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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Virginia Democrats coalesce as primary election sets statewide ticket. Will Republicans?
Virginia Democrats solidified their statewide ticket Tuesday, voting for state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi as the nominee for lieutenant governor and former Del. Jay Jones as the nominee for attorney general in the state's primary elections. Before the lieutenant governor's primary had been called, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger issued her congratulations, calling Hashmi a 'proven leader.' With the stage set for Virginia's bellwether election, Spanberger, Hashmi and Jones put out a joint statement Wednesday emphasizing their unified campaign. 'As the Democratic ticket running to serve as Virginia's next Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General, we are united in our focus on the issues that matter to our fellow Virginians,' they wrote. Hashmi and Jones are scheduled appear at stops along Spanberger's planned eight-day bus tour around the commonwealth, according to a spokesperson for her campaign. The tour kicks off Saturday in Richmond, making its way throughout the state until ending in Hampton Roads on June 28. That's a markedly different strategy from Virginia Republicans, who have had a set statewide ticket since April but have thus far been going it alone. Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares, and conservative radio host John Reid are the party's nominees for governor, attorney general and lieutenant governor, but have yet to appear together in public. The parties' tickets are notably diverse — without a straight white man nominated for any of the positions. In an interview at the end of May, Reid said he had not spoken to Gov. Glenn Youngkin since the governor asked him to step down as the nominee. At the time, Youngkin cited a social media account that posted risqué images of men that matched the username of other accounts Reid used. With DEI under attack, here's how Virginia's diverse slate of candidates talk about identity On Wednesday, Reid for the first time shared a graphic of the Republican statewide ticket to social media with the caption 'The GOP ticket is ready to lead.' Neither Earle-Sears nor Miyares had posted anything similar at press time. In the aftermath of Youngkin's phone call and Reid's refusal to step down, Earle-Sears briefly acknowledged that Reid was the nominee, but has not mentioned him on social media since. 'We all have our own race to run,' she said at the time. In Tuesday's Democratic and Republican primaries, Hampton Roads voters also decided who will represent them in the November general election for House Districts 70, 89 and 97. ____ Hashmi, who will be the first Muslim and first Indian-American to appear on a ballot for statewide office, emerged victorious from a field of six running for the party's nomination for lieutenant governor with 27.5% of the vote. 'Today, we've made history yet again, not just by winning this primary, but by declaring with one voice that Virginia is not going to be bullied or broken or dragged backwards by the chaos that's unfolding in Washington,' she said Tuesday night. The next closest candidate, former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, conceded the race Wednesday morning with 26.7% of the vote. State Sen. Aaron Rouse of Virginia Beach finished in third with 26.1% of the vote and conceded Tuesday night. Three other Democrats trailed, each earning less than 10% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the state Department of Elections. In a video Tuesday night, Reid congratulated Hashmi, welcomed her to the campaign trail — then went on the attack. 'Sen. Hashmi, sadly, has been one of the biggest cheerleaders for the high taxes, anti-business, trans radicalism, and government-knows-better-than-parents attitude that's crushing our families and endangering our future,' he said. ____ Two Hampton Roads candidates will compete in November's election. Jones, of Norfolk, won a close race with 51% of the vote against Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor. He will face Miyares of Virginia Beach in the general election. At a party in Norfolk, Jones said Tuesday he was ready to fight and to win and called Miyares Donald Trump's 'pro bono lawyer.' 'We deserve better,' said Jones, who represented parts of Norfolk in the House of Delegates from 2018 to 2021. 'We can do better, and we will get better this November.' Miyares, who represented parts of Virginia Beach in the House from 2016 to 2021, fired shots of his own in a statement posted to X. 'My opponent's ideological record makes Virginia families less safe and our streets more violent,' he wrote. 'The law is a shield to keep people safe, not a sword for social justice warriors or a platform for grand social experiments.' ____ In Newport News, Republicans voted for Cynthia Scaturico to represent the party against incumbent Democrat Del. Shelly Simonds to represent House District 70. Scaturico beat Hailey Dollar, a newcomer to politics, with 74% of the vote. Scaturico previously held a board of supervisors seat in Iowa before moving to Newport News. She said her priorities included protecting workers' rights, education reform and local homelessness. Voters in Chesapeake and Suffolk chose also Democrat Karen 'Kacey' Carnegie and Republican Mike Lamonea to meet in the November House District 89 race. Carnegie beat Blaizen Buckshot Bloom with more than 77% of the vote as of Wednesday. 