Alfonso H. Lopez

Alfonso Hoffman Lopez was born on July 28, 1970, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to Carole (née Hoffman) and Alfonso Chacón Lopez.{{cite web | title = Sarah Zevin and Alfonso Lopez | work = New York Times | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/fashion/weddings/sarah-zevin-and-alfonso-lopez.html | access-date = 2018-03-15}} His father, a former undocumented immigrant from Venezuela,{{cite web | title = In Re-Election Bid, Alfonso Lopez Hopes to Keep Advocating For Constituents | publisher = ARLnow | url = https://www.arlnow.com/2017/08/29/in-re-election-bid-alfonso-lopez-hopes-to-keep-advocating-for-constituents/ | access-date = 2018-03-16}}{{cite web | title = 49th District contenders see areas of agreement, dispute in first forum | date = 6 September 2017 | publisher = InsideNOVA | url = http://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/th-district-contenders-see-areas-of-agreement-dispute-in-first/article_bf9b2cb6-9313-11e7-ae9e-d329a0a55cf9.html | access-date = 2018-03-15}} came to the U.S. at the age of 19 and worked as a busboy before teaching himself English and working toward a management position with the Marriott Corporation. He is now retired. His mother, an American woman of Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, taught and counseled in the Arlington Public Schools system for thirty years before passing away in 2008.{{cite web | title = The Voice Vol. 33, No. 8 | publisher = arlingtondemocrats.org | url = https://arlingtondemocrats.org/wp-content/newsletters/Voice200808.pdf | access-date = 2018-03-15}}{{cite web | title = Lopez, head of liaison office, is still awed by opportunities in U.S. | publisher = alfonsolopez.org | url = http://www.alfonsolopez.org/media/from-the-archives-february-2006 | access-date = 2018-03-15}}

As a young child, Lopez's family traveled extensively, living in Liberia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Venezuela, before settling in Northern Virginia. He attended Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax County, Virginia, graduating in 1988. He received an A.B. degree from Vassar College in 1992 and a J.D. from the Tulane University Law School in 1995. While in law school, he twice served as an intern in the Clinton administration, first in 1993 for the Domestic Policy Council and again in 1995 for the Council on Environmental Quality. Lopez credits the experience of interning at the White House for igniting his interest in politics and policy.

After graduating from law school, Lopez worked on policy issues for Physicians for Social Responsibility, before joining the staff of Senator Robert G. Torricelli as a legislative assistant in 1999. He later worked as a lobbyist for the Arlington-based firm Alcalde & Fay, representing clients such as the city of Virginia Beach.

During this time, Lopez became active in Virginia politics. In 2004, he served as the president of the Arlington Young Democrats and helped found the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia, the Latino caucus arm of the Democratic Party of Virginia, serving as its first president. That same year, he was named the “Virginia Young Democrat of the Year.”{{cite web | title = New Contender in 49th House Race Rips GOP Majority in Richmond | publisher = alfonsolopez.org | url = http://www.alfonsolopez.org/media/new-contender-in-49th-house-race-rips-gop-majority-in-richmond | access-date = 2018-03-16}} In 2005, after the election of Lt. Governor Tim Kaine as governor of Virginia, Lopez was appointed Deputy Policy Director for the governor-elect's transition team.{{cite web | title = Blue Virginia Interviews with 49th House of Delegates District Candidates: Alfonso Lopez | date = 23 May 2011 | publisher = bluevirginia.blogspot.com | url = http://bluevablog.blogspot.com/2011/05/blue-virginia-interviews-with-49th.html | access-date = 2018-03-16}}

In 2006, Lopez was named by Governor Kaine as the Director of the Virginia Liaison Office in Washington, D.C., a cabinet-level position responsible for directing and supervising congressional and federal relations for the Commonwealth of Virginia. In that role, Lopez also served as the Governor's representative to the National Governors Association, Democratic Governors Association and the Southern Governors Association.

