Hala Ayala

Hala Ayala (born 1973) is an American cybersecurity specialist, a politician representing the 51st district in the Virginia House of Delegates, and a Democratic candidate running for lieutenant governor of Virginia.[1]

Hala Ayala
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 51st district
Assumed office
January 10, 2018
Preceded byRich Anderson
Personal details
Born1973 (age 46–47)
Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2 (Chedrick Proshe IV and Amber Pointer-Ayala)
ResidenceLake Ridge, Virginia
ProfessionCybersecurity specialist

Early life and education

Ayala is a native of Prince William County, Virginia. She graduated from Woodbridge Senior High School, and has a college degree in psychology.[2]

Ayala's father was an immigrant from El Salvador,[3] and also has North African roots.[2] Ayala's mother was Irish and Lebanese.[2]

Career

She formerly worked for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a cybersecurity specialist. Ayala also formerly led the Prince William County chapter of the National Organization for Women,[4] serving as chapter president in 2014.[2] She also served on the Virginia Council on Women as an appointee of Governor Terry McAuliffe for a term expiring on June 30, 2016.[5]

Ayala cites the documentary Miss Representation as inspiration for her to become involved in politics, and was a volunteer for Barack Obama's reelection campaign in 2012.[2] In 2017, Ayala was an organizer of the Women's March against Donald Trump.[6]

Ayala ran for the Virginia House of Delegates in the 2017 elections for the 51st district, which covers much of Prince William County.[4] The district specifically stretches "from just northwest of Occoquan, in eastern Prince William, to Nokesville on the county's western border."[2] District 51 was a key pickup target for Virginia Democrats because it was one of 17 House of Delegates districts that voted for Hillary Clinton in the preceding year's presidential election, but was held by a Republican state house delegate.[2] In June 2017, Ayala won the Democratic nomination for the 51st district of the Virginia House of Delegates, defeating Ken Boddye in the primary election. In the general election, Ayala defeated four-term Republican incumbent Richard L. Anderson.[4] Ayala, Kelly Fowler and Elizabeth Guzman became the first Hispanic women elected to the House.[6] The victories were part of a Democratic sweep in the 2017 Virginia elections, which saw major gains for the party.[6]

Ayala has been the Chief Co-Sponsor of four bills that were enacted in 2019. The bills focused on issues including the foster care system, veterans benefits, public education zoning, and access to the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program.[7]

In July 2020, Ayala announced her candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in the 2021 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election.[8]

Legislative initiatives

Drawing on her 18 years as an information security specialist for the U.S. Coast Guard, Rep. Ayala has made information and cyber security one focus of her efforts.[9][10] Her bill requiring tax preparers to report security breaches became law.[11] Ayala has also introduced bills for creating a state interagency cybersecurity task force, training state employees, increasing security of nework-connected devices, and requiring digital services to remove information about minors upon request.[10]

The Virginia Education Association Fund for Children and Public Education has endorsed her because she has consistently voted for legislation supporting public education.[12]

Assembly committee assignments

Ayala serves as a member of the Science and Technology Committee and the Finance Committee.[13]

Personal life

Ayala lives in Lake Ridge, Virginia. She has two children.[2]

Electoral history
Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 51st district
Nov 7, 2017[14] General Hala Ayala Democratic 15,244 52.98%
Rich Anderson (inc.) Republican 13,476 46.84%
Nov 5, 2019[15] General Hala Ayala (inc.) Democratic 15,508 54.58%
Rich Anderson Republican 12,882 45.34%

References
  1. "Virginia Del. Hala Ayala announces bid for lieutenant governor," by Antonio Olivo, The Washington Post, July 14, 2020, retrieved July 22, 2020
  2. Jill Palermo, Former Prince William NOW president launches bid for state delegate, Fauquier Times (April 4, 2017).
  3. Fenit Nirappil, In a changing Virginia suburb, a slate of diverse Democrats hopes to show path back to power, Washington Post (September 28, 2017).
  4. Alex Koma, Ayala wins 51st District seat, defeating 4-term incumbent, Inside NoVa (November 8, 2017).
  5. Council on Women Members, Commonwealth of Virginia (last accessed November 10, 2017).
  6. Nuño, Stephen A. (November 8, 2017). "First Two Latinas Are Elected to Virginia House of Delegates, Making History". NBC News.
  7. "LIS Virginia". Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  8. Ayala, Hala. "Tweet from @HalaAyala". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  9. Marks, Joseph (May 20, 2019). "These political candidates are running on their cybersecurity expertise". Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
  10. Wolff, Josephine (August 6, 2019). "Are Voters Ready for Politicians to Run on Cybersecurity Platforms?". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
  11. Nolen, Chris (April 27, 2018). "2018 Virginia General Assembly Wrap-Up: Modest Privacy-Related Bills Adopted". McGuire Woods. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
  12. "General Assembly". Virginia Education Association. 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  13. Virginia General Assembly members
  14. "House of Delegates District 51". www.vpap.org. Virginia Public Access Project. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  15. "House of Delegates District 51". www.vpap.org. Virginia Public Access Project. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
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