Incumbent Delegate Paul Krizek has represented the 44th District since 2016 and was born in Mount Vernon. Krizek holds degrees from the University of Virginia and the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University. He was a staff member of former Congressman Jim Moran and worked on several Democratic campaigns. When not in session, Krizek serves as the executive director of a nonprofit organization that helps Native American youth. Krizek and his family reside in Mount Vernon.

Krizek understands the urgency of tackling the climate crisis in the Commonwealth. He advocates funding renewable energy grant programs and incentives that will help develop greener businesses and technology. He supported Virginia joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), an initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions. He successfully sponsored legislation that increases the transparency and efficiency of Virginia Land Conservation Projects. He voted for the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which commits Virginia to 100% clean energy by 2050.


Krizek supports making healthcare affordable and accessible to all Virginians, and voted to expand Medicaid in 2018. He also voted for legislation to establish a state-run health insurance marketplace, which helps uninsured or underinsured residents who aren’t covered by an employer-provided health plan to get affordable coverage. He voted to cap the price of insulin at $50 and supported making abortion coverage available on health insurance plans offered on the state marketplace. The delegate also worked on legislation that would remove the age cap on autism spectrum-related health insurance coverage, allowing more families access to autism care.

Krizek supports Virginia’s public education system and wants to increase funding for our schools. He voted for a 5% raise for Virginia teachers and increased funding so schools can safely reopen during the pandemic. He also voted to freeze tuition at Virginia public colleges and universities. Krizek successfully carried legislation creating the Grow Your Own Teacher Pilot Program to provide scholarships to low-income high school seniors willing to teach in high-need public schools for at least four years.

Krizek supports policies that make Virginia welcoming and inclusive for all of its residents and voted for the 2020 Virginia Values Act, which made Virginia the first state in the South to prohibit discrimination against the LGBTQ community in housing, employment, public spaces, and credit applications. He also voted to repeal Virginia’s constitutional ban on gay marriage.

Krizek is not facing a challenge from any opponent and is the most progressive choice in this race due to his support of the environment, public education, access to affordable healthcare, and equality. Close Window