This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Delegate David Owen faces a challenge from Democrat May Nivar in HD-57.
Virginia’s House District 57 covers portions of eastern Henrico County and western Goochland County in the Richmond suburbs. In the 2024 election Democratic presidential and senatorial nominees carryied the district by about ten points each.
Virginia’s House District 57 covers portions of eastern Henrico County and western Goochland County in the Richmond suburbs. In the 2024 election Democratic presidential and senatorial nominees carryied the district by about ten points each.
Democrat May Nivar was born in Philadelphia to immigrant parents from China. Growing up, she lived in low-income housing and worked at her family’s takeout restaurant. She has served on several boards and committees including the Governor’s Virginia Asian Advisory Board, the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, and the Asian American Society of Central Virginia. Nivar has lived in Richmond for the past 20 years. She and her husband have three children.
May Nivar will vote in favor of HJ 1, which would enshrine reproductive rights in the Virginia Constitution, HJ 2, which would automatically restore voting rights to people upon release from incarceration, and HJ 9, which would repeal the Commonwealth’s defunct same-sex marriage ban and guarantee marriage equality for LGBTQ+ Virginians.
- May Nivar believes in access to quality public education for every child.
- She is committed to raising teacher pay, addressing teacher shortages, and ensuring schools have the specialists and counselors needed.
- She pledges to invest in career and technical education to prepare workers for the jobs of tomorrow.
- Nivar is committed to creating an economy “where everyone can thrive by supporting good-paying jobs, raising wages, cutting red tape for small businesses, and providing tax relief for families”.
- She vows to work to lower the cost of living, making housing, healthcare, and everyday necessities more affordable.
- Nivar supports access to abortion, contraception, and IVF and will work to ensure healthcare providers can offer these critical services without fear. She advocates for expanded access to affordable, quality healthcare and prescription drugs and is committed to lowering costs, improving quality, and ensuring accessibility for all.
- Nivar will work to keep communities safe and prevent gun violence. As such, she advocates for stronger extreme risk protection laws, safe storage requirements, and a ban on military-style assault weapons. Additionally, she wants to secure funding for local police departments.
- She pledges to preserve the Virginia Clean Economy Act and oppose any efforts to withdraw Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
- Voted against a bill to enshrine abortion rights in the Virginia Constitution
- Voted against a Constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to returning citizens
- Refused to vote on a bill to enshrine equal marriage rights in the Virginia Constitution to avoid going on the record
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted against a bill to increase minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against a bill to establish paid family and medical leave
- Voted against a bill to repeal prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted against establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live
- Voted against establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted against authorizing Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
May Nivar will vote in favor of HJ 1, which would enshrine reproductive rights in the Virginia Constitution, HJ 2, which would automatically restore voting rights to people upon release from incarceration, and HJ 9, which would repeal the Commonwealth’s defunct same-sex marriage ban and guarantee marriage equality for LGBTQ+ Virginians.
- May Nivar believes in access to quality public education for every child.
- She is committed to raising teacher pay, addressing teacher shortages, and ensuring schools have the specialists and counselors needed.
- She pledges to invest in career and technical education to prepare workers for the jobs of tomorrow.
- Nivar is committed to creating an economy “where everyone can thrive by supporting good-paying jobs, raising wages, cutting red tape for small businesses, and providing tax relief for families”.
- She vows to work to lower the cost of living, making housing, healthcare, and everyday necessities more affordable.
- Nivar supports access to abortion, contraception, and IVF and will work to ensure healthcare providers can offer these critical services without fear. She advocates for expanded access to affordable, quality healthcare and prescription drugs and is committed to lowering costs, improving quality, and ensuring accessibility for all.
- Nivar will work to keep communities safe and prevent gun violence. As such, she advocates for stronger extreme risk protection laws, safe storage requirements, and a ban on military-style assault weapons. Additionally, she wants to secure funding for local police departments.
- She pledges to preserve the Virginia Clean Economy Act and oppose any efforts to withdraw Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
The Opposition
Incumbent Republican Delegate David Owen was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2023. He grew up in Henrico County and graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Key legislation:- Voted against a bill to enshrine abortion rights in the Virginia Constitution
- Voted against a Constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to returning citizens
- Refused to vote on a bill to enshrine equal marriage rights in the Virginia Constitution to avoid going on the record
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted against a bill to increase minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against a bill to establish paid family and medical leave
- Voted against a bill to repeal prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted against establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live
- Voted against establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted against authorizing Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Recommendation
Based on her commitment to support abortion access, quality public education, and workers' and tenants' rights, May Nivar is the progressive candidate in this race.
