by Markus Schmidt
Virginia Mercury
In a nail-biter Democratic primary Tuesday, Jay Jones narrowly defeated Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor in the race for attorney general, setting up a November showdown with Republican incumbent Jason Miyares.
According to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections, Jones won 51% of the vote to Taylor’s 49%.
Jones, a former state delegate from Norfolk and one-time candidate for attorney general in 2021, returns to statewide politics with a renewed focus on consumer protection, corporate accountability, and civil rights.
“The Attorney General should work for the people, not the wealthiest corporations in our state,” Jones told The Mercury in a recent interview. “I will always fight to hold special interests accountable, encourage cleaner and more affordable energy practices, and protect families from unfair utility costs.”
With a razor-thin victory margin, the win marks a political comeback for Jones, who stepped away from elected office in 2021 following the birth of his first child. During his tenure in the House of Delegates, he helped pass legislation to expand Medicaid, raise teacher pay, defend abortion rights, and authored the “Ashanti Alert” law for missing adults — now used nationwide.
He also drew on his experience as an Assistant Attorney General in Washington, D.C., where he cracked down on slumlords, gun manufacturers and price-gouging corporations.
“As Attorney General, I’ll continue this fight and take on the corporate price gougers driving up costs for working families,” Jones said, citing the proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger as one example.
Jones, a descendant of enslaved Virginians and son of the late Judge Jerrauld C. Jones, grew up steeped in public service. His grandfather was a pioneering civil rights attorney and the first Black member of the State Board of Education.
In the crowded six-way Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, no winner had emerged by 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.
State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi of Richmond held a narrow lead with 27.39% of the vote (131,587 ballots), followed closely by former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney with 26.64% (127,973) and state Sen. Aaron Rouse of Virginia Beach with 26.34% (126,525). Trailing were Prince William School Board Chair Babur Lateef (8.41%), former Fairfax judge Alex Bastani (5.69%), and activist Victor Salgado (5.56%).
That contest is likely headed for a canvas and potential recount given the tight margins between the top three candidates.
Virginia’s Democratic ticket will come into sharper focus once the LG results are certified. But with Jones now locked in to challenge Miyares, voters can expect a high-profile battle this fall over criminal justice, consumer rights, and the future of abortion access.
With primaries now decided in all 100 of Virginia’s House of Delegates districts, voters on Tuesday finalized the matchups for what’s expected to be a high-stakes general election in November. Several races across the state emerged as especially competitive or revealing, offering a preview of the ideological and geographic battlegrounds that could determine control of the chamber.
House District 1
Del. Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, easily fended off a challenge in this safely blue district, winning 72.3% of the vote against Arjoon Srikanth (18.9%) and Sean Epstein (8.77%). Hope, a longtime delegate, has now secured his path to reelection in November in a district where no Republican has announced a bid.
House District 21
Gregory Gorham will be the Republican nominee in this highly competitive swing district, after winning a three-way primary with 66% of the vote. Gorham defeated Sahar Smith (27%) and Xanthe Larsen (6.6%). The district is currently held by Del. Josh Thomas, D-Prince William, and both parties are expected to invest heavily in the general election. Data center development has emerged as a flashpoint in the race, with Gorham promising stricter regulations and increased taxation.
House District 37
Del. Terry Austin, R-Botetourt, overcame a rare Republican primary challenge, defeating Austin Schwend with 63% to 37% of the vote. Austin’s win reinforces his standing heading into November, although Democrats are targeting the seat in hopes of flipping it in a competitive year.
House District 46
Grayson County Supervisor Mitchell Cornett clinched the Republican nomination with 54% of the vote over Adam Tolbert, a higher education administrator. Cornett now advances to face Democrat Jamie Ralston Hendry in November in a district that heavily favors Republicans. The seat opened after Del. Jed Arnold, R-Smyth, opted not to seek reelection, making this race a key one to watch in Southwest Virginia, though the GOP remains strongly favored to retain control.
House District 70
Republican Cynthia Scaturico cruised to victory in her primary against Hailey Louise Shupe-Dollar, winning 74% of the vote. She now faces incumbent Del. Shelly Simonds, D-Newport News, in a district with historic significance and a slight Democratic lean. Education policy and infrastructure are likely to dominate the campaign.
House District 72
Randolph Critzer Jr., a Richmond-based attorney, captured the Democratic nomination with 60% of the vote over educator Bilal Raychouni (40%). He will challenge veteran Republican Del. Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, who has held the seat for more than two decades. Democrats see the district as a potential pickup depending on turnout and suburban shifts.
House District 73
Leslie Mehta, a former congressional candidate, won the Democratic nomination decisively with 76.5% of the vote, with contender Justin Woodford taking 23.4%. Mehta now prepares to face incumbent Del. Mark Earley, R-Chesterfield, in a district that has trended conservative but remains on the edge of competitiveness. Her background in health policy and bipartisan messaging may help bridge the gap with swing voters.
House District 75
Lindsey Dougherty emerged from a crowded Democratic primary with 45.1% of the vote, beating Dustin Wade (32.7%) and Stephen Miller-Pitts (22.5%). She will go up against incumbent Republican Del. Carrie Coyner in a suburban seat that has seen growing Democratic interest.
House District 97
Former Delegate Tim Anderson staged a comeback by winning the Republican primary with 93% of the vote, defeating Christina Miriam Felder, who earned 6.7%. He will Del. Michael Feggans, D-Virginia Beach, in a general election race expected to draw significant statewide attention. Anderson’s platform focuses on public safety and rolling back what he views as excessive Democratic criminal justice reforms.
Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in the Virginia Mercury and is being republished here with permission.
