
Democratic Marion Devoe 386 0.9%
Democratic Mark Leighton 225 0.5%
Total votes 44,377 100.0%

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Stout, Nolan (March 24, 2021). "Another Democrat announces candidacy for Del. Lee Carter's seat". InsideNoVa.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ^ a b "Meet Michelle". Michelle Maldonado. March 24, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ^ Olivo, Antonio (June 20, 2024). "Subramanyam wins Va. 10 primary with suburban appeal and South Asian support". Washington Post. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  4. ^ "Lee Carter knocked off in 50th District primary". InsideNoVa. June 8, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ^ "Newcomer Michelle Maldonado wins the 50th District House seat". Prince William Times. November 3, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ^ Kraft, Sébastien (May 6, 2026). "UPDATE: Del. Maldonado resigning from Virginia House of Delegates". InsideNova. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  7. ^ Muzyk, Cher (May 6, 2026). "Delegate resigns to take AI policy job with tech think tank". Fauquier Times. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  8. ^ O'Connor, Michael (May 5, 2026). "Virginia delegate resigning for tech policy job; special election coming". Dogwood. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  9. ^ "Suburban Dems flee from 'defund the police'". Politico. October 14, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. ^ "2021 House of Delegates Democratic Primary". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  11. ^ "2021 House of Delegates General Election". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  12. ^ "2023 November General and Special Elections Official Results". enr.elections.virginia.gov. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Vakil, Caroline (June 18, 2024). "Suhas Subramanyam wins Virginia Democratic primary for Wexton's seat". The Hill. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
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