Virginia just did something it has never done before. On November 4, 2025, voters headed to the polls and elected Jay Jones as the first Black Attorney General in the Commonwealth's history. It wasn't exactly a quiet affair. Honestly, the race was a total rollercoaster that defied basically every poll released in the final weeks of October.
You’ve probably seen the headlines about the "blue wave" that swept through Richmond, but the story of Jay Jones is a bit more personal and a lot more complicated than just a party label. He didn't just win a seat; he unseated a Republican incumbent, Jason Miyares, in a high-stakes battle that felt more like a national referendum than a state-level race.
Who is Jay Jones and Why Should You Care?
If you live in Norfolk, you already know the name. The Jones family is basically a local institution. Jay’s father, Jerrauld Jones, was a judge and a delegate. His grandfather was a pioneering civil rights attorney. Public service isn't just a career path for him; it’s literally in his DNA.
But Jay Jones didn’t just ride on his family's reputation. He started out at Goldman Sachs—yeah, the big Wall Street firm—working in risk management. That’s a weird pivot for a future AG, right? It actually makes sense when you look at his focus on consumer protection. He later served as an Assistant Attorney General in D.C., where he spent his days suing slumlords and taking on corporate price gouging.
He's a husband, a dad to two young boys, and a guy who clearly isn't afraid of a rematch. Remember 2021? He ran for AG then and lost the primary to Mark Herring. Most people would have packed it in. Jay didn't. He went back to private practice, led the Virginia NAACP’s fight for voting rights, and waited for his moment.
The Scandal That Almost Ended It All
Let’s be real for a second: about a month before the election, things looked pretty grim for the Jones campaign. A series of private text messages from 2022 were leaked to the press. In them, Jones made some pretty harsh and, frankly, appalling jokes about Republican leaders and their families.
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It was a mess.
His own running mates, Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger and Lt. Gov-elect Ghazala Hashmi, had to issue statements condemning the comments. U.S. Senator Mark Warner called them "unacceptable." For a week or two, it felt like the campaign was in a death spiral. Polls from groups like Roanoke College showed him trailing significantly as the "text message scandal" became the only thing anyone talked about.
How he pulled off the win anyway:
- The Trump Factor: Jones framed the race as a defense against federal overreach. He positioned himself as the guy who would stand between Virginia and the incoming Trump administration's policies.
- The Ground Game: Despite the bad press, he out-raised Miyares in the final stretch, pulling in over $12.5 million.
- Ticket Splitting (or lack thereof): While some analysts thought voters would split their tickets—voting for Spanberger but sticking with Miyares for AG—the "blue wave" was just too strong. People wanted a clean sweep.
What Jay Jones Actually Plans to Do
Now that he’s officially the Attorney General-elect, what happens next? He takes the oath of office on January 17, 2026. If his campaign promises are any indication, the OAG (Office of the Attorney General) is about to go through a massive shift in priorities.
Miyares was a "law and order" guy who focused heavily on aggressive prosecution and programs like Operation Ceasefire. Jones isn't necessarily tossing that out, but his lens is different. He’s already signaled that his first order of business is challenging court rulings that weakened Virginia's gun laws—specifically a recent Lynchburg ruling about universal background checks for 18-to-20-year-olds.
The Big Priorities
- Reproductive Rights: This was a cornerstone of his platform. He’s vowed to use the office to protect abortion access in Virginia, making sure it remains a "safe haven" in the South.
- Corporate Accountability: He talks a lot about price gouging. Expect to see more lawsuits against big utility companies and "bad actor" corporations that he claims are squeezing Virginia families.
- The "Defend Virginia" PAC: He’s already set up a PAC specifically designed to fight federal overreach. This is clearly a signal that he intends to use the AG's office as a legal check on the federal government.
What Most People Get Wrong About the AG Role
A lot of folks think the Attorney General is just the state’s "top cop." That’s only half the story. The AG is basically the state's lawyer. They decide which laws to defend in court and which ones to ignore or challenge.
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When Jay Jones takes over, the legal "vibe" in Richmond changes instantly. Under Miyares, the office was often a partner to Governor Youngkin’s conservative agenda. Under Jones, the office becomes the legal muscle for Abigail Spanberger’s administration. This creates a "triplex"—where Democrats hold the Governor, AG, and Lieutenant Governor seats. That’s a lot of power.
The Challenges Ahead
It’s not going to be all ribbons and sunshine. Jones is entering office with a significant portion of the electorate still wary of those leaked texts. He has to prove he can represent all Virginians, not just the ones who voted for him in the deep blue pockets of Northern Virginia and Norfolk.
Also, the legal landscape is shifting. With a conservative-leaning Supreme Court and a combative federal environment, many of his planned initiatives—especially regarding environmental regulations and gun control—will likely face immediate legal challenges from Republican-led groups and other states.
Actionable Steps for Virginians
If you're wondering how this affects your day-to-day life, keep an eye on these specific areas as the transition moves toward the January 17th inauguration:
- Watch the Transition Team: Jones has already started naming his leadership, including folks like Jake Rubenstein. These appointments tell you who will actually be running the divisions like Consumer Protection and Civil Rights.
- Monitor Legislative Sessions: The AG's office often proposes "departmental bills." Look for Jones to push for stronger tenant protections and stricter rules on predatory lending early in the 2026 session.
- Utility Rates: If you’re tired of your electric bill jumping up, pay attention to the AG’s Division of Consumer Counsel. Jones has promised to be more aggressive in opposing rate hikes during SCC (State Corporation Commission) hearings.
The era of Jay Jones is officially beginning. Whether you’re a fan or a critic, there’s no denying that the legal trajectory of Virginia just took a sharp, historic turn.