If you’ve been following the political drama in the Commonwealth lately, you know things just got incredibly weird. Honestly, the 2025 race for the state's top law enforcement office felt more like a high-stakes thriller than a standard election. Now that the dust has settled on the attorney general Virginia candidates, we’re looking at a map that has been completely redrawn.
For the longest time, it looked like incumbent Republican Jason Miyares had a solid path to a second term. He had the "law and order" messaging down, he was touting big wins against opioid manufacturers, and he had the backing of the Governor’s mansion. But then the November 4, 2025, election actually happened.
The Shocker: Jay Jones Flips the Script
Jay Jones didn't just win; he survived a political firestorm that would have incinerated most other careers. Basically, the whole race was turned upside down when a series of text messages from 2022 were leaked in early October. In those private chats, Jones—a former Norfolk delegate—made some pretty graphic and "appalling" jokes about the then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert.
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You’d think that would be the end of it. Every major Democrat, including gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger and Senator Mark Warner, had to come out and condemn the words. But in a twist that left pollsters scratching their heads, it didn't sink him. Jones apologized, leaned into his family's deep civil rights legacy in Hampton Roads, and rode a massive "blue wave" that swept through Virginia.
He ended up defeating Miyares with 53.14% of the vote. That’s a margin of about 227,000 votes. It’s a huge deal because Jay Jones is now set to be the first Black attorney general in Virginia's history.
What Happened to Jason Miyares?
Jason Miyares didn't go down without a fight. He spent over $26 million on his reelection bid—nearly $10 million more than Jones. His campaign was built on the idea that Virginia was safer under his watch. He pointed to "Operation Ceasefire" and his work securing over $1.3 billion in opioid settlements.
But the political climate in 2025 was brutal for Republicans in Virginia. Between the friction over federal policies and a highly energized Democratic base, Miyares found himself on the wrong side of a "pendulum swing." In his concession speech, he was pretty blunt, saying the state had swung "too far in the wrong direction" but predicting it would eventually swing back.
It's sorta fascinating when you look at the spending. Miyares had the cash, the incumbency, and a "law and order" record, yet he still lost by six points.
The Primary That Almost Changed Everything
Before we got to the Miyares vs. Jones showdown, there was a brutal Democratic primary. This is where most people get the story of the attorney general Virginia candidates wrong. They forget how close we came to having a completely different nominee.
Shannon Taylor, the Commonwealth's Attorney for Henrico County, gave Jones a run for his money. She positioned herself as the "experienced prosecutor" vs. the "politician." She had a serious track record, including the high-profile prosecution of a KKK leader who drove into protesters.
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The primary was basically a proxy war between big energy interests and environmental groups:
- Shannon Taylor received roughly $800,000 from Dominion Energy.
- Jay Jones was heavily backed by Clean Virginia, an advocacy group founded to counter Dominion's influence.
Jones barely eked out a win in June with 51.1% of the vote. If a few thousand people in Henrico or Richmond had stayed home, Shannon Taylor would have been the one facing Miyares in November. Interestingly, Taylor didn't sit around and mope after her loss; she’s already launched a bid for Virginia’s 1st Congressional District for the 2026 midterms.
Why This Race Actually Matters for You
You might think the Attorney General is just some distant lawyer in Richmond, but the "AG" has a massive impact on your daily life. The shift from Miyares to Jones means a 180-degree turn on several key issues:
- Reproductive Rights: Miyares had supported the Governor’s efforts for a 15-week abortion ban. Jones, on the other hand, campaigned on protecting abortion access and codifying reproductive freedom in the state constitution.
- Consumer Protection: Jones has been very vocal about "corporate price gouging." Expect to see the AG's office going after landlords and prescription drug companies much more aggressively.
- Gun Control: While Miyares was backed by the NRA, Jones has already signaled he’ll use the office to take on the gun lobby and push for "common-sense" legislation.
The Road Ahead: 2026 and Beyond
The 2025 election wasn't just about one office. It was a complete Democratic sweep of the "triplex"—Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General. With Abigail Spanberger becoming the first female Governor of Virginia and Ghazala Hashmi taking the Lt. Governor spot, Jay Jones has a clear path to implement a very progressive legal agenda.
But don't expect the controversy over those text messages to vanish. Republicans have already signaled they’ll use them as a "character issue" throughout his term. It’s going to be a rocky start, for sure.
If you want to stay on top of how the new administration actually changes things, keep an eye on the first 100 days of the legislative session. The shift in how the state handles environmental regulations and labor rights will be the first real test of this new "Blue Virginia."
Next steps for staying informed:
- Check the official Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) for the final verified campaign finance breakdowns.
- Monitor the Office of the Attorney General website starting in late January for new policy directives.
- Sign up for legislative alerts regarding the Reproductive Freedom Amendment, as this will likely be the first major legal battle of 2026.