This week, Jones released a public safety plan and a robust six-figure ad buy highlighting his record and plans to protect Virginia families
Norfolk, VA – This week, Democratic nominee for Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones shared his vision to defend and protect Virginians across the Commonwealth, releasing both a public safety plan that “addresses violent crime, illegal guns, and child safety” and his first TV ad of the general, featuring law enforcement “vouching for Jones’ record on public safety and law and order.”
As part of his public safety plan rollout, Jones hosted a roundtable discussion Thursday with Richmond and Henrico public safety officials, and gun violence prevention and community and faith leaders.
Meanwhile, Jones’ MAGA opponent Jason Miyares was caught on his back foot, dodging a longstanding, nonpartisan debate hosted by the Virginia State Bar this October. After months of sitting by as Trump takes the hammer to Virginia’s workforce, economy, health care, and reproductive freedoms, Miyares is refusing to own up to his extreme record in front of the public.
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WRIC: Jay Jones Unveils Public Safety Priorities
Anchor: Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for Attorney General, is unveiling his public safety priorities, if elected, at a round table with local sheriffs and community members.
Today, Jones said his plan can be broken down into three pillars, stopping violent crime and supporting victims, getting guns off Virginia’s streets and protecting Virginia’s children.
Jones adding that as part of that, he plans to create a child safety unit and a drug trafficking unit within the Attorney General’s office to devote extra resources toward combating these issues.
Jay Jones: It’s a comprehensive public safety plan that we have created in conjunction with state and local law enforcement, community leaders, faith leaders, that addresses and identifies areas where we can make real improvements that we’ve not seen over these last three.
Richmond Times-Dispatch: Va. Democratic AG nominee Jay Jones releases public safety plan
Anna Bryson | August 7, 2025
- Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, rolled out a new public safety plan Thursday that addresses violent crime, illegal guns and child safety.
- To crack down on violent crime, Jones said he would conduct a thorough review of the staffing and budget of the Attorney General’s Office with the goal of shifting more resources to combating violent crime and holding bad actors accountable.
- “We really want to focus on stopping violent crime and supporting our victims, so we’re going to restore a department-wide focus on targeting violent crime, drug trafficking, sexual abuse and repeat offenders,” Jones said.
- Jones’ plan includes a drug trafficking unit, which he said does not exist in the current Attorney General’s Office. The unit’s goal would be to improve regional partnerships and communication to work with other states to stop the flow of drugs in and out of Virginia.
- “I always supported law enforcement when I was in the General Assembly. That’s why I voted for budgets that increased pay raises for law enforcement across the commonwealth,” Jones said.
- “We voted for measures that would crack down on sex offenders, common-sense measures that will keep our community safe. And now, as we embark on this campaign, we really want to hone in on what is going to be most successful to stem the tide we’ve seen here in Virginia, to make us more safe.”
- Part of Jones’ public safety plan is to strengthen re-entry programs for people who are leaving prison to return to their communities.
- “I am supportive of programs that are going to make Virginia more safe. I’m supportive of programs that are going to afford people the opportunity to thrive,” Jones said.
- “Certainly I want to make sure that our communities are as protected as possible. I’ve got two little boys, and I want to ensure their future is safe and secure on every level. And so we’ll work with the legislature to make sure that all of the things that they’re passing are really going to make a big difference.”
- Jones says if he’s elected this fall, he will create a child safety unit within the Attorney General’s Office.
- “We know that social media companies and some other tech companies are making it easier for people to prey on children, and we want to step in and stop that in its tracks,” Jones said in an interview.
- The child safety unit would “identify child predators and help bring them to justice, and really protect a vulnerable population that I think deserves a lot of our attention,” Jones said.
- Jones, who as an assistant attorney general in Washington D.C. sued the nation’s largest manufacturer of ghost gun kits, says he would make cracking down on illegal guns a major focus.
- He says he would investigate and prosecute gun dealers who break the law and put them out of business. Jones wants to use the full force of the attorney general post to hold gun manufacturers accountable, including through using civil statutes on consumer protection grounds where possible.
- His office would use the proceeds from any settlements with gun manufacturers to fund violence interruption and gun safety programs that can reduce shootings and gun deaths, especially programs that keep kids engaged in healthy activities.
The Hill: Jay Jones launches first general election ad buy in Virginia AG race
Julia Manchester | August 7, 2025
- Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for Virginia attorney general, rolled out his first television ad of the general election cycle Thursday.
- The ad, which was first seen by The Hill, is a part of a six-figure ad buy going up across Virginia.
- The 30-second spot features Norfolk, Va. Sheriff Joe Baron (D), Prince William County Prosecutor Amy Ashworth (D) and Newport News Sheriff Gabe Morgan (D) vouching for Jones’s record on public safety and law and order from his time as assistant attorney general and a former Virginia state delegate.
- Jones is seeking to oust incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares (R), an ally of President Trump, in the general election. Most recent polls show Jones leading Miyares. A poll released last month by the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, showed Jones leading Miyares 47 percent to 38 percent.
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