Phil Hernandez


Phil Hernandez is an American attorney and former Senior Policy Analyst in President Barack Obama’s White House Domestic Policy Council. He is also a 2019 candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates’ 100th District seat.

Early life and education

Hernandez was born and raised in Hampton Roads, Virginia. For his college education, Hernandez received a Gates Millennium Scholarship, which made it possible for him to be the first member of his family to graduate from college. He received a Bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary.
He later attended the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. While in law school, he represented low-income families facing eviction. During this period, he also developed a legislative proposal intended to prevent homelessness in California. The bill, AB 2819, was signed into law in 2016, the same year that Hernandez earned his J.D. degree.

Career

Hernandez also served in the Obama Administration as a Senior Policy Analyst on the United States Domestic Policy Council for nearly four years. In this role, Hernandez worked to support clean energy, protect clean air and water, and coordinate the response to the BP oil spill.
Hernandez now works as an attorney with the National Employment Law Project, working to expand employment opportunities for Americans with criminal records through fair chance hiring policies and occupational licensing reforms.

Legislative priorities

;Education
Public education is one of Hernandez’s top legislative concerns. He has stated that raising teachers’ pay would be the first issue he would focus on as a lawmaker. He also aims to address the teacher retention problem in Accomack County.
;Environment
Coastal resiliency and clean energy are top issues for Hernandez as well. He has stated his goals to protect the coastal community from sea level rise and make Virginia a leader in renewable energy.
;Wages
Hernandez also hopes to introduce legislation to increase Virginia’s minimum wage.

Personal life

Hernandez has a sister who was born deaf, and is fluent in American Sign Language.