(The Center Square) – Del. Michelle Maldonado is resigning from the Virginia House of Delegates, creating a vacancy in the Democratic-majority chamber and setting up a future special election in Northern Virginia.
Maldonado, D-Manassas, announced Tuesday that she submitted her resignation to House Speaker Don Scott, effective May 31.
“It has been a profound honor to serve the constituents of District 20,” Maldonado wrote in her resignation letter. “Their trust and confidence have been the foundation of my work in this chamber, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent them.”
Maldonado, an attorney and small business owner, has represented the 20th House District since 2024 after previously serving Virginia’s 50th District beginning in 2022.
Her resignation will leave Democrats with a 63-36 majority in the 100-member House of Delegates, with one vacancy.
Under Virginia law, the governor issues the writ of election to begin the special election process when a vacancy occurs during a legislative recess.
The 20th House District includes Manassas, Manassas Park and parts of Prince William County.
During her time in office, Maldonado sponsored legislation involving manufactured housing zoning rules and prior authorization requirements for health care that was signed into law.
Other proposals she backed involving AI chatbot regulations, biometric data protections and mental health-related AI safeguards either failed or were continued to future sessions.
In her resignation letter, Maldonado also thanked fellow lawmakers and community partners for their support during her time in office.
“My departure is bittersweet for me but also is done with great respect for this institution and confidence in its continued service to the people of the Commonwealth,” she wrote.
Maldonado’s term was scheduled to run through January 2028.
