Michelle Maldonado, a Democrat hailing from Manassas, officially threw her hat into the ring for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District seat on November 29. Her announcement marks the latest entry in a growing list of Democratic hopefuls aiming to secure their party’s nomination in the race to succeed Rep. Jennifer Wexton, who has decided to retire at the end of her current term.
Maldonado, who recently secured a second term representing Manassas and Manassas Park in the House of Delegates, pointed to the entrenched partisan divisions in Congress as a driving force behind her decision to run. Drawing on her experiences, she highlighted her work in addressing the persistent clean water crisis in Flint, Michigan, her involvement in the Minneapolis community following the tragic death of George Floyd, and her efforts to support congressional staffers in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
“I am deeply steeped in how to navigate these difficult terrains and to bring people together,” Maldonado asserted.
The seasoned politician is now the sixth Democrat to enter the fray, joining a competitive field that includes Current Del. Dan Helmer of Fairfax County, State Sen. Jennifer Boysko of Fairfax County, Former Speaker of the House Eileen Filler-Corn, Former Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni, and Current Del. David Reid of Loudoun County.
On the Republican side, the contenders for their party’s nomination include attorney and technology company executive Mike Clancy, defense company executive Brooke Taylor, and Manga Anantatmula, whose campaign website states her previous work with the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. However, the district’s Republicans are yet to determine the method by which they will select their congressional nominee.
A native of Manassas, Maldonado has deep roots in Prince William County and boasts a professional background spanning over two decades in the tech industry, including a tenure as an attorney for AOL. Her unique perspective and intimate knowledge of the tech sector set her apart from her Democratic competitors in the 10th District, as well as many current legislators, she argued.
Regulating artificial intelligence emerges as a key priority for Maldonado, who believes that such a transformative technology should not be subject to a patchwork of state-level controls. As the district has shown a Democratic trend since Wexton‘s historic victory in 2018 against incumbent Republican Barbara Comstock, the departure of the incumbent Democrat introduces the potential for a highly competitive race in the upcoming election year.