Phil HernandezServing

Phil Hernandez

State HouseDemocrat

VA-HD-94 State House

Age 39·Mexican-American·Virginia House of Delegates, District 94 (2024-present)

Why This Race Matters

Hernandez is one of three Co-Chairs of the Virginia Latino Caucus, helping lead the growing bloc of Latino legislators in the General Assembly. He won re-election in 2025 with 61.3% of the vote (up from 55.7% in 2023), signaling a strengthening Democratic hold on HD-94 in Norfolk. His next election is in 2027.

Hernandez first ran for the House of Delegates in 2019 in the Eastern Shore's old District 100, losing to Republican incumbent Robert Bloxom by 3.9 points. He ran again in 2023 in the newly drawn HD-94 and won. In 2025, he expanded his margin against the same Republican opponent Andy Pittman from 11.6 to 22.7 points. He raised over $2.1 million across both campaigns. Not up for re-election until November 2027.

About

Phil Hernandez represents District 94 in Norfolk in the Virginia House of Delegates, first elected in 2023. Born and raised in Hampton Roads, he was the first in his family to graduate college thanks to a Gates Millennium Scholarship to William & Mary, where he also studied abroad at Oxford. A civil rights attorney by training, he served on President Obama's White House Domestic Policy Council coordinating the response to the BP Oil Spill and expanding clean energy. His sister was born deaf, inspiring him to become fluent in American Sign Language.

Family & Heritage

Father of Mexican descent served in the U.S. Navy. Mother originally from Pennsylvania. First in family to graduate college. Sister was born deaf, which led him to learn American Sign Language. Married to Sara (William & Mary alumna, works in healthcare access), raising two daughters Isa and Maia in Ocean View, Norfolk.

Political Career

Before Politics

Senior Vice President of Policy & Advocacy at education nonprofit (fought for teacher pay and school funding); Civil rights attorney; Senior Policy Analyst, Obama White House Domestic Policy Council (clean energy, BP Oil Spill response)

Education

B.A. Government & Music, College of William & Mary (2010, Gates Millennium Scholar, studied abroad at Oxford); J.D., UC Berkeley School of Law (2016)

Key Issues & Priorities

*Public education funding and teacher pay
*Civil rights and disability rights
*Environmental protection and climate resilience
*Clean energy
*Property tax relief for Gold Star families
*Child care access