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The debate in Richmond exploded into a full-blown referendum on judgment and public safety when Attorney General Jason Miyares unloaded on his Democratic opponent, Jay Jones, calling him a “criminal-first, victim-last” politician. Miyares attacked Jones’ record and character aggressively, arguing the Commonwealth needs an attorney general who defends victims and supports law enforcement rather than someone with a history of soft-on-crime votes and troubling behavior.
The controversy centers on violent text messages Jones sent in 2022, in which he fantasized about harming a Republican lawmaker — remarks he later apologized for during the debate but that still shocked voters and political observers. That apology mattered little to many who see the messages as revealing of temperament and fitness for the state’s top law-enforcement office, especially given the broader context of rising violent crime concerns.
Miyares did not stop at rhetoric; he pointed to Jones’ legislative record to make the case that Democrats in Richmond have prioritized leniency over victims. Miyares noted Jones voted against measures that would have imposed stiffer punishments, even characterizing a vote against a 60-day sentence for a repeat domestic abuser as proof of misplaced priorities.
Those criticisms are not baseless partisan attacks; data and reporting show real consequences when policy tilts toward early release and credit-for-time programs without accountability. Independent reporting highlighted recidivism statistics tied to earned sentence credits and raised legitimate questions about whether reforms have properly balanced rehabilitation with public safety and victims’ rights.
Meanwhile, many in the Democratic establishment have clung to Jones despite the scandal, exposing the party’s instinct to protect its own rather than demand accountability. Miyares’ campaign has seized on that disconnect with targeted messaging urging voters to separate from a nominee who appears more interested in political optics than in defending the innocent and backing police.
Jason Miyares has staked his tenure on a law-and-order identity, boasting programs he says reduced violent crime and positioning himself as Virginia’s “new sheriff” who will prioritize victims and law enforcement. For conservatives and concerned citizens alike, that narrative resonates: voters want prosecutors who will pursue criminals vigorously, not candidates whose judgment is in doubt.
At the end of the day this race is about competence and consequence. Virginians deserve an attorney general who respects the rule of law, protects victims, and stands with the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep communities safe — not a candidate whose words and votes leave citizens wondering who will be next.
