Democracy for America endorses Jay Jones in VA Attorney General race
(Vermont) -- Democracy for America (DFA) endorses Jay Jones for Virginia Attorney General in the upcoming primary election on June 8, 2021 against three-term incumbent Mark Herring.
A lifelong resident of Virginia and current member of the House of Delegates, Jones has a deep and authentic relationship with the residents of Virginia and a track record of populist reforms necessary to bring about real change for Virginians.
Jones has fought to expand access to Medicaid, pushed for more robust environmental regulations, and championed the “Ashanti Alert,” an emergency broadcast alert for missing adults that became the federal model. In the state legislature, he has led the fight to end qualified immunity for law enforcement officers, end capital punishment, and create a Civil Rights Division in the Office of the Attorney General
“This is exactly the kind of bold, innovative leadership Virginians deserve on the critical issue of criminal justice reform. DFA is proud to endorse Jay for Attorney General as he championsf the foundational values our members support,” said Yvette Simpson, CEO, Democracy for America. “He will bring a lifetime of advocacy and a commitment to fair and just leadership to the Attorney General’s office.
“In addition to being extremely qualified for the position he will also bring a moral clarity to Virginia’s executive branch, which has invariably been riddled with scandals and unchecked white supremacy for too long. We look forward to helping him make history as first Black Attorney General in the Commonwealth of Virginia,”
“Democracy for America has been on the forefront of real and equitable justice reform, labor rights, and so many other progressive causes that are central to our campaign,” said Jay Jones, candidate for Virginia Attorney General. “I am honored to have received their vote of confidence and I will work hard to earn the vote of my fellow Virginians as I campaign across the state. I am eager to serve and bring the kind of leadership my constituents deserve as the chief law enforcement officer of the state.”
Jay Jones is Democracy for America’s second endorsed candidate in Virginia in the 2021 cycle. DFA also endorsed Jennifer Carroll Foy for Governor in December of 2020. Virginia was also a Democracy for America “Purple to Blue” state from 2013 when Democrats swept all statewide races, until both legislative chambers were flipped to Democratic control during the 2019 cycle.
DFA has 34,817 members in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and more than one million members nationwide.