Delegate Elizabeth Guzman (D-Prince William County) announced on Tuesday that she is exploring a run to become the first woman and first Hispanic person to serve as Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Guzman was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2017 when she became the first Latina immigrant to serve in the Virginia General Assembly, and she was recently elected as Virginia’s first Latina DNC member at the Democratic Party of Virginia’s (DPVA) State Convention.

“After building overwhelming statewide support in her run to become Virginia’s first Latina DNC member, Delegate Guzman is exploring a run to become the first woman and first Hispanic person to serve as Virginia’s lieutenant governor with a potential Labor Day launch,” said Katie Baker, a spokeswoman for Guzman. “She will first engage in conversations with leaders in her Latino community as well as leaders in the Black, AAPI, LGBTQ+, immigrant and other marginalized communities; her labor union (AFSCME) and other labor unions; leaders in the Democratic Party, local Democratic committees, environmental and other progressive groups, grassroots activists, local elected officials and her supporters before coming to a decision. Their work over the past four years was instrumental in her election and re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates.” 

During her time in the House of Delegates, Guzman has focused on criminal justice and labor reform.

Guzman will be the second candidate to enter the race after Paul Goldman, a former chairman of Virginia’s Democratic Party who declared his candidacy in May.