This story was reported and written by VPM News.
Jason Miyares, Virginia's first Latino attorney general, was elected in 2021 as part of a Republican trifecta along with Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.
He defeated three Republican challengers in a ranked-choice vote during a firehouse primary, then won a narrow victory over two-term Democratic incumbent Mark Herring in the general election.
Miyares, formerly a commonwealth's attorney in Virginia Beach, was rumored as a potential challenger to Earle-Sears in the Republican gubernatorial primary. But on Monday, he announced in a video released on social media that he would seek re-election as the state's top law enforcement official.
“Three years ago, I made one promise to the people of Virginia: to keep you and your family safe,” Miyares said in the campaign video posted on the social platform X. “And as attorney general, I serve as the people’s protector.”
Shortly after the announcement, Youngkin posted a joint endorsement of Miyares and Earle-Sears to Instagram, calling both "indispensable partners to advance our shared, commonsense conservative policies."
He added that Miyares "stands with law enforcement every single day while leading our shared fight to end the free flow of opioids and fentanyl into our communities, and has been a constant advocate for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence. He has never backed down when it comes to standing up for Virginians."
Seven former state attorneys general have gone on to become governor: Andrew Jackson Montague, John Garland Pollard, J. Lindsay Almond, Albertis Harrison, Gerald Baliles, Jim Gilmore and Bob McDonnell.
Prospective candidates who have announced will be added to this alphabetical list once they either:
- publicly announce their candidacy;
- or file the necessary paperwork with the state Department of Elections
When available, links to candidate websites and platforms will be included.
The list below will be updated as new information becomes available.
Democrats
Jay Jones
Jones announced his candidacy Nov. 12 at events in Norfolk and Richmond. In his Richmond announcement, he accused Miyares of using his office to "advance his own radical, personal, partisan-political agenda” and "attack Virginians’ freedoms, pander to the fringes of his own party and side with corporate price gougers and polluters.”
A Norfolk native, Jones represented the 89th District in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2018 until he resigned at the end of 2021 to focus on the birth of his first child.
Jones, who holds an undergraduate degree from William & Mary and a law degree from the University of Virginia, works as an attorney at Hogan Lovells.
On his website, he also cites his time as an assistant attorney general in Washington, D.C., where he "took on gun manufacturers, financial institutions, and housing conglomerates to vindicate the rights of everyday citizens."
This is the second time Jones is running for attorney general; he lost to Herring in the 2021 Democratic primary.
Shannon Taylor
Taylor is in her fourth term as the commonwealth's attorney for Henrico County. She became the first woman to hold the position when she was elected in 2011 and won re-election in 2015, 2019 and 2023.
She considered running for attorney general in 2021, but withdrew when Herring opted to seek a third term rather than running for governor.
A Charlottesville native, Taylor is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Richmond Law School.
On her campaign website, Taylor cites her efforts to diversify the Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney Office with more female and minority prosecutors. She also touts a commitment to updating and strengthening laws on hate crimes and stalking.
Republicans
Jason Miyares
Miyares, the son of a Cuban refugee, was born in Greensboro, N.C., and grew up in Virginia Beach.
He served three terms in the House of Delegates, representing the former 82nd District from 2016–2022.
On his campaign website, Miyares touts his accomplishments in securing over $1 billion in settlements from pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors for their role in the opioid epidemic, championing the rights of crime victims and investigating Loudoun County Public Schools over its handling of a student who sexually assaulted classmates at multiple county schools in 2021.
Miyares holds a bachelor's degree from James Madison University and a law degree from William & Mary.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
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