Jason Miyares, Virginia’s attorney general, launched his first television ad for the Nov. 5 general election, in an effort to expose his Democratic opponent ahead of a tight battle.
In the ad, titled “Soft Jay Jones will not keep us safe,” Miyares’ campaign contrasts the two candidates for the state’s attorney general position. Miyares’ campaign ad notes that Democratic nominee Jay Jones has never served as a prosecutor.
“On one hand, you have a soft, radical leftist who has never tried a criminal case,” campaign press secretary Alex Cofield said in a news release. “On the other, you have an attorney general who has protected our families since day one and is working every day to make Virginia a safer place to live, work, go to school, and raise a family.”
Jones earned his law degree at the University of Virginia and served as an assistant attorney general in the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, according to his website. He was a member of the Office of Consumer Protection.
“An accomplished litigator, Jay led the fight on behalf of the Virginia NAACP against the Youngkin Administration to protect voting rights,” Jones’ website states. “Jay has also advocated tirelessly for reproductive health care access and abortion rights as a member of the Virginia Planned Parenthood board.”
Jones served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 89th district from 2018 to 2021. He resigned in December 2021, before his second term ended, after the announcement that he and his wife were expecting their first child the following summer.
In Miyares’ political ad, Jones is featured saying that his campaign is centered on “justice reform” because “this is the issue of the moment.”
The ad then shows two policy issues that aim to show the contradiction in Jones’ message to keep Virginians safe. The first issue Miyares’ campaign mentioned is Virginia House Bill 1532, a bill Jones cosponsored in 2020. This bill would give criminals the opportunity to shorten their sentences.
The television commercial also portrayed Jones as soft on crime. In Virginia’s House of Delegates 2019 session, Jones voted against a bill that would impose a mandatory minimum term of confinement for people convicted of assault and battery against a family member.
The ad is part of a six-figure investment to “inform Virginians about Soft Jay Jones’ radical record and willingness to put woke political ideology ahead of public safety,” according to a press release.
Miyares’ campaign has spent over $160,000 in political advertisements, according to this year’s reports.
Jones released his third campaign ad June 3.
In it, he said: “I’ve stood up to MAGA and protected abortion rights. I’m a former assistant attorney general and lawmaker. I’m a fighter, running for attorney general to stand up to Trump’s attacks on our rights and our workers. America hasn’t always gotten it right, but it takes fighters to bend us toward justice.”
A recent poll by the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University said roughly half of independents in the matchups for the governor’s race, lieutenant gubernatorial race, and attorney general race are still undecided. This indecision leaves room for candidates to take up the baton and carry their party to victory.
The Daily Signal contacted Jones’ campaign but has not received comment as of publication time. The Daily Signal reached out to Miyares’ campaign for additional comment and was referred to the press release quoted above.
