Hala Ayala

Ayala is a native of Alexandria, 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]

She formerly worked for the United States 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] In December 2020, she endorsed Briana Sewell[9] for the House of Delegates seat she held for Virginia District 51.

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.[10][11] Her bill requiring tax preparers to report security breaches became law.[12] 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.[11]

The Virginia Education Association Fund for Children and Public Education has endorsed her because she has consistently voted for legislation supporting public education.[13]

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