This is the Virginia Scope daily newsletter covering Virginia politics from top to bottom. Please consider becoming the ultimate political insider by supporting non-partisan, independent news and becoming a paid subscriber to this newsletter today.
124,491 people voted early in person in the 2021 Democratic primary. There was a Democratic gubernatorial primary that year. There is not this year.
Democrats to choose their AG nominee tomorrow
Democratic attorney general candidates Jay Jones and Shannon Taylor made closing arguments ahead of Virginia’s June 17 primary, while scrutiny of Taylor’s campaign funding intensified.
Jones, a former state delegate from Norfolk and ex‑assistant attorney general of D.C., said his legislative and consumer‑protection experience makes him best suited to challenge Republican incumbent Jason Miyares this November.
Taylor, Henrico’s commonwealth’s attorney since 2012, emphasized her record as a prosecutor.
Both Democrats have criticized Miyares for not standing up to President Trump, citing his refusal to join lawsuits defending federal workers and challenging executive policies.
The race took a turn in the final week over campaign finances. Dominion Energy has contributed $800,000 directly to Taylor’s campaign — including $150,000 last Friday.
Clean Virginia, backing Jones, decried the contributions, warning that “no one taking $800,000 from Dominion Energy can credibly claim to represent the public interest.”
Clean Virginia attacked Taylor last week for the money she had already received by running a statewide TV ad.
Clean Virginia gave Jones’ campaign $400,000 this cycle.
Meanwhile, 14 current and former elected officials, along with a U.S. representative, urged Taylor to recuse herself from any Dominion‑related legal matters if elected — noting the “unprecedented campaign contributions… totaling approximately $650,000” already on record.
Taylor’s campaign countered by citing other Democratic officials, like Speaker Don Scott, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, and state Sen. Louise Lucas, who receive Dominion support, without addressing specific recusal plans.
Miyares’ office to defend Earle-Sears in case with Stanfield
Josh Stanfield’s ethics lawsuit against Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is moving forward. Stanfield filed the lawsuit after Earle-Sears fail to disclose multiple trips paid for by outside organizations on her required financial disclosure forms.
Last week, Assistant Attorney General R. Cooper Vaughan informed me that he’ll be representing Earle-Sears in my case. Those of you who follow FOIA litigation closely in Virginia might remember Mr. Vaughan, as he successfully argued against Jay Jones and others (representing the Virginia State Conference NAACP) that certain voting rights restoration records were Governor Glenn Youngkin’s (R) “working papers” and thus exempt from disclosure.
Now that it’s clear Attorney General Jason Miyares' Office is representing Earle-Sears, I’m trying to find out if the AG’s Office has investigated this matter yet independently of my lawsuit. Remember, Va. Code § 2.2-3126(A)(1) states in part that the AG:
…shall investigate matters that come to his attention reflecting possible violations of the provisions of this chapter by officers and employees serving at the state level of government;
If he determines that there is a reasonable basis to conclude that any officer or employee serving at the state level of government has knowingly violated any provision of this chapter, he shall designate an attorney for the Commonwealth who shall have complete and independent discretion in the prosecution of such officer or employee…
This is the Virginia Scope daily newsletter covering Virginia politics from top to bottom. Please consider becoming the ultimate political insider by supporting non-partisan, independent news and becoming a paid subscriber to this newsletter today.