Last updated: 2025-09-22
This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Delegate David Owen faces a challenge from Democrat May Nivar in HD-57.
Virginia’s House District 57 covers portions of eastern Henrico County and western Goochland County in the Richmond suburbs. In the 2024 election Democratic presidential and senatorial nominees carryied the district by about ten points each.
Virginia’s House District 57 covers portions of eastern Henrico County and western Goochland County in the Richmond suburbs. In the 2024 election Democratic presidential and senatorial nominees carryied the district by about ten points each.
Democrat May Nivar was born in Philadelphia to immigrant parents from China. Growing up, she lived in low-income housing and worked at her family’s takeout restaurant. She has served on several boards and committees including the Governor’s Virginia Asian Advisory Board, the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, and the Asian American Society of Central Virginia. Nivar has lived in Richmond for the past 20 years. She and her husband have three children.
May Nivar will vote in favor of HJ 1, which would enshrine reproductive rights in the Virginia Constitution, HJ 2, which would automatically restore voting rights to people upon release from incarceration, and HJ 9, which would repeal the Commonwealth’s defunct same-sex marriage ban and guarantee marriage equality for LGBTQ+ Virginians.
- May Nivar believes in access to quality public education for every child.
- She is committed to raising teacher pay, addressing teacher shortages, and ensuring schools have the specialists and counselors needed.
- She pledges to invest in career and technical education to prepare workers for the jobs of tomorrow.
- Nivar is committed to creating an economy “where everyone can thrive by supporting good-paying jobs, raising wages, cutting red tape for small businesses, and providing tax relief for families”.
- She vows to work to lower the cost of living, making housing, healthcare, and everyday necessities more affordable.
- Nivar supports access to abortion, contraception, and IVF and will work to ensure healthcare providers can offer these critical services without fear. She advocates for expanded access to affordable, quality healthcare and prescription drugs and is committed to lowering costs, improving quality, and ensuring accessibility for all.
- Nivar will work to keep communities safe and prevent gun violence. As such, she advocates for stronger extreme risk protection laws, safe storage requirements, and a ban on military-style assault weapons. Additionally, she wants to secure funding for local police departments.
- She pledges to preserve the Virginia Clean Economy Act and oppose any efforts to withdraw Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
- Voted against a bill to enshrine abortion rights in the Virginia Constitution
- Voted against a Constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to returning citizens
- Refused to vote on a bill to enshrine equal marriage rights in the Virginia Constitution to avoid going on the record
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted against a bill to increase minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against a bill to establish paid family and medical leave
- Voted against a bill to repeal prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted against establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live
- Voted against establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted against authorizing Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
May Nivar will vote in favor of HJ 1, which would enshrine reproductive rights in the Virginia Constitution, HJ 2, which would automatically restore voting rights to people upon release from incarceration, and HJ 9, which would repeal the Commonwealth’s defunct same-sex marriage ban and guarantee marriage equality for LGBTQ+ Virginians.
- May Nivar believes in access to quality public education for every child.
- She is committed to raising teacher pay, addressing teacher shortages, and ensuring schools have the specialists and counselors needed.
- She pledges to invest in career and technical education to prepare workers for the jobs of tomorrow.
- Nivar is committed to creating an economy “where everyone can thrive by supporting good-paying jobs, raising wages, cutting red tape for small businesses, and providing tax relief for families”.
- She vows to work to lower the cost of living, making housing, healthcare, and everyday necessities more affordable.
- Nivar supports access to abortion, contraception, and IVF and will work to ensure healthcare providers can offer these critical services without fear. She advocates for expanded access to affordable, quality healthcare and prescription drugs and is committed to lowering costs, improving quality, and ensuring accessibility for all.
- Nivar will work to keep communities safe and prevent gun violence. As such, she advocates for stronger extreme risk protection laws, safe storage requirements, and a ban on military-style assault weapons. Additionally, she wants to secure funding for local police departments.
- She pledges to preserve the Virginia Clean Economy Act and oppose any efforts to withdraw Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
The Opposition
Incumbent Republican Delegate David Owen was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2023. He grew up in Henrico County and graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Key legislation:- Voted against a bill to enshrine abortion rights in the Virginia Constitution
- Voted against a Constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to returning citizens
- Refused to vote on a bill to enshrine equal marriage rights in the Virginia Constitution to avoid going on the record
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted against a bill to increase minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against a bill to establish paid family and medical leave
- Voted against a bill to repeal prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted against establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live
- Voted against establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted against authorizing Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Recommendation
Based on her commitment to support abortion access, quality public education, and workers' and tenants' rights, May Nivar is the progressive candidate in this race.
Last updated: 2025-09-22
