Virginia Democrats Choose Nominee To Challenge Gop Attorney General Jason Miyares

Former Virginia State Del. Jay Jones secured nan Democratic information for Virginia lawyer general.

The Associated Press projected that Jones has won nan Democratic superior and will situation incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares this November. 

Miyares was elected lawyer wide successful 2021 alongside Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who is term-limited this year, and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, nan Republican gubernatorial nominee. All 3 Republicans flipped Democratic seats during nan statewide elections successful 2021, and Democrats are seeking to regain power of Virginia later this year. 

President Donald Trump's sanction did not look astatine nan apical of nan summons during Virginia's superior connected Tuesday, but his sweeping second-term schedule took halfway shape up and down nan ballot. 

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Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares joins President Donald Trump onstage during a rally astatine Greenbrier Farms connected June 28, 2024 successful Chesapeake, Virginia.  (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Miyares, nan first Hispanic American to beryllium elected to a statewide agency successful Virginia and nan first kid of an migrant to beryllium lawyer general, has been supportive of Trump's schedule successful Virginia – whereas Democratic attorneys wide crossed nan United States person led nan judicial situation to Trump's executive authority. 

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Jones and his competitor, Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor, some tried to capitalize connected superior voters’ anger complete nan Trump administration’s cuts to nan national government, including monolithic layoffs done nan Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). 

Jones, a erstwhile adjunct lawyer general, identified his apical run rumor arsenic protecting Virginia from nan Trump administration. 

"Donald Trump is waging an unprecedented battle connected Virginia communities, jobs, and moreover civilian rights," Jones included successful a connection on his run website. 

President Donald Trump shakes hands pinch Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin during a rally astatine Greenbrier Farms connected June 28, 2024, successful Chesapeake, Virginia. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Jones applauded really attorneys wide person stepped up to take sides Americans by suing nan Trump management to unlock national backing and cull executive overreach, "but present successful Virginia, MAGA extremist Attorney General Jason Miyares has put authorities first and refused to subordinate successful nan effort to take sides against unconstitutional and un-American Trump policies."

Public safety, lowering costs done firm accountability, protecting civilian and law authorities and preserving nan correct to abortion were among Jones' further run promises. 

Taylor's campaign focused on nationalist safety, protecting abortion rights, lowering costs, preventing weapon unit and building Virginia's system to support nan mediate class. 

Elon Musk and President Donald Trump successful a Tesla Model S conveyance connected nan South Lawn of nan White House successful Washington connected March 11, 2025.  (Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Taylor's first run advertisement featured images of Trump buying a Tesla astatine nan White House and Elon Musk holding up a chainsaw astatine this year's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). 

"I'm moving for Attorney General to hit backmost Trump and Musk," Taylor said. 

Virginia's elections will beryllium utilized by governmental pundits and politicians arsenic a bellwether for competitory midterm elections expected successful 2026. They are an early opportunity to gauge really Americans are responding to Trump's 2nd term, and spot really they mightiness ballot adjacent twelvemonth erstwhile a legislature mostly is connected nan line. 

Virginia is 1 of 2 gubernatorial elections successful nan United States this year, on pinch New Jersey, which held their superior predetermination past week. 

Attorney General of Virginia, Jason Miyares, sits successful his agency January 19, 2022, successful Richmond, Virginia. (The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Commonwealth Republicans collapsed a 12-year losing streak to nan Democrats erstwhile they swept nan elections for governor, lieutenant politician and lawyer wide successful Virginia 4 years ago. 

But Republicans haven't won nan commonwealth successful a White House title since 2004.

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Trump mislaid nan authorities by six points successful past November's statesmanlike election, which was a four-point betterment from his 2020 defeat.

Still, Republicans are expected to look an upward conflict successful November. With only 1 objection since 1977, nan statement that holds nan White House has mislaid Virginia's gubernatorial election. 

Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.