In 2010, after the conclusion of Kaine's term as governor, Lopez joined the Obama administration as Assistant Administrator for Congressional and Legislative Affairs at the Small Business Administration (SBA). While at the SBA, he worked with Congress and Obama administration officials to pass the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010.{{cite web | title = Lopez Announces Congressional Run | date = 5 February 2014 | publisher = WTOP | url = https://wtop.com/news/2014/02/lopez-announces-congressional-run/ | access-date = 2018-03-16}}

In 2011, Virginia Delegate Adam Ebbin announced that he would not seek reelection to the House of Delegates in order to campaign for the Virginia Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Patsy Ticer. On May 4, Lopez announced his candidacy for the House of Delegates seat being vacated by Delegate Ebbin, representing Virginia's 49th district. He prevailed against opponent Stephanie Clifford with 66.07% of the vote in the Democratic primary on August 23{{cite web |title=2011 Democratic Primary (8/23/2011) |url=https://www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-49/election/6490/ |website=vpap.org |publisher=Virginia Public Access Project |access-date=17 November 2021}} and ran unopposed in the general election.{{cite web |title=General Election: Nov. 8, 2011 |url=https://www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-49/elections/?year_and_type=2011regular |website=vpap.org |publisher=Virginia Public Access Project |access-date=17 November 2021}}

No Democratic primary was held in 2013 for the 49th district and Lopez was renominated without contest. Lopez faced Terry Modglin, the nominee of the Independent Green Party, in the general election held on November 5. Lopez won the general election with 77.98% of the vote.{{cite web |title=General Election: Nov. 5, 2013 |url=https://www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-49/elections/?year_and_type=2013 |website=vpap.org |publisher=Virginia Public Access Project |access-date=17 November 2021 |language=en}}

In February 2014, Lopez announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives seat being vacated by retiring Congressman Jim Moran. Lopez ended his candidacy the following April, before the Democratic primary.{{cite news | title = Va. Del Alfonso Lopez drops out of 8th congressional district Democratic primary | newspaper = The Washington Post | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/va-del-alfonso-lopez-drops-out-of-8th-congressional-district-democratic-primary/2014/04/04/31711e20-bc2d-11e3-96ae-f2c36d2b1245_story.html | access-date = 2018-03-16}}

No Democratic primary was held in 2015 for the 49th district and Lopez was renominated without contest. Lopez faced no opposition in the general election held on November 3.{{cite web |title=General Election: Nov. 3, 2015 |url=https://www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-49/elections/?year_and_type=2015regular |website=vpap.org |publisher=Virginia Public Access Project |access-date=17 November 2021 |language=en}}

No Democratic primary was held in 2017 for the 49th district and Lopez was renominated without contest. Lopez faced Republican candidate Adam Roosevelt in the general election held on November 7. Lopez won the general election with 81.30% of the vote.{{cite web |title=General Election: Nov. 7, 2017 |url=https://www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-49/elections/?year_and_type=2017regular |website=vpap.org |publisher=Virginia Public Access Project |access-date=17 November 2021 |language=en}}

In January 2019, local activist and president of the Arlington Branch of the NAACP Julius "J.D." Spain announced his intention to challenge Lopez in the Democratic primary for election to the House of Delegates.{{Cite web|url=https://www.arlnow.com/2019/01/10/arlington-naacp-president-launches-primary-bid-against-lopez/|title=Arlington NAACP President Launches Primary Bid Against Lopez|date=2019-01-10|website=ARLnow.com - Arlington, Va. Local News|language=en|access-date=2019-11-06}} In the primary held on June 11, Lopez carried every precinct in the district and won with 77.14% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-49/election/9928/|title=Primary Election: Jun. 11, 2019|website=Virginia Public Access Project|access-date=2019-11-06}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.insidenova.com/news/election/incumbent-lopez-headed-to-victory-in-th-district-primary/article_0559da44-8ca6-11e9-becd-b7f584271d6a.html|title=Incumbent Lopez headed to victory in 49th District primary|last=NEWSPAPERS|first=SUN GAZETTE|website=INSIDENOVA.COM|date=11 June 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-11-07}}

Lopez faced independent candidate Terry Modglin, who had previously run against Lopez in 2013 as the nominee of the Independent Green Party,{{Cite web|url=https://www.arlnow.com/2019/07/10/del-lopez-picks-up-new-challenger-in-candidate-terry-modglin/|title=Del. Lopez Picks Up New Challenger in Candidate Terry Modglin|date=2019-07-10|website=ARLnow.com - Arlington, Va. Local News|language=en|access-date=2019-11-07}} in the general election held on November 5. Lopez won the general election with 83.29% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vpap.org/electionresults/20191105/election-9809/|title=General Election: Nov. 5, 2019|website=Virginia Public Access Project|access-date=2019-11-06}}

