{{Short description|American politician (born 1973)}} {{Use American English|date=July 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Hala Ayala | image = Hala Ayala at volunteer appreciation event.jpg | caption = Ayala in 2017 | state_delegate = Virginia | district = 51st | term_start = January 10, 2018 | term_end = January 12, 2022 | predecessor = Rich Anderson | successor = Briana Sewell | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|4|23}} | birth_place = Alexandria, Virginia, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = | children = 2 | education = University of Phoenix (AS) }} '''Hala Sophia Ayala''' (born April 23, 1973) is an American politician who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates for the 51st district from 2018 to 2022. She was the Democratic nominee in the 2021 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, losing to Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears. Ayala was also a candidate for Virginia State Senate in the 33rd district, losing the Democratic primary to Jennifer Carroll Foy on June 20, 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/virginia-hala-ayala-lieutenant-governor/2020/07/13/9c828cbe-c516-11ea-a99f-3bbdffb1af38_story.html |title="Virginia Del. Hala Ayala announces bid for lieutenant governor," by Antonio Olivo, The Washington Post, July 14, 2020, retrieved July 22, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714145607/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/virginia-hala-ayala-lieutenant-governor/2020/07/13/9c828cbe-c516-11ea-a99f-3bbdffb1af38_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=2023 Virginia State Senate 33 |url=https://votes.decisiondeskhq.com/races/2023-06-20/virginia-state-senate-33-democratic-primary |website=DDHQ Votes |access-date=May 7, 2026}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Ayala was born in Alexandria, Virginia. She graduated from Woodbridge Senior High School, and has an associate’s degree in psychology from the University of Phoenix.<ref name="Palermo">Jill Palermo, [http://www.fauquier.com/prince_william_times/news/former-prince-william-now-president-launches-bid-for-state-delegate/article_f38291ec-1936-11e7-8faa-73aeac663a00.html Former Prince William NOW president launches bid for state delegate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723064009/http://www.fauquier.com/prince_william_times/news/former-prince-william-now-president-launches-bid-for-state-delegate/article_f38291ec-1936-11e7-8faa-73aeac663a00.html |date=July 23, 2017 }}, ''Fauquier Times'' (April 4, 2017).</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Delegate Hala S. Ayala (D)|url=https://virginiaalmanac.gmu.edu/general-assembly-member-data-bank/delegate-bank/delegate-hala-s-ayala-d/|access-date=2021-04-26|website=virginiaalmanac.gmu.edu|archive-date=April 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426165342/https://virginiaalmanac.gmu.edu/general-assembly-member-data-bank/delegate-bank/delegate-hala-s-ayala-d/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Ayala's father was an immigrant from El Salvador,<ref>Fenit Nirappil, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/in-a-changing-va-suburb-a-diverse-democratic-slate-hopes-to-show-path-back-to-power/2017/09/28/a5756c70-9962-11e7-82e4-f1076f6d6152_story.html In a changing Virginia suburb, a slate of diverse Democrats hopes to show path back to power] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114840/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/in-a-changing-va-suburb-a-diverse-democratic-slate-hopes-to-show-path-back-to-power/2017/09/28/a5756c70-9962-11e7-82e4-f1076f6d6152_story.html |date=November 10, 2017 }}, ''Washington Post'' (September 28, 2017).</ref> and also has North African roots.<ref name="Palermo"/> Ayala's mother was Irish and Lebanese.<ref name="Palermo"/> When Ayala was pregnant, her job did not offer any health insurance but she qualified for Medicaid, which provided healthcare for her and her son.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.halaforvirginia.com/#sub-page-two-link |title=Meet Hala |website=Hala For Virginia |date=November 22, 2018 |access-date=2021-10-27 |archive-date=August 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823112638/https://halaforvirginia.com/#sub-page-two-link |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Career== thumb|Ayala at a campaign rally for Lieutenant Governor in 2021
