Herring wins Democratic nomination for attorney general

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Incumbent Mark Herring has won the Democratic nomination in the race for attorney general. He fended off a challenge from a state lawmaker who sought to cast Herring as insufficiently progressive.

Herring will face Republican state Del. Jason Miyares in the November general election.

Herring is a former state senator who became attorney general in 2014 and was reelected easily in 2017. On Tuesday, he defeated Del. Jay Jones of Norfolk.

In the other statewide down ballot race, six candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. No winner has been declared. Both Democrats and Republicans are also choosing nominees for some House of Delegates seats and local races.

Democratic Party of Virginia Chair Susan Swecker:

“Over the past seven years, Mark Herring has shown Virginians how important it is to have a strong Democratic attorney general standing up for working families across the Commonwealth. From fighting for ERA ratification to holding the Trump administration accountable and working to expand the right to vote, Mark Herring has helped make Virginia a safer and more inclusive place for all Virginians. With a proven fighter for Virginians on our ticket and Republicans pushing a far-right agenda that would threaten Virginians’ health care, voting rights, and more, Democrats are fired up to return Mark Herring to the attorney general’s office in November.

I want to thank Delegate Jay Jones for stepping up to run for attorney general. His campaign’s unwavering focus on civil rights, justice, and equity helped center some of the most important issues in Virginia during this election. I know that Delegate Jones will remain a tireless advocate for the communities he represents, and work hard to make sure Democrats win up and down the ballot this year.”

While Herring has a proven record of fighting for Virginians, Republicans have nominated right-wing extremist Jason Miyares, a Trump acolyte who earned A-ratings from the NRA and VCDL. Miyares has spent his time in the House of Delegates voting against popular common sense gun safety measures, opposing criminal justice reform, and rejecting marijuana legalization. With Republican attorneys general across the country aiding the GOP’s voter suppression efforts and advancing Trump’s big lie, the stakes of this year’s elections couldn’t be clearer to Virginia voters.

Delegate Jay Jones:

“I want to congratulate Attorney General Herring, Terry McAuliffe, and Delegate Hala Ayala on their victories tonight. I look forward to working relentlessly with Democrats throughout the Commonwealth to beat Republicans up and down the ballot this November. “Tonight’s result is disappointing, but we will not let it deter us from continuing the fight to bring true reform to Virginia. We must elect leaders who will be proactive, not reactive and rise to meet this moment in our history. As we enter the new Virginia decade, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. I look forward to working in the House of Delegates to build on the progress we have made towards a Virginia that guarantees justice for every community.”