In October 2020, preschool teacher Karishma Mehta announced her intention to challenge Lopez in the 2021 Democratic primary to represent Virginia's 49th district.{{cite news |title=Del. Lopez to Get Primary Challenger in 2021 |url=https://www.arlnow.com/2020/10/15/del-lopez-to-get-primary-challenger-in-2021/ |access-date=17 November 2021 |work=ARLnow.com |date=15 October 2020 |language=en}} In the primary held on June 8, Lopez carried every precinct in the district and won with 70.50% of the vote.{{cite web |title=2021 Democratic Primary (6/8/2021) |url=https://www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-49/election/10373/ |website=vpap.org |publisher=Virginia Public Access Project |access-date=17 November 2021 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Arlington Voters Favor Establishment Democrats in Primary |url=https://www.arlnow.com/2021/06/08/arlington-voters-favor-establishment-democrats-in-primary/ |access-date=17 November 2021 |work=ARLnow.com |date=8 June 2021 |language=en}}

In the general election on November 2, Lopez faced Republican candidate Timothy Kilcullin and independent candidate Terry Modglin, who had previously run against Lopez in 2013 and 2019. Lopez won the general election with 76.44% of the vote.{{cite web |title=General Election: Nov. 2, 2021 |url=https://www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-49/elections/?year_and_type=2021regular |website=vpap.org |publisher=Virginia Public Access Project |access-date=17 November 2021}}

Lopez currently serves on the following committees in the Virginia House of Delegates:{{cite web |title=Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings |url=https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?id=H0239 |website=Virginia General Assembly |access-date=17 November 2021}}

• Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources (Chair)
• Committee on Labor and Commerce
• Committee on Public Safety
• Committee on Communications, Technology, and Innovation

Lopez has remained active with caucus memberships, founding the Virginia Environment and Renewable Energy Caucus in 2015 with then-Senator Donald McEachin and Delegates David Bulova and Rip Sullivan.{{cite web | title = Lopez Launches Caucus to Tackle Environmental Concerns in Virginia | date = 26 January 2015 | publisher = Arlington Patch | url = https://patch.com/virginia/arlington-va/lopez-launches-caucus-tackle-environmental-concerns-virginia | access-date = 2018-03-16}} In 2018, following the elections of the first two Latina members of the Virginia General Assembly, Lopez founded the Virginia Latino Caucus with Delegates Hala Ayala, Elizabeth Guzman, Patrick Hope, and Jason Miyares—the first of its kind to represent Virginia's Latino population in the General Assembly.{{cite web | title = Lopez Announces Formation of Virginia Latino Caucus in General Assembly | publisher = ARLnow | url = https://www.arlnow.com/2018/01/16/lopez-announces-formation-of-virginia-latino-caucus-in-general-assembly/ | access-date = 2018-03-16}}{{cite web | title = Local delegate founds Latino caucus in Richmond | date = 19 January 2018 | publisher = InsideNOVA | url = http://www.insidenova.com/news/politics/local-delegate-founds-latino-caucus-in-richmond/article_df35db82-fd41-11e7-bb48-43d2ec2fdae8.html | access-date = 2018-03-16}}

Appointed by Speaker of the House of Delegates, Lopez serves on the Commission on Coal and Energy, the Virginia Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation, the Virginia Water Commission, and the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission. He formerly served as Chair of the Virginia Small Business Commission and as a member of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, the Virginia Commission on Employee Retirement Security and Pension Reform, .

Lopez was sworn in on January 11, 2012, as the delegate from Virginia's 49th district.

In the House of Delegates, Lopez has prioritized legislation focusing on environmental issues, immigrant rights, and small businesses. His first several years in the House of Delegates, Lopez pushed for legislation granting in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants who had grown up in the Commonwealth, modeling the legislation after the federal DREAM Act introduced in the U.S. Congress.{{cite web | title = Lopez Reintroduces DREAM Act Legislation | date = 10 January 2013| publisher = WTOP| url = https://wtop.com/news/2013/01/lopez-reintroduces-dream-act-legislation/ | access-date = 2018-03-16}} In 2013, he passed legislation creating the Virginia Housing Trust Fund, which provides loans and grant funding for affordable housing projects in Virginia.{{cite news | title = McAuliffe awards millions for affordable housing in Virginia | newspaper = The Washington Post | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/mcauliffe-awards-millions-for-affordable-housing/2016/01/19/30c37746-beb7-11e5-bcda-62a36b394160_story.html | access-date = 2018-03-16}}{{cite web | title = 2013 General Assembly Wrap-up

| publisher = Better Housing Coalition | url = http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs147/1101988016177/archive/1112909216505.html | access-date = 2018-03-16}} In 2018, Lopez passed legislation extending a state tax credit for jobs created in the field of renewable energy.{{cite web | title = Legislature extends tax credit for 'green' job creation | date = 8 March 2018 | publisher = InsideNOVA | url = http://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/legislature-extends-tax-credit-for-green-job-creation/article_297fb094-2238-11e8-985f-2f83bc9dcecf.html | access-date = 2018-03-16}}

