Aijalon Cordoza

A.C. Cordoza
Cordoza posing for a political ad
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 12, 2022
Preceded byMartha Mugler
Constituency91st district (2022–2024)
86th district (2024–present)
Personal details
Born
Aijalon Carlton Cordoza

1989 (age 34–35)
New York City, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationThomas Nelson Community College (AA)
Websitewww.cordozaforvirginia.com
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Air Force
Years of service2013–2016

Aijalon Carlton "A.C." Cordoza (born 1989) is an American politician from Virginia. He was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2021, defeating incumbent Democratic Delegate Martha Mugler. Cordoza represents the 86th district, which covers a large slice of Hampton, as well as all of the neighboring city of Poquoson,[1] and a small slice of neighboring York County.

Early life

Aijalon Cordoza was born in New York City, and grew up in Hampton, Virginia. In 2008, he graduated from Hampton High School; in 2013, he joined the United States Air Force, in which he served for three years before leaving honorably.[2]

Cordoza began attending Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton in 2014, graduating in 2016 with an associate degree in information technology. Cordoza has since become a cybersecurity professional at Newport News Shipbuilding. He lives in Hampton.[3]

Career

He became interested in politics during the 2008 presidential election due to "the possibility of the nation electing the first black President". After the election, Cordoza decided his beliefs were more aligned with the Republican Party, despite his past support for Barack Obama. He has become vice-chair of the Hampton Republican Party.[4]

2020 Hampton City Council election

In 2020, Cordoza ran for the Hampton City Council, his first election. He lost, coming in fifth (the top three finishers became city councilors), with 9.8% of the vote.[5]

2021 Virginia House of Delegates election

In 2021, Cordoza ran for Virginia's 91st House of Delegates district and defeated incumbent first-term Democrat Martha Mugler by just 94 votes, with 49.4% of the vote to Mugler's 49.0%.[3] After a recount the final count ended up with Cordoza winning by 64 votes.

Cordoza with Governor Glenn Youngkin in September 2023

Electoral history

Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
Hampton City Council
November 3, 2020[6] General Christine Snead Nonpartisan 9,066 26.5%
William Henry Hobbs, Jr. Nonpartisan 7,319 21.4%
Chris Luther Bowman Nonpartisan 7,264 21.3%
Lance Jones, Jr. Nonpartisan 6,531 19.1%
Aijalon Carlton Cordoza Nonpartisan 3,346 9.8%
Virginia's 91st House of Delegates district
November 2, 2021[7] General Aijalon Carlton Cordoza Republican 13,741 (prior to recount) 49.4% (prior to recount)
Martha Mugler (inc.) Democratic 13,647 (prior to recount) 49.0% (prior to recount)
Charles West Libertarian 417 (prior to recount) 1.5% (prior to recount)

References

  1. ^ Times-Dispatch, ANDREW CAIN Richmond. "House Speaker Filler-Corn concedes majority to Republicans". The Daily Progress. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  2. ^ "MEET A.C." AC Cordoza. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Aijalon Cordoza". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "Progressive Voters Guide". progressivevotersguide.com. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  5. ^ "Virginia Elections Database » Candidate Profile..." Virginia Elections Database. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  6. ^ "Virginia Elections Database » Candidate Profile..." Virginia Elections Database. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "Aijalon Cordoza". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
Virginia House of Delegates
Preceded by Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 91st district
2022–present 		Incumbent