Ayala formerly worked for the United States Department of Homeland Security as a cybersecurity specialist. She also formerly led the Prince William County chapter of the National Organization for Women,<ref name="Koma">Alex Koma, [http://www.insidenova.com/news/politics/prince_william/ayala-wins-st-district-seat-defeating--term-incumbent/article_22e3019e-c434-11e7-bb85-b3efe305948f.html Ayala wins 51st District seat, defeating 4-term incumbent] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108214942/http://www.insidenova.com/news/politics/prince_william/ayala-wins-st-district-seat-defeating--term-incumbent/article_22e3019e-c434-11e7-bb85-b3efe305948f.html |date=November 8, 2017 }}, ''Inside NoVa'' (November 8, 2017).</ref> serving as chapter president in 2014.<ref name="Palermo"/> She also served on the Virginia Council on Women as an appointee of Governor Terry McAuliffe for a term expiring on June 30, 2016.<ref>[https://commonwealth.virginia.gov/council-on-women/council-members Council on Women Members] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110171346/https://commonwealth.virginia.gov/council-on-women/council-members |date=November 10, 2017 }}, Commonwealth of Virginia (last accessed November 10, 2017).</ref>
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.<ref name="Palermo"/> In 2017, Ayala was an organizer of the Women's March against Donald Trump.<ref name="Nuño">{{cite news|last1=Nuño|first1=Stephen A.|title=First Two Latinas Are Elected to Virginia House of Delegates, Making History|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/first-two-latinas-are-elected-virginia-house-delegates-making-history-n818911|publisher=NBC News|date=November 8, 2017|access-date=November 9, 2017|archive-date=November 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109025758/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/first-two-latinas-are-elected-virginia-house-delegates-making-history-n818911|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Virginia House of Delegates === Ayala ran for the Virginia House of Delegates in the 2017 elections for the 51st district, which covers much of Prince William County.<ref name="Koma"/> The district specifically stretches "from just northwest of Occoquan, in eastern Prince William, to Nokesville on the county's western border."<ref name="Palermo"/> 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.<ref name="Palermo"/> 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.<ref name="Koma"/> Ayala and Elizabeth Guzman became the first Hispanic women elected to the House.<ref name="Nuño"/> The victories were part of a Democratic sweep in the 2017 Virginia elections, which saw major gains for the party.<ref name="Nuño"/>
=== Lieutenant gubernatorial campaign === In July 2020, Ayala announced her candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in the 2021 election.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ayala|first=Hala|title=Tweet from @HalaAyala|url=https://twitter.com/halaayala/status/1282964803904876550|access-date=2020-07-25|website=Twitter|language=en|archive-date=July 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714091408/https://twitter.com/HalaAyala/status/1282964803904876550|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2020, she announced she would not seek reelection to her House of Delegates seat.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Delegate Hala Ayala Endorses Briana Sewell for 51st House District|url=https://www.halaforvirginia.com/publications/delegate-hala-ayala-endorses-briana-sewell-51st-house-district|access-date=2021-01-15|website=Hala for Virginia|date=December 16, 2020|language=en|archive-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122233614/https://www.halaforvirginia.com/publications/delegate-hala-ayala-endorses-briana-sewell-51st-house-district|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2021, Ayala became the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.<ref name=":0" /> She lost the November election to Winsome Sears.
=== Virginia State Senate election === In March 2022, Ayala announced her candidacy for Virginia State Senate for the 33rd District. She lost the June 2023 primary election to Jennifer Carroll Foy.
