Lopez Announces Congressional Run

Del. Alfonso Lopez (D) announced this morning that he will be running for the seat in the House of Representatives being vacated by the retiring Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.).

Lopez is another name in a crowded Democratic field for the seat Moran has held since 1991. By running, he joins state Sen. Adam Ebbin, Virginia Democratic Party Chair Charniele Herring, Del. Patrick Hope, Del. Mark Sickles former Lieutenant Gov. Don Beyer, Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille and Bruce Shuttleworth. The Democratic primary will be held in June.

Lopez represents the 49th District in the House of Delegates, which covers much of Arlington south of Columbia Pike, including Pentagon City, and the Bailey’s Crossroads and Seven Corners areas of Fairfax County. He was elected to the House in 2011 and re-elected last fall.

In his campaign announcement, Lopez laid out a platform of “equal opportunity,” abortion rights and the environment. Below is his complete campaign press release:

With Congressman Jim Moran’s retirement, Northern Virginia is losing an important and effective advocate in Washington.

When it comes to continuing the fight on Capitol Hill to ensure equal opportunity for all Americans, protect a woman’s right to choose, preserve our environment and natural resources, and improve our quality of life in Northern Virginia, our next representative must be a proven fighter for our progressive values.

With more than 20 years of experience working before Congress, the federal government and at the highest levels of state government on the issues critical to the people of Virginia’s Eighth District, I have the proven track record necessary to get to work on day one.

The son of a public school teacher and an immigrant who came to this country with only $260 in his pocket, I was instilled with the values of hard work, service and that every person deserves a fair shake in life. Those values are what drive me in everything I do.

Those values are why I continue to fight for the middle class family sitting around the dinner table wondering how they’re going to pay for college; the new graduate struggling to get a job in today’s economy; the recent immigrants striving for a better life for themselves and their children; and the single mother who has to work a second job to pay the rent.

That’s why as a delegate, I championed legislation creating the Virginia Affordable Housing Trust Fund, fought to save critical social safety net programs like the Arlington Free Clinic, worked to preserve funding for Child Advocacy Centers that address the needs of child abuse victims, and helped expand Medicaid coverage for immigrant mothers and children.

That’s why during my time in the Small Business Administration I worked with administration officials and Congress to pass the Small Business Jobs Act, to make sure small business owners had access to the tools they needed to create jobs and lead in innovation.

There are many exciting opportunities ahead for Northern Virginia.  I hope to be your advocate in Congress so that together we can continue to make Northern Virginia the best place to live, work and raise a family.