About

Previously, Delegate Cliff Hayes has served as a Chesapeake City Councilman. He's also a local government technology expert. He has studied at Norfolk State University, Carnegie Mellon University, Harvard University, Cambridge College, The Federal CIO Institute, and MIT-Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is the Chairman of The Joint Commission on Technology and Science and was chosen as the 2021 Legislator of the Year by the Richmond Technology Council. Finally, the first thing his friends and family will tell you is that he’s never forgotten where he came from or who he’s been fighting for throughout his life.

His dad, Cliff, Sr. "Click", the youngest of eight children and a graduate of segregated Carver High School in South Norfolk. He went on to serve as the Captain of Norfolk State's very first baseball team. Finally, he retired as the longest serving employee after 39 years as a driver for Hampton Roads Transit. He later developed a passion for political issues. It was through this mentorship that Cliff developed a passion for athletics, civic engagement, and learned the value of hard work.

His mother, Carolyn, grew up in the Berkley section of Norfolk and graduated from segregated Booker T. Washington High School. She was one of six children raised by a single father, Eddie, after her mother, Bordie passed away when she was in the 7th grade. Cliff's mother also attended Norfolk State and later retired as the first female Quality Assurance Specialist (GS11) assigned to Quality Engineering and Analysis, Naval Air Rework Facility, Norfolk, VA. She inspired Cliff to support others in pursuit of their life-long career goals.

Delegate Hayes serves on various committees in the General Assembly. He serves on the Approprations committee and assigned to the Higher Education and the General Government/Capital Outlay subcommittees. He also serves on the Health, Welfare, & Institutions committee and is chairman of the Communications, Technology, and Innovation committee. In addition, he is chairman of the Joint Commission on Tecnology and Science. Further, Delegate Hayes was appointed to serve as Deputy Policy Chair of the House Democratic Caucus.

With the respective appointments, Delegate Hayes will continue to fight for additional education funding, equal rights for women, seemless access to affordable, quality health care for all Virginians, economic development, safe communities, robust technology, and criminal justice reform, .