Former Delegate Jay Jones launches bid for Virginia attorney general
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Former Democratic state delegate Jay Jones has officially launched his second run for Virginia attorney general. With his formal announcement Tuesday, Jones joins Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor in the run for the Democratic nomination in the 2025 attorney general's race. Jones filed to run for attorney general in late August, first reported by 8News. "As Virginia’s Attorney General, my highest priority will always be the safety and freedom of Virginia families,” Jones said in a statement Tuesday. Jones, an attorney, represented Norfolk in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2018 until the end of 2021 when he resigned his seat to focus on family as he and his wife were getting ready for their first child. A Norfolk native, Jones lost to former Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring for the Democratic Party’s nomination in 2021. Herring ultimately lost to Attorney General Jason Miyares (R). Jones focused on public safety in his announcement, vowing to “crack down on those who would do our kids harm.” He called for targeting illegal guns, and drug traffickers and holding gun manufacturers “whose weapons of war are used to commit mass shootings and crime” to account. Jones added that he will take on social media companies that he said are fueling the mental health crisis among young Americans. Jones also centered on a second term for President-elect Donald Trump (R), saying the incoming administration will bring higher prices and health care costs, leading to hazards to people’s health. He called out Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares (R), saying he would be an “eager accomplice” for Trump. “Jason Miyares has used his office to advance his own radical, ideological agenda, not protect Virginians,” Jones said in his announcement. “If the Trump administration again tries to raise health care costs by taking apart the Affordable Care Act, I’ll be the first to take them to court to stop it.” A coalition of Democrats led by former Gov. Ralph Northam got behind Jones before his formal announcement via a political action committee. Called “the commonwealth’s law firm,” Virginia’s Office of the Attorney General can conduct or assist certain criminal investigations and prosecutions, provide information to the public on scams and enforce state consumer protection laws. Among several other duties, the attorney general can also issue official legal opinions to lawmakers and give legal advice and representation to the governor and state government agencies. The AG’s office also works with Virginia’s law enforcement agencies “to prepare for emerging public safety threats and to promote successful, secure communities.” No Republicans, including Miyares, have announced plans to run for attorney general.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Former Democratic state delegate Jay Jones has officially launched his second run for Virginia attorney general.
With his formal announcement Tuesday, Jones joins Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor in the run for the Democratic nomination in the 2025 attorney general's race. Jones filed to run for attorney general in late August, first reported by 8News.
"As Virginia’s Attorney General, my highest priority will always be the safety and freedom of Virginia families,” Jones said in a statement Tuesday.
Jones, an attorney, represented Norfolk in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2018 until the end of 2021 when he resigned his seat to focus on family as he and his wife were getting ready for their first child.
A Norfolk native, Jones lost to former Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring for the Democratic Party’s nomination in 2021. Herring ultimately lost to Attorney General Jason Miyares (R).
Jones focused on public safety in his announcement, vowing to “crack down on those who would do our kids harm.”
He called for targeting illegal guns, and drug traffickers and holding gun manufacturers “whose weapons of war are used to commit mass shootings and crime” to account. Jones added that he will take on social media companies that he said are fueling the mental health crisis among young Americans.
Jones also centered on a second term for President-elect Donald Trump (R), saying the incoming administration will bring higher prices and health care costs, leading to hazards to people’s health. He called out Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares (R), saying he would be an “eager accomplice” for Trump.
“Jason Miyares has used his office to advance his own radical, ideological agenda, not protect Virginians,” Jones said in his announcement. “If the Trump administration again tries to raise health care costs by taking apart the Affordable Care Act, I’ll be the first to take them to court to stop it.”
A coalition of Democrats led by former Gov. Ralph Northam got behind Jones before his formal announcement via a political action committee.
Called “the commonwealth’s law firm,” Virginia’s Office of the Attorney General can conduct or assist certain criminal investigations and prosecutions, provide information to the public on scams and enforce state consumer protection laws.
Among several other duties, the attorney general can also issue official legal opinions to lawmakers and give legal advice and representation to the governor and state government agencies.
The AG’s office also works with Virginia’s law enforcement agencies “to prepare for emerging public safety threats and to promote successful, secure communities.”
No Republicans, including Miyares, have announced plans to run for attorney general.