==Legislative initiatives== Drawing on her 18 years as an information security specialist for the U.S. Coast Guard, Ayala has made information and cyber security one focus of her efforts.<ref name="cyber202-20190520">{{Cite news |last=Marks |first=Joseph |date=May 20, 2019 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-cybersecurity-202/2019/05/20/the-cybersecurity-202-these-political-candidates-are-running-on-their-cybersecurity-expertise/5ce200171ad2e54b957e7fb2/ |title=These political candidates are running on their cybersecurity expertise |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=2019-08-06 |archive-date=August 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807030542/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-cybersecurity-202/2019/05/20/the-cybersecurity-202-these-political-candidates-are-running-on-their-cybersecurity-expertise/5ce200171ad2e54b957e7fb2/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="slate20190806">{{Cite news |last=Wolff |first=Josephine |url=https://slate.com/technology/2019/08/cybersecurity-politicians-sheri-donahue-laura-galante.html |title=Are Voters Ready for Politicians to Run on Cybersecurity Platforms? |date=August 6, 2019 |website=Slate Magazine |access-date=2019-08-06 |archive-date=August 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806132037/https://slate.com/technology/2019/08/cybersecurity-politicians-sheri-donahue-laura-galante.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Her bill requiring tax preparers to report security breaches became law.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nolen |first=Chris |url=https://www.passwordprotectedlaw.com/2018/04/va-privacy-bills/ |title=2018 Virginia General Assembly Wrap-Up: Modest Privacy-Related Bills Adopted |date=April 27, 2018 |website=McGuire Woods |access-date=2019-08-06 |archive-date=August 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806132039/https://www.passwordprotectedlaw.com/2018/04/va-privacy-bills/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ayala has also introduced bills for creating a state interagency cybersecurity task force, training state employees, increasing security of network-connected devices, and requiring digital services to remove information about minors upon request.<ref name="slate20190806"/>
===Committee assignments=== Ayala served as a member of the Science and Technology Committee and the Finance Committee.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?id=H0290 |title=Virginia General Assembly members |access-date=October 31, 2019 |archive-date=May 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531173801/https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?id=H0290 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Electoral history== {|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:70%; text-align: center;" ! Year ! Office ! Party ! Votes for Ayala ! % ! Opponent ! Party ! Votes !% |- ! 2017 | rowspan=2 |Virginia House of Delegates | {{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Aye}} Democratic | 15,244<ref>{{cite web |title=House of Delegates District 51 (2017) |url=https://www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-51/elections/?year_and_type=2017regular |website=www.vpap.org |publisher=Virginia Public Access Project |access-date=March 14, 2020 |archive-date=September 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903133905/https://www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-51/elections/?year_and_type=2017regular |url-status=live }}</ref> | 52.98% | Rich Anderson (inc.) | {{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican | 13,476 | 46.84% |- ! 2019 | {{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Aye}} Democratic | 15,508<ref>{{cite web |title=House of Delegates District 51 (2019) |url=https://www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-51/elections/?year_and_type=2019regular |website=www.vpap.org |publisher=Virginia Public Access Project |access-date=March 14, 2020 |archive-date=December 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218122119/https://www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-51/elections/?year_and_type=2019regular |url-status=live }}</ref> | 54.58% | Rich Anderson | {{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican | 12,882 | 45.34% |- ! 2021 | Lieutenant Governor of Virginia | {{Party shading/Democratic}}| Democratic | 1,608,030 | 49.1% | Winsome Sears | {{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Aye}} Republican | 1,658,332 | 50.8% |- ! 2023 | Virginia Senate | {{Party shading/Democratic}}| Democratic | 5,473 | 37.15% | Jennifer Carroll Foy | {{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Aye}} Democratic | 9,259 | 62.85% |}
==Personal life== Ayala lives in Lake Ridge, Virginia. She has two children.<ref name="Palermo"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * [https://www.halaforvirginia.com/ Campaign website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823112638/https://halaforvirginia.com/ |date=August 23, 2021 }} * {{VPAP|230162}} * {{C-SPAN|120328}} {{CongLinks|votesmart=176391}}
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-va-hs}} {{s-bef|before=Rich Anderson}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the Virginia House of Delegates<br>from the 51st district|years=2018–2022}} {{s-aft|after=Briana Sewell}} |- {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Justin Fairfax}} {{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia|years=2021}} {{s-aft|after=Ghazala Hashmi }} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayala, Hala}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:American people of Irish descent Category:American politicians of Lebanese descent Category:American politicians of Salvadoran descent Category:Candidates in the 2021 United States elections Category:Candidates in the 2023 United States elections Category:Democratic Party members of the Virginia House of Delegates Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in Virginia Category:Hispanic and Latino American women in politics Category:National Organization for Women people Category:People from Prince William County, Virginia Category:Politicians from Alexandria, Virginia Category:United States Department of Homeland Security officials Category:University of Phoenix alumni Category:Women government officials Category:Women state legislators in Virginia Category:21st-century members of the Virginia General Assembly Category:American women human rights activists