'With tonight's win, we're one step closer to flipping HD-89 — one of the most competitive districts in Virginia — and expanding the Democratic majority in the House of Delegates,' Carnegie said in a release. Lamonea beat Kristen Shannon with 66% of the vote as of Wednesday. 'As we turn our focus to November, I look forward to continuing the conversation with voters about lowering taxes, improving education, protecting our constitutional rights and ensuring safe communities,' he said Tuesday night. And Virginia Beach Republicans overwhelmingly voted for Tim Anderson to compete against Democratic incumbent Del. Michael Feggans. Anderson, an attorney, won the House District 97 primary against Christina Felder with about 92% of the vote. The attorney and former delegate said he wants to substantially lower the car tax, and instead use Virginia's budget surplus to reimburse localities for the lost revenue. 'We ran a clean message on eliminating the car tax, and it resonated overwhelming with the district,' Anderson said by phone Tuesday night. 'Virginia has the surplus to do it. That's going to be our campaign promise.' Staff writers Trevor Metcalfe, Stacy Parker, Natalie Anderson and Devlin Epding contributed to this report. Kate Seltzer, 757-713-7881, kateseltzer@
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Virginia attorney general primary: Jay Jones wins Democratic nomination
Jay Jones emerged victorious in Tuesday's primary election as the Democratic nominee for attorney general. He will face incumbent Republican Jason Miyares in November. With 95% of votes counted, The Associated Press called the race for Jones. Jones, an attorney who previously represented Norfolk in the Virginia House of Delegates, had 51% of the vote compared to Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor, who had 49%. The mood was joyous at a Norfolk watch party at Afterglow Brewing as the race was called. Jones and wife Mavis arrived shortly after 10 p.m. to cheers and applause. In a speech to supporters, Jones thanked the campaign and said he was honored to accept the nomination. 'I am ready for this fight and I am ready to win,' Jones said to more cheers. Jones also launched attacks against Miyares, calling him President Donald Trump's pro bono lawyer. 'We deserve better,' Jones said. 'We can do better, and we will get better this November.' In an emailed statement, Taylor thanked her campaign and called on supporters to rally behind Jones and the Democratic ticket in November. 'This campaign may be over, but our movement is not,' Taylor said. This is Jones' second run for attorney general. He previously ran against then-incumbent Mark Herring in the 2021 Democratic primary — Herring won with about 57% of the vote but went on to lose to Miyares in the general election. In this election, Herring, alongside former Attorney General Mary Sue Terry and six commonwealth's attorneys, endorsed Taylor. Jones was also endorsed by powerful Democrats, including US Sen. Cory Booker and former Virginia governors Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam. He represented parts of Norfolk in the General Assembly from 2018 until he stepped down at the end of 2021 just after his reelection. On the campaign trail, Taylor highlighted Jones's comparative lack of experience. Though Jones is an attorney and previously served as state delegate representing Norfolk and as an assistant attorney general in D.C., he had never prosecuted a criminal case. Jones raised more than $2.7 million to Taylor's $2.1 million. Taylor's biggest donor was Dominion Energy, which donated $800,000 to her campaign. Jones was endorsed by Clean Virginia, a major donation group that funds candidates who decline to accept money from Virginia's biggest publicly regulated utility. Kate Seltzer, 757-713-7881,
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jay Jones to take on Jason Miyares in Virginia Attorney General race
RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) – Jay Jones has won the Democratic nomination for Attorney General in Virginia, setting up a contest against Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in the upcoming election. Jones narrowly defeated Shannon Taylor, securing 51% of the votes compared to Taylor's 49%. This victory positions him to challenge Miyares in the general election scheduled for November 4, 2025. Breaking down Virginia primary election results 'Virginians are ready for change, ready to get our state back on track,' said Jones, emphasizing his commitment to working for the people rather than select interests. Jones has outlined his priorities, which include addressing crime, gun violence, and workforce issues. His campaign has focused on these key areas as he prepares to face Miyares in the election. In addition to the Attorney General race, Virginians will also decide on their next governor in November. Abigail Spanberger and Winsome Earle-Sears, who ran unopposed in their respective primaries, will make history regardless of the outcome, as Virginia has never had a woman governor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
2 days ago
- Politics
Jay Jones, a former Virginia delegate, wins Democratic nomination for the state's attorney general
RICHMOND, Va. -- Jay Jones, a former Virginia delegate, wins Democratic nomination for the state's attorney general.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jay Jones wins Democratic nomination for Virginia attorney general
