CANDIDATE Q&A – Virginia attorney general candidates Jay Jones and Jason Miyares
Table of Contents
1. Abortion and state vs. federal law
If federal restrictions are imposed on abortion medications like Mifepristone, would you defend Virginians’ access under existing state law, or would you support enforcing the federal limits within Virginia?
Jones – I will always defend Virginians’ abortion rights under state law, and I look forward to protecting those rights in our Constitution in November. Virginia women deserve the right to make their own healthcare decisions, and as attorney general, I will use every tool available to defend these rights against federal attacks and ensure every Virginian can make personal healthcare decisions free from political interference.
As a delegate, I eliminated unnecessary barriers to abortion and safeguarded Virginians’ right to birth control. I also served on the board of the Virginia League of Planned Parenthood to protect those rights and ensure women had access to critical preventive services, including breast cancer screenings.
By contrast, my opponent has an extreme anti-abortion record: urging the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, endorsing an abortion ban, voting repeatedly against Virginia’s Reproductive Health Protection Act, aligning with anti-abortion extremists, and attempting to defund Planned Parenthood – the same agenda now being carried out under the Trump administration.
Miyares – The Miyares campaign declined to provide answers for the VPA/VLNP Voter Guide.
2. Use of National Guard in immigration enforcement
Would you support the federal government’s use of the Virginia National Guard to enforce immigration policies in the commonwealth? What legal standards or precedents would guide your decision?
Jones – This is federal overreach by Donald Trump to distract voters from rising prices and his disastrous economy. Fighting crime is critically important, but you make communities safer by doing the hard work over the long run: building strong law enforcement departments, supporting officers with good training, and building ties with local communities – not by grabbing headlines. As attorney general, I'll absolutely work with partners in the District of Columbia and Maryland to fight crime over the long term in our region, and I will ensure our National Guard is ready to support us in emergency situations as intended.
Miyares – The Miyares campaign declined to provide answers for the VPA/VLNP Voter Guide.
3. Protecting public officials from threats
What role should Virginia’s attorney general play in preventing and responding to violent threats against school boards, election officials, and other local public servants? How would your office coordinate with local law enforcement in such cases?
Jones – As attorney general, my office will send a very clear message that violence and hate-driven acts will not be tolerated in our commonwealth and that if you engage in violence, you will be held accountable. I will work closely with the Virginia State Police and local law enforcement to ensure Virginians are protected as threats arise.
Miyares – The Miyares campaign declined to provide answers for the VPA/VLNP Voter Guide.
4. Consumer protection and online scams
With online scams, identity theft, and deceptive business practices on the rise, what specific tools or strategies would you use as attorney general to protect Virginia consumers, particularly seniors and vulnerable populations?
Jones – As an assistant attorney general in the Office of Consumer Protection, I fought to prevent higher grocery prices by working to block the Albertsons-Kroger merger and took on corporations unfairly raising prices. As Virginia’s next attorney general, I’ll bolster the Office of Consumer Protection and fight back against corporate landlords, predatory lenders, scams, and corporate fraud on behalf of consumers. I’ll do this by cracking down on illegal price fixing and discrimination in the housing process, holding companies accountable for illegally deceiving Virginians with junk fees and deceptive pricing, and helping Virginians navigate complex healthcare billing schemes so they can fight back against insurance companies.
By contrast, Jason Miyares has done little to stand up for Virginia’s consumers. Time and again, he’s sided with special interests instead of Virginia families, whether it’s letting utility companies hike up electricity bills, letting corporate landlords off the hook, or failing to protect people from predatory lenders.
Miyares – The Miyares campaign declined to provide answers for the VPA/VLNP Voter Guide.
5. Partisanship and the AG’s office
The attorney general serves as the commonwealth’s top legal officer. How would you maintain the office’s independence and impartiality in politically sensitive cases, especially when they involve state agencies or the actions of elected officials?
Jones – As Virginia’s next attorney general, the only client that I will ever be beholden to is the people of Virginia. Unlike Jason Miyares, I’ll make decisions based on the laws and the facts, not on political pressure or personal relationships. That means if a state agency or elected official violates the law or infringes on Virginians’ rights, I won’t hesitate to hold them accountable, regardless of their position or party. And I’ll never back down and follow orders from Washington politicians, no matter which party is in power.
Miyares – The Miyares campaign declined to provide answers for the VPA/VLNP Voter Guide.
6. Gun violence and public safety
What is your position on enforcing and defending existing gun safety laws in Virginia? Are there specific public safety initiatives or legal tools you would prioritize to address gun violence in communities across the state?
Jones – Guns are the leading cause of death for Virginia kids, and as attorney general, I will not stand for it. As a delegate, I expanded background checks, passed a law holding people accountable who allow children to access loaded guns, and got guns out of the hands of domestic abusers – all measures that Jason Miyares voted against. And as an assistant attorney general, I put the nation’s largest ghost gun manufacturers out of business.
As attorney general, I’ll work closely with local law enforcement and commonwealth’s attorneys’ offices, making sure they have access to the most up-to-date technologies to trace gun crimes and prosecute bad actors, and increase interagency cooperation with regional partners. I’ll crack down on unscrupulous gun dealers who are not following the law – unlike my opponent, who has spent his administration catering to his gun lobby endorsers and refusing to hold bad gun dealers accountable. To target the root causes of gun violence, I’ll expand violence interruption programs, including placing more anti-violence coordinators on the ground. Finally, I’ll hold gun manufacturers who created the gun violence epidemic accountable for stopping it, like cutting off the flow of illegal guns and using settlements to fund violence interruption and gun safety programs.
Miyares – The Miyares campaign declined to provide answers for the VPA/VLNP Voter Guide.
7. Civil rights and discrimination
How would you use the attorney general’s office to protect civil rights and combat discrimination in Virginia, including in areas such as housing, employment, policing, and voting access?
Jones – We must ensure every Virginian is protected in their civil rights and civil liberties every single day. That’s why one of my top priorities as attorney general is expanding the Civil Rights Division, including broadening its authority to combat predatory practices in housing and employment to lower costs for Virginians.
I’ll crack down on housing discrimination by holding lenders and landlords accountable for preying on Virginia renters. As a former member of AFGE 1403, I’ll strengthen enforcement against workplace discrimination and wage theft, so that every Virginian has a fair shot at earning a decent living without fear of retaliation or bias. And as I did with the NAACP, I’ll protect the right to vote by fighting back against suppression tactics and defending the ballot box so every voice in Virginia is heard.
Our current attorney general, Jason Miyares, has turned a blind eye to these abuses. He’s left Virginians unprotected from predatory landlords, ignored discrimination in the workplace, and done nothing to ensure fair treatment in our justice system. As attorney general, I’ll make sure this office stands up for all Virginians and delivers real protections, every single day.
Miyares – The Miyares campaign declined to provide answers for the VPA/VLNP Voter Guide.
Learn more
Jay Jones website
Jason Miyares website
Virginia Department of Elections website
Virginia Press Association website
Virginia Local News Project website
