The question on everyone’s mind — who won the attorney general in Virginia — finally has a clear answer. Democrat Jay Jones won the 2025 Virginia Attorney General race, defeating Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in one of the most closely watched contests of the year. Jones’s victory not only marks a shift in the state’s legal leadership but also cements a historic moment, as he becomes the first Black attorney general in Virginia’s history.
His triumph came after an intense, high-turnout election on November 4, 2025, where he secured approximately 52.7% of the vote to Miyares’s 46.9%, officially reclaiming the office for the Democratic Party.
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A Pivotal Election in Virginia Politics
The 2025 Virginia elections were seen as a critical barometer for both parties heading into the next election cycle. The race for attorney general, in particular, stood out as a symbolic battle between two sharply contrasting visions of law enforcement, justice, and state authority.
Jay Jones’s win represented a generational and ideological shift. At 37, the Norfolk native captured the energy of a younger, more diverse voter base. Meanwhile, Miyares, who had served as attorney general since 2022, represented continuity for conservatives seeking to maintain the Republican stronghold established four years earlier.
The final results reaffirmed that Virginia remains politically competitive but trending blue, especially in suburban and urban regions that have increasingly leaned Democratic in recent cycles.
Jay Jones: A Rising Star in Virginia Politics
Before his statewide win, Jay Jones served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 89th District from 2018 to 2021. A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, Jones was known for his advocacy on civil rights, environmental protection, and economic fairness.
His campaign for attorney general centered on three main themes:
- Restoring trust in public institutions through transparency and reform.
- Protecting Virginians’ rights in areas such as reproductive freedom, voting access, and fair policing.
- Ensuring accountability from both corporations and government agencies.
Jones often described his campaign as a movement to “modernize justice” in Virginia, balancing safety with compassion. His message resonated strongly with younger voters, communities of color, and suburban families concerned about issues like education, health care, and public safety.
His election is also historically significant. Not only does Jones break barriers as Virginia’s first Black attorney general, but his win represents a broader reflection of the state’s ongoing transformation—one rooted in diversity and inclusion.
Jason Miyares: The Incumbent’s Record and Reaction
Jason Miyares, the Republican incumbent, made history in 2021 as Virginia’s first Latino elected statewide. Throughout his tenure, he positioned himself as a strong advocate for law enforcement, parental rights, and conservative social values.
Miyares gained praise for his focus on combating violent crime, tackling the opioid crisis, and defending the rights of small business owners. However, critics argued that his policies leaned too heavily toward partisan interests and lacked balance in addressing civil rights concerns.
Heading into the 2025 race, Miyares faced mounting challenges:
- Shifting demographics in Virginia favored Democrats, particularly in Northern Virginia and coastal cities.
- National political fatigue with polarizing Republican figures made it harder to energize moderate voters.
- Jones’s strong grassroots network and emphasis on reform drew support from independents and first-time voters.
While Miyares’s campaign remained disciplined and focused on public safety, it struggled to match the momentum and messaging strength of Jones’s campaign in the final stretch.
Key Issues That Defined the Race
The attorney general race was shaped by a few critical issues that dominated Virginia’s political discourse in 2025:
1. Reproductive Rights:
Following federal court battles and national restrictions on abortion, Virginia’s attorney general race became a flashpoint for reproductive freedom. Jones pledged to protect access to abortion and uphold state protections, while Miyares supported tighter restrictions, aligning with conservative positions.
2. Gun Violence and Public Safety:
Both candidates presented contrasting views on gun policy. Jones called for expanded background checks and community-based crime prevention programs, while Miyares emphasized the rights of lawful gun owners and tougher penalties for violent offenders.
3. Civil Rights and Justice Reform:
Jones campaigned on strengthening civil rights enforcement and addressing disparities in policing, while Miyares defended his record of supporting law enforcement agencies and opposed what he described as “soft-on-crime” reforms.
4. Economic Accountability:
Consumer protection and fair business practices also featured prominently. Jones proposed tougher oversight of predatory lending, data privacy safeguards, and corporate accountability.
5. Climate and Environmental Policy:
Environmental protection emerged as a priority among younger voters, with Jones committing to hold polluters accountable and invest in clean energy initiatives across Virginia.
Each of these issues reflected a larger philosophical divide — one that mirrored national debates about government’s role in balancing safety, rights, and fairness.
Voter Turnout and Regional Trends
The 2025 election saw record-breaking turnout for an off-year race. Major cities like Richmond, Norfolk, and Alexandria delivered strong Democratic margins, while rural and western counties remained solidly Republican.
Key patterns emerged:
- Urban and suburban voters overwhelmingly supported Jones, driven by social and economic issues.
- Rural counties maintained strong loyalty to Miyares but could not offset the Democratic surge elsewhere.
- Younger voters and women were decisive — both groups turned out in large numbers for Jones, motivated by concerns over rights and representation.
Jones’s campaign invested heavily in grassroots organizing and early voting initiatives, which helped secure a commanding lead in populous regions even before Election Day.
The Road Ahead: What Jay Jones Plans to Do Next
As the new attorney general, Jay Jones has outlined an ambitious agenda for his first year in office. His priorities are expected to focus on:
- Protecting Civil Rights: Expanding the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division to combat discrimination in housing, employment, and education.
- Consumer Protection: Cracking down on scams, data misuse, and unfair corporate practices that hurt everyday Virginians.
- Reproductive and Healthcare Rights: Defending access to healthcare and reproductive services at the state level.
- Environmental Accountability: Pursuing stronger environmental enforcement and clean energy incentives.
- Criminal Justice Reform: Building partnerships with local law enforcement while promoting community trust and reducing recidivism.
Jones’s approach will likely differ sharply from Miyares’s emphasis on punitive enforcement, instead focusing on prevention, fairness, and inclusion. His leadership will also be closely watched nationally as Democrats look to replicate his success in other states.
Political Implications Beyond Virginia
The answer to who won the attorney general in Virginia carries national implications. Virginia’s elections often serve as an early signal of voter sentiment leading into midterm and presidential election cycles.
Jones’s win suggests several key takeaways for both parties:
- Democrats regained momentum by centering campaigns on rights, equity, and economic fairness.
- Republicans face new challenges appealing to a changing voter base in suburban and minority-heavy regions.
- Independent voters are increasingly decisive, favoring candidates perceived as practical and forward-thinking over ideologues.
For Democrats, Jones’s success may offer a blueprint for reclaiming moderate states through inclusive messaging and local engagement. For Republicans, it highlights the need to recalibrate their strategy and broaden appeal beyond traditional strongholds.
Historical and Cultural Significance
Jay Jones’s election carries symbolic meaning far beyond politics. His victory reflects Virginia’s continued evolution from a once deeply segregated past to a state that embraces diverse leadership and representation.
As the first Black attorney general in Virginia, Jones’s ascent stands as a powerful milestone in the state’s modern history — one that echoes progress while underscoring the work still to be done to achieve full equality and justice for all communities.
Closing Thoughts
The outcome of the 2025 race provides a definitive answer to who won the attorney general in Virginia — and the implications reach far beyond the ballot box. Jay Jones’s victory ushers in a new chapter for Virginia’s legal and political landscape, one that promises both hope and scrutiny as he begins his term.
His leadership will be tested quickly, but his election already signals a renewed sense of purpose for Virginians who voted for change, representation, and progress.
Virginia’s new attorney general has made history — now the real work begins. Share your thoughts below and stay tuned for the next chapter in the Commonwealth’s political journey.