Two Democrats are seeking the nomination to run against Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares this November. Both candidates, former Del. Jay Jones of Norfolk and Henrico Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Taylor believe Miyares should be doing more to push back against the Trump administration.
Jones represented Norfolk in the House of Delegates from 2017 until he resigned in 2021 to spend more time with his growing family. He then worked as the assistant attorney general in the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, where he was a member of the Office of Consumer Protection.
Taylor has been the commonwealth attorney in Henrico since 2012. Previously, she worked as a prosecutor in the City of Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Office and as a special assistant in the United States Attorney’s Office.
Jones says his time working for the D.C. attorney and past legislative experience makes him the best Democrat for the job.
“We expanded Medicaid, increased teacher pay, raised the minimum wage, did tremendous things,” he said in an interview Wednesday. “Coupled with my time as an assistant attorney general doing consumer protection, which is what the Virginia Attorney General’s Office is supposed to be doing – going after the big banks, big tech, the corporate landlords, the folks who are making it hard for Virginians across the landscape.”
Taylor says she has the experience that Virginians are looking for in their attorney general. She’s served as commonwealth attorney since 2012, she’s been a lawyer for 30 years, defeated Republicans vying for her post in Henrico County in four elections and has experience fighting in the courtroom.
“Whether it be (fighting) against the Klansmen in my county in 2020, the white supremacists from the Charlottesville March of 2017, whether it’s standing up on the national stage to say that I’m never going to prosecute a woman or her doctor engaging in private reproductive health care choices, people want to see a fighter,” Taylor said in an interview Wednesday.
Miyares is the only statewide candidate running as an incumbent this year, which puts him at an advantage, according to Randolph Macon political science professor Richard Meagher.
“Incumbents always have an advantage,” he said. “The benefits that come from occupying an office while running for it can’t be overstated. Voters, donors, and the media do not have to imagine what it’s like for you to do the job because you’re already doing it.”
Democrats have their own advantage this November, as Virginia typically votes in favor of the party that is opposite of who is controlling the White House – a phenomenon known as the Virginia curse. The year after Trump’s election in 2016, Democrats swept the statewide elections and flipped 15 House seats.
But Jones and Taylor agree that while Trump is a key point on the trail, Democrats need to talk directly to the voters about issues that impact them.
“I think Donald Trump being in the White House is giving people a lot of pause and a lot of concern, even people who voted for him and JD Vance,” Jones said. “But I certainly think that we have an affirmative message that we are for working families, we are for people and their pocketbooks, we are for safety, we are for security.”
“We are the party that’s going to improve your lives and make your lives better and protect you in these times when things are very, very chaotic and confusing,” Jones continued.
Taylor stressed the importance of engaging directly with voters across the commonwealth and building relationships.
“Whether it be within the faith-based community, the African American community, the Muslim community, Jewish community – those leaders and those relationships matter,” Taylor said.
She said in her conversations across the commonwealth, voters are all telling her they want the same thing.
“They want leadership who’s going to look after them, to be able to give them that safe place to live, work and send their kids to school,” she said. “And then, of course, they also want to be able to provide for their families.”
Jones and Taylor are not shying away from tying Miyares to Trump, however.
“Donald Trump is in the White House, and he’s got his pro bono Attorney General Jason Miyares in the Barbara Johns Building,” Jones said. “I think people are very fed up with the way things have been going, particularly in the last couple of months, and that makes them very, very scared about what the Republican Party brings to the table, right? Who is their allegiance to? Is it to Donald Trump, or is it to their constituents?”
Taylor said she is going to continue to call out Miyares for failing to push back on Trump’s actions.
“If this President and Mr. Musk continue to engage in this behavior that I believe is dangerous to Virginians,” she said, “then I’m going to continue to point that out and punch back every time that Mr. Miyares fails to take action, or engage in action that enhances policies that hurt Virginians.”
Virginia voted in favor of Kamala Harris by six points in 2024.
“The big question for Miyares is whether that incumbency advantage is enough to overcome the strong headwinds against Republicans that we expect to see in the fall,” Meagher said.
The Miyares campaign said Virginians do not want the policies that Democrats are pushing for and are confident Miyares will win – no matter who he is facing.
“Virginians want someone who will stand with law enforcement and keep them safe rather than the extreme and dangerous policies both Democrat candidates are advocating for,” said Nathaniel Hirt, Miyares’ campaign manager. “Regardless of which woke Democrat is nominated in June, they are going to lose to AG Miyares in November.”
Democrats will have to decide in June who they believe is the better candidate to face Miyares.
Jones has more endorsements from elected officials, including former governors Ralph Northam and Terry McAuliffe. Taylor is endorsed by the International Association of Sheet, Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers and SMART Local 100.
This is also Jones’ second attempt at getting the nomination after he lost to two-term incumbent Mark Herring in the 2021 primary.
“At first glance, Jones has all the advantages – he’s raised more money, has bigger endorsements, comes from a political family and has the experience of running for the office before in 2021,” Meagher said. “But Jones did lose that last primary election, & has been out of the limelight since he resigned his House of Delegates seat. Taylor has strong supporters and has been prepping for this run for years, so I wouldn’t count her out just yet.”
Primary day is June 17.