by Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury
June 26, 2025

The Democratic Attorneys General Association is putting big money behind Jay Jones, announcing Thursday a $1 million investment in his campaign to flip Virginia’s attorney general seat and restore Democratic control of the office.

“Jones is a committed public servant who has always put his constituents and their rights first, which is why DAGA is excited to make this early investment to flip the seat back to blue,” the group said in a statement.

The high-dollar move came just one day after the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), the party’s national arm for state legislative races, announced a $400,000 boost to Democratic House of Delegates candidates and a new wave of endorsements in competitive districts. 

The back-to-back funding announcements signal a coordinated national effort to reclaim power in Virginia, where Republicans currently hold all three statewide offices and Democrats remain in control of both chambers of the legislature. 

DAGA President Sean Rankin said the time to act is now, casting Jones as a critical check on recent Republican policies, particularly those of President Donald Trump. 

“Virginia needs an attorney general like Jones who will hold Trump accountable for his unlawful actions,” Rankin said. “Jay Jones is running a campaign to defend democracy and fight for Virginia families, and we are confident he will deliver for the commonwealth as the next attorney general.”

With “so much at stake,” Rankin added, “it’s vital we take back this seat in November, and we’re committed to working with Jones to make that happen.”

Jones, a former state delegate from Norfolk and the son of the late Judge Jerrauld C. Jones, won the Democratic nomination last week after narrowly defeating Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor in a hard-fought primary. 

The victory marked a political comeback for Jones, who previously lost the 2021 Democratic nomination for attorney general to then-incumbent Mark Herring. In November, Jones hopes to unseat Republican Jason Miyares.

A graduate of UVA and the University of Virginia School of Law, Jones has focused his campaign on reproductive rights, voting access, criminal justice reform and standing up to what he describes as “an increasingly extreme Republican agenda” at both the state and federal levels. He has said that Virginia’s next attorney general must be prepared to challenge legal efforts to roll back civil liberties and democratic protections.

The $1 million investment is one of the largest early commitments DAGA has made this cycle and underscores the strategic importance of the Virginia race. Attorney general contests have become a national battleground for policy fights ranging from abortion and gun rights to election law and corporate regulation.

Meanwhile, the DLCC’s newly endorsed candidates include Lindsey Dougherty, who’s challenging Republican Del. Carrie Coyner in the 75th District; Leslie Mehta, taking on Del. Mark Earley Jr. in the 89th; May Nivar, running against Del. David Owen in the 57th; and Kacey Robins Carnegie, vying for an open seat in Hampton Roads after GOP Del. Baxter Ennis opted not to seek re-election.

All four won their primaries last week and are now seen as key players in the battle for control of the House. The DLCC described the candidates as part of a broader strategy to “move Virginia forward” and flip seats Democrats narrowly lost in previous cycles.

Virginia’s 2025 election is shaping up to be a high-stakes test for both parties, with all three statewide offices — governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general — on the ballot, alongside the entire 100-member House of Delegates. 

With national figures and outside money pouring into the commonwealth, the contests are likely to preview messaging and strategy ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.

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Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Left

This article clearly reflects a Center-Left political bias by emphasizing support for Democratic candidates and framing their campaigns positively. It highlights substantial financial backing from Democratic organizations, portrays Jay Jones as a committed public servant defending democracy and civil liberties, and presents Republican policies, particularly those associated with Donald Trump, in a critical light. The language and framing suggest alignment with progressive priorities such as reproductive rights, voting access, and criminal justice reform. While it maintains a somewhat factual tone, the selection of quotes and emphasis on Democratic strategies indicate a favorable perspective toward the Democratic Party and its agenda in Virginia’s elections.