Democrats Jay Jones and Shannon Taylor eye Virginia Attorney General nomination

RICHMOND, Va. — Former delegate and attorney Jay Jones of Norfolk and Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor are locked in a spirited Democratic primary contest, both setting their sights on unseating incumbent Republican Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares in November. 

While their immediate focus is on the June 17 primary election, both campaigns are taking a strong stance against President Donald Trump’s policies and Miyares’ refusal to challenge them.

In a reference to the thousands of federal workers who’ve lost their jobs in Virginia, Jones said, “What we’ve gotten is fealty to Donald Trump, I will never bend at the president’s knee… he’s left these people high and dry. We want to step up, we want to fight for them, we want to protect them.” 

Jones said he would join other Democratic attorneys general across the country in suing the Trump administration to protect federal workers.

Jones is endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employee union.

Taylor agrees that Virginia needs an attorney general willing to take on Donald Trump. 

“We know that our current attorney general is not interested in protecting Virginians. By not challenging these executive orders, we have our federal employees being impacted, our veterans being impacted, our seniors being impacted,” she said.

Taylor touts her nearly 30 years as a prosecutor, including her four contested victories as Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney. 

“It is about my proven leadership,” she asserted. “My proven electability, having won four contested races against Republicans, that proven fighter inside the courtroom, leading a team, whether it be going against the Klansman who drove his truck through the Black Lives Matter march in my county in 2020.”

Jones, on the other hand, points to his legislative background as a former House delegate and his experience as an assistant attorney general for Washington, D.C., where he focused on consumer protection. 

“I’ve been an assistant attorney general for the District of Columbia doing consumer protection, where we took on the big banks, the big tech companies, the folks who make us less safe, less secure,” he stated. “We worked hard with a consortium of states to make sure we were combating these robocalls, combating these scammers.”

Both candidates want to strengthen a civil rights division they say has been hollowed out in the Attorney General’s office. 

Referencing attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion, Taylor said: “The idea of what our president is doing does not mean that discrimination goes away. It’s still a constitutionally protected right that we ensure that everyone is getting a fair and equal opportunity at every level for every profession for every space that we have in this commonwealth.”

Jones expanded on this, stating that “the civil rights division can protect against discrimination. It can use the Human Rights Act as not just a shield to protect people but as a sword to go after bad actors. We want to make sure that every community across Virginia, no matter what you look like, who you pray to, who you love, is protected.”

Both candidates are stacking endorsements. In addition to the AFGE, Jones is endorsed by former Governors Ralph Northam and Terry McAuliffe, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, and the Virginia Machinists Council.

Taylor picked up nods from former Attorneys General Mark Herring and Mary Sue Terry, former State House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, and Emily’s List.

The winner of the Democratic primary on June 17, 2025, will go on to face incumbent Republican Jason Miyares in the general election on November 4, 2025.