Makya Little To Run For New VA House Seat In Lorton, Woodbridge

NORTHERN VIRGINIA — Makya Little, a former FBI official and member of the governor’s commission on African American history education, announced her candidacy on Wednesday for the new 19th District of the Virginia House of Delegates.

Advocating for improved transportation infrastructure in the Interstate 95 and Richmond Highway corridors and protecting the area’s natural resources are key features of Little’s campaign. One of her specific goals is to get Metro to extend its rail system from Alexandria to Woodbridge.

“I’m running to be an advocate for the future transportation infrastructure that our neighbors and businesses depend on, to protect the natural resources, parks and trails that are central to our region’s identity, and to be a voice for equity and inclusion across our community, and throughout the entire Commonwealth,” Little, a Democrat, said in a statement Wednesday.

The Democratic primary for the House seat will likely be held in spring 2023, followed by the general election in November 2023.

Before redistricting, the 19th district covered Alleghany County and Covington, as well as parts of Bedford and Botetourt counties near Roanoke. The new 19th district now encompasses northern Woodbridge, Lorton, Mason Neck and Fort Belvoir. It includes portions of the former 42nd and 2nd House districts.

Along with her career at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Little served as president of the Thomas Jefferson Alumni Action Group, a group that works for more diversity in the admission policy at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology in Fairfax County. Little attended Thomas Jefferson in the late 1990s before earning a full academic scholarship to Florida A&M University.

In August 2019, Little, who lives in Woodbridge, was appointed to the Virginia Commission on African American History Education.

Little, a survivor of domestic violence, championed legislation in the current session of the General Assembly that received support from advocates for women's rights. The legislation, known as “Makya’s Law,” would eliminate a "one-year waiting period for being decreed a divorce on the grounds of cruelty, reasonable apprehension of bodily hurt, or willful desertion or abandonment."

The legislation, HB 1351, failed to make it out of subcommittee. Little said she plans to continue advocating for the passage of Makya’s Law and other legislation that protects women’s rights throughout her campaign.

Little has received endorsements from Del. Kaye Kory (D-38th), Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry (Prince William County), and Dr. Janice Underwood, Virginia's first chief diversity officer in former Gov. Ralph Northam's administration.