19 Virginia sheriffs endorse Miyares over Democrat Jones in lawyer common race

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FIRST ON FOX: A bunch of 19 Virginia sheriffs has thrown their political weight behind incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares after Democrats nominated former Virginia state Del. Jay Jones to problem him in November.

"The selection is evident. The choice is ours," the group of Virginia sheriffs stated in a letter to their colleagues simply days after the first.

The sheriffs praised Miyares' "dedication to Virginia’s regulation enforcement group and first responders" and urged their fellow Virginia sheriffs to coalesce behind the incumbent lawyer common for re-election.

Jones, a former assistant lawyer common, has centered his marketing campaign on defending Virginia from President Donald Trump's administration. In a letter to the sheriffs of Virginia, the group of 19 sheriffs body Jones' coverage platform as anti-law enforcement.

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Virginia Legal professional Normal Jason Miyares speaks throughout an interview in Richmond, Could 9, 2023. (AP Picture/Ryan M. Kelly, File)

"Jay Jones has been an outspoken advocate of the numerous instruments weaponized to weaken Virginia’s regulation enforcement group, changing prosecutors with social staff, who put criminals first and victims lifeless final. The litany of laws aimed not at criminals however at regulation enforcement is not only a failure of coverage, however a coverage designed to fail Virginia households," the sheriffs stated.

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They touted the "large progress Virginia’s regulation enforcement professionals have achieved during the last 4 years," because the sheriffs urged their colleagues to stop Jones from returning a "tidal wave of lawlessness, violence, and illicit drug exercise."

"We ask that you simply be part of so many people within the regulation enforcement group in standing united in our assist of Legal professional Normal Jason Miyares and ask every single member of Virginia regulation enforcement group to remind our pals, households, and native communities to recollect the distinction 4 years makes. We can't return to 4 extra years of lawlessness, violence, and resistance to the women and men who serve," the sheriffs stated.

Within the letter, the sheriffs outlined laws supported by Jones they are saying is "designed to fail Virginia households."

These insurance policies embrace investigating regulation enforcement for "sample and follow" violations, inflicting "direct hurt to Virginians" via Enhanced Earned Sentencing Credit (EESC), eliminating cashless bail and supporting certified immunity, which they stated would make it simpler to sue cops for civil rights violations.

In addition they detailed Jones' assist for eliminating necessary minimal sentencing for promoting medicine to minors in faculties and college useful resource officers (SROs), which they stated makes faculties extra harmful.

The letter was signed by Virginia Sheriffs Kyle M. Moore, William Kidd Jr., Travis M. Sumption, Richard A. Vaughan, Hank Partin, Robert Richardson, Whit W. Clark III, Darrell L. Hodges, Wayne Davis, Bryan Hutcheson, Mike Miller, Kevin Kemp, Jeremy Flemming, Donald Lowe, Brian Hieatt, Brian Okay. Roberts, Jayson Crawley, Jeremy A. Falls and Donald T. Sloan.

Law enforcement officials are on the scene after a lethal taking pictures of two fellow officers on Feb. 22, 2025 in Virginia Seashore, Virginia. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot by way of AP)

Virginia is one in every of two states holding statewide elections this 12 months, and the election outcomes can be used as a bellwether forward of the aggressive 2026 midterm elections.

On the marketing campaign path, Jones has applauded how attorneys common have sued the Trump administration to unlock federal funding and reject govt overreach, "however right here in Virginia, MAGA extremist Legal professional Normal Jason Miyares has put politics first and refused to affix within the effort to defend in opposition to unconstitutional and un-American Trump insurance policies."

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"Virginia wants leaders who will put Virginia first. Who will stand as much as the highly effective company particular pursuits. Who will rise up for the rule of regulation. Who will maintain us secure. And that’s precisely what I'll do as your lawyer common," Jones stated after securing the Democratic nomination for lawyer common final week.