A.C. Cordoza
American politician (born 1989)
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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 represented 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. He ran for re-election in 2023 and 2025, winning against Jarris Taylor Jr. in 2023 but losing to Virgil Thornton Sr. in 2025.
86th district (2024–present)
1989 (age 36–37)
A.C. Cordoza | |
|---|---|
Cordoza posing for a political ad | |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates | |
| In office January 12, 2022 – January 14, 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Martha Mugler |
| Succeeded by | Virgil Thornton Sr. |
| Constituency | 91st district (2022–2024) 86th district (2024–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Aijalon Carlton Cordoza 1989 (age 36–37) New York City, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | Thomas Nelson Community College (AA) |
| Website | www |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Air Force |
Years of service | 2013–2016 |
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.
Post-House career
Cordoza founded the Justice for Democracy PAC, a PAC heavily financed by Peter Thiel.[6][7] In 2026, the group raised over $9 million against the 2026 Virginia redistricting amendment.[6] The group invoked the civil rights movement in its advertising, alleging that amendment was akin to Jim Crow, drawing condemnation from the NAACP as misinformation.[8][9]
Controversies
In the lead-up to the 2025 Virginia House of Delegates election, Cordoza's opponent ran an attack ad that claimed Cordoza had sexually harassed a teenager, ran a sexting ring on an "open forum for sexual predators", and brandished a firearm on a retired state trooper. Cordoza called the claims "false and misleading in nature".[10][11]
In October 2025, during a political campaign, a staffer for Cordoza's opponent allegedly threatened to "put a knot" on the head of Cordoza. A Virginia magistrate granted a protective order for Cordoza.[12] During the same campaign the opponent obtained a protective order against Cordoza, alleging Cordoza had engaged in "armed harassment and intimidation" against a supporter.[13]
Electoral history
| Date | Election | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampton City Council | |||||
| November 3, 2020[14] | 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[15] | 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) | ||
| Virginia's 86th House of Delegates district | |||||
| November 7, 2023[16] | General | Aijalon Carlton Cordoza | Republican | 14,362 | 56.4% |
| Jarris Louis Taylor Jr. | Democratic | 11,083 | 43.5% | ||
| November 4, 2025[17] | General | Virgil G. Thornton Sr. | Democratic | 17,081 | 53.9% |
| Aijalon Carlton Cordoza | Republican | 14,563 | 46.0% | ||