HD22: Purple Delegate Ian Lovejoy Faces Deep Blue Elizabeth Guzman

The swing district is one of the highly targeted races that could decide control of the Virginia House of Delegates.

Published July 23, 2025

Delegate Ian Lovejoy faces a heated race against Democrat Elizabeth Guzman as he works to flip the state House of Delegates Red.

With a slim 51-49 majority, Democrats are pouring millions in out of state money into key Delegate races and Lovejoy’s swing district is seen as a prime target. Guzman, a Peruvian immigrant, social worker, and former Delegate, has raised more than $2.7 million.

Republicans know that any hope of turning the House of Delegates Red requires them hold onto Lovejoy’s seat in District 22 and are pouring support behind him as well. (RELATED: DLCC Commits Seven-Figures to Virginia Legislative Campaign)

Lovejoy won his seat with just over 52% of the vote in 2023 but Harris carried the district by less than 2% in last year’s Presidential election.

Here is a list of proposed bills that Virginia Democrats have used their majority in the State Senate to block in this session of the state legislature.

There is an election coming up in November and this Virginia resident will be voting against them. pic.twitter.com/F5Zjc2uzuJ
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 17, 2023

“Serving the people of House District 22 throughout my first two legislative sessions down in Richmond has been an honor, but there is more work to be done. We are just getting started,” Lovejoy said.

The two candidates offer very different policies and views.

Flashback to January 2019:

Virginia Dem legislature push for a bill that would allow abortions to be done up to and beyond birth, under the guise of “mental health”.

This is what Trump was referring to in the debate.

When the Dems say the “health” of the mother, they are… pic.twitter.com/yytNyIN29d
— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) June 29, 2024

Guzman has supported legislation to restrict private citizens from political campaigns and has significant support from the public service union and progressive groups such as Sister District. Guzman has worked to block local immigration enforcement, grant IDs for undocumented workers, increase electricity taxes, and expand Medicaid.

Delegate Lovejoy and other swing district representatives founded an unofficial “purple caucus” to focus on issues impacting swing voters. (RELATED: Spanberger Pledges to Increase Energy Taxes)

“Those of us who are in more purple-leaning districts, we wanted to have a place where we could sound off and discuss good ideas and share good ideas and experiences,” said Lovejoy. “It’s particularly uncommon. It’s been a valuable resource.”

Lovejoy points to Virginia’s success in attracting data centers and will author legislation next session supporting electrical infrastructure and setting guidance for construction near neighborhoods and other areas.

He also wrote legislation combatting fentanyl overdose and to eliminate the car tax.