Former Del. Jay Jones will look to be the face of legal resistance to President Donald Trump in Virginia after winning the Democratic nomination for attorney general. The race was closely watched among the down-ballot contests in Tuesday's Democratic primary election. He will face Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares in the November general election. Democrats are also nominating a candidate for lieutenant governor from a field of six candidates, who remained locked in a tight race Tuesday night. Jones defeated Shannon Taylor for the Democratic nomination in the race for attorney general despite his opponent casting him as lacking criminal prosecutorial experience. 'I am ready for this fight and to win this November,' Jones said in a victory statement. Jones, who represented Norfolk in the House of Delegates for four years, comes from a long line of Hampton Roads politicians. His father was also a delegate, and his grandfather was the first Black member of the Norfolk School Board. Jones previously ran for attorney general in 2021 but lost the primary to Democratic incumbent Mark Herring. State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi led former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney in the Democratic primary battle for lieutenant governor by a narrow margin. Ballots remained to be counted, and close margins made the race too early to call. The races will determine Democrats' statewide ticket and set the stage for a bellwether election later this year. Most of the nominees slated to be at the top of the November ticket have already been picked, and Republicans aren't having a statewide primary. The November gubernatorial election is sure to make history. Democrat Abigail Spanberger, who ran for the Democratic nomination unopposed, will battle Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears — the only Republican who qualified for the ballot. Their candidacies all but guarantee that Virginia will have a female governor — a first in the state's history since Patrick Henry's governorship nearly 250 years ago. Virginia is one of two states that host statewide elections the year after a presidential election — New Jersey is the other — and the races are typically seen as referendums on the party in power before Congress heads into midterm elections. Analysts will be looking for clues in both states about voter sentiment with Trump back in the Oval Office and Republicans controlling power in Washington. Democrats' hold on Virginia has slipped in recent years, moving it close to swing-state status nationally. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin beat former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in 2021. And although Democrats narrowly gained back complete control of the Legislature in a 2023 election, then-Vice President Kamala Harris won Virginia last year by less than six points, compared to former President Joe Biden's 10-point lead in 2020. Still, Democrats have history on their side: The party of the sitting president typically suffers defeat in Virginia's statewide races. And considering Trump has never won the state, Democrats are probably better positioned to make gains once their ticket solidifies. The six Democrats vying to be Virginia's next lieutenant governor aren't all that different on the issues: They support rights to abortion, a living wage, affordable housing and accessible health care. They also share similar criticisms of Trump. The candidates notably fracture along regional lines, and distinctions emerge in what they have emphasized in stump speeches along the campaign trail. Stoney has touted his ties to the Democratic Party and experience working under former Govs. Mark Warner and Terry McAuliffe. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg endorsed his campaign in June. Hashmi is also from the Richmond area, representing part of the city and suburbs. Hashmi has pushed reproductive health in her bid and has been endorsed by abortion rights political action committees. Virginia state Sen. Aaron Rouse, from Virginia Beach with ties to southwest Virginia, has also highlighted his legislative accomplishments. Prince William County School Board Chair Babur Lateef, former federal prosecutor Victor Salgado and retired US Department of Labor worker Alex Bastani are from northern Virginia. Lateef, an eye surgeon, has honed in on education and health care. Salgado has stressed the importance of strengthening democracy, and Bastani has emphasized labor rights. Only one Republican candidate in each statewide contest is advancing to the ballot. Earle-Sears became the gubernatorial nominee after Republicans Dave LaRock and Amanda Chase failed to collect enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. Both LaRock and Chase initially challenged Earle-Sears for not being fully aligned with Trump. Conservative talk-radio host John Reid became the de facto nominee for lieutenant governor after his primary opponent left the race, and despite intraparty quarreling over whether he was tied to a social media account reposting pornography. Miyares sailed to his spot on the ballot as the nominee for attorney general after announcing his reelection bid. On Tuesday night, he said of Jones' victory: 'My opponent's ideological record makes Virginia families less safe and our streets more violent.' All 100 seats of the House of Delegates are up for election in November, and some nomination contests took place in Virginia's more competitive districts. Democrat May Nivar won her primary race and will be taking on Republican incumbent Del. David Owen in a Richmond-area district that House liberals are vying to flip. Democrat Lindsey Dougherty won her primary race and will battle Republican Del. Carrie Coyner in a Petersburg-area district. Republicans and Democrats also had separate primaries to fill a competitive seat in the Chesapeake area, which opened after Republican Rep. Baxter Ennis announced his retirement. Republican Michael Lamonea and Democrat Karen Carnegie won their respective primaries for that seat.