In 2015, Delegate Lopez was selected to serve as the campaign chair and political director of the House Democratic Caucus. In 2016, he was appointed Whip of the House Democratic Caucus and currently serves in this position.

In late 2017, Lopez received criticism for performing work for ICA-Farmville, an immigrant detention facility in southern Virginia, during the later years of the Obama administration. Outside of his service in the House of Delegates—a part-time legislature—Lopez previously served as a partner at two consulting firms focused on business and government management. The employment for the ICA-Farmville facility was indicated on publicly released financial disclosures dating to 2014, 2015, and 2016.{{cite web | title = Pro-immigrant activists pressure Democratic state lawmaker over ties to Farmville detention center | date = 29 November 2017 | publisher = Richmond Times-Dispatch | url = http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/pro-immigrant-activists-pressure-democratic-state-lawmaker-over-ties-to/article_da14f84d-def1-50ed-ae34-01fbb0fe4bf6.html | access-date = 2018-03-16}} A collection of activists and student groups released a petition demanding Lopez sever any ties to the facility, apologize for his association with the facility, and pay reparations to the undocumented immigrants housed at the facility.{{cite web | title = Alfonso Lopez Cut ALL ties to Private Immigration Company and Pay Reparations to Migrants | publisher = mijente | url = https://action.mijente.net/petitions/alfonso-lopez-cut-all-ties-to-private-immigration-company-and-pay-reparations-to-migrants | access-date = 2018-02-23}}

In lieu of responding to the demands or providing an explanation, Lopez released a statement highlighting his extensive pro-immigrant legislative record, as well as his leading role in fighting against conservative legislation to ban sanctuary cities and mandate local police compliance with detention requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Several Virginia Latino community leaders and activists released statements expressing their support for Lopez.{{cite web | title = Statement from Del. Alfonso Lopez, Statements of Support Responding to "La ColectiVa" Criticisms | date = 30 November 2017 | publisher = Blue Virginia | url = https://bluevirginia.us/2017/11/statement-from-del-alfonso-lopez-responding-to-la-colectiva-criticisms | access-date = 2018-03-16}}

The ICA-Farmville facility has not appeared on his public financial disclosures released since 2016. Since 2019, Lopez has worked as a senior corporate and government relations consultant for the Washington, D.C. office of the commercial law firm Becker & Poliakoff.{{Cite web|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/305366-personnel-note-becker-firm-expands-in-d-c-florida|title=Personnel note: Becker firm expands in D.C., Florida|last=Wilson|first=Drew|date=2019-09-09|website=Florida Politics|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-06}}{{Cite web|url=https://beckerlawyers.com/professionals/alfonso-lopez/|title=Alfonso Lopez|date=2019-09-03|website=Becker|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-06}}

Lopez married Sarah Zevin in 2006. They have two sons, Aaron and Gabe. They live in Arlington, Virginia.

• {{cite web | title = Alfonso Lopez | publisher = Virginia Public Access Project | url = http://www.vpap.org/candidates/profile/home/59777}} (campaign finance)
• {{cite web | title = Delegate Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington) | publisher = Richmond Sunlight | url = http://www.richmondsunlight.com/legislator/ahlopez/}}
• {{cite web|title=Election Results |publisher=Virginia State Board of Elections |url=http://sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429112846/http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults.html |archive-date=2013-04-29 }}

{{Virginia House of Delegates}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lopez, Alfonso H.}}

Category:Living people

Category:1970 births

Category:Democratic Party members of the Virginia House of Delegates

Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in Virginia

Category:Politicians from Fairfax County, Virginia

Category:Politicians from Washington, D.C.

Category:Vassar College alumni

Category:Tulane University Law School alumni

Category:Politicians from Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Category:American people of Venezuelan descent

Category:Venezuelan diaspora in the United States

Category:21st-century members of the Virginia General Assembly