May Nivar
May Nivar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 57th district | |
| Assumed office January 14, 2026 | |
| Preceded by | David Owen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | New York University |
May Nivar is an American politician who is the elected member of the Virginia House of Delegates for the 57th District. She took office as a member of the 164th Virginia General Assembly on January 14, 2026. She won election on November 4, 2025, defeating Republican incumbent David Owen.[1]
Early life and education
Nivar was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to immigrant parents from China. She met her husband, Carlos, while working at a supermarket to help pay for college. She has three children.[2] Nivar graduated from New York University with a degree in journalism.[3] Nivar has lived in Richmond for 20 years, and has worked for corporations, including Altria.[2]
Earlier political career
Nivar was appointed to the Virginia Asian Advisory Board by Governor Terry McAuliffe, where she served as vice chair and as chair.[4]
Virginia House of Delegates
In her 2025 election, her campaign priorities were the economy, public schools, abortion and contraception access, expanding access to healthcare, safe communities, equal protection for minorities, and opposing climate change.[5]
2026 Legislative Session
In 2026, Nivar carried HB 1113, which directs the Virginia Department of Education to develop, adopt, and provide local school boards with guidance on the adoption of policies governing the provision of culturally responsive and language-appropriate mental health support and services for students.[6] The bill was signed by Governor Spanberger.
Electoral History
2026
| Primary election | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
| Democratic | May Nivar | 4,393 | 63.03 | |||
| Democratic | Andrew Schear | 2,577 | 36.97 | |||
| Total votes | 6,970 | 100.00 | ||||
| General election | ||||||
| Democratic | May Nivar | 24,187 | 55.54 | |||
| Republican | David Owen | 19,296 | 44.31 | |||
| Total votes | 43,483 | 99.85 | ||||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||||
References
- ↑ Team, 12 On Your Side Digital (November 4, 2025). "Decision Virginia: A recap of the 2025 election". www.12onyourside.com. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - 1 2 "MEET MAY". MAY NIVAR FOR VIRGINIA. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ↑ "May Nivar – Asian & Latino Solidarity Alliance of Central Virginia". Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ↑ "Featured Asian Americans". Virginia.gov. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ↑ "ISSUES". MAY NIVAR FOR VIRGINIA. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ↑ "HB1113 - 2026 Regular Session | LIS". lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
- ↑ "May Nivar". Virginia Public Access Project.
External links
- Living people
- Female political office-holders
- Politicians from Philadelphia
- 21st-century Virginia politicians
- People from Henrico County, Virginia
- Democratic Party members of the Virginia House of Delegates
- Women state legislators in Virginia
- 21st-century members of the Virginia General Assembly
- Asian-American state legislators in Virginia
- American women of Chinese descent in politics
- New York University alumni
- 21st-century American women politicians