Attorney General Candidate Jay Jones Campaigns on Reform, Built Career Defending Corporations

The Democrat AG candidate’s stump speeches talk about the working poor, but his client list is a who’s who of corporate industry.

Published July 21, 2025

Democrat Attorney General candidate Jay Jones talks about the working poor but his career has been primarily defending big business and his campaign is funded by big donors.

In 2021 Jones gave up his legislative seat for an unsuccessful run for Attorney General.

I’m focused on protecting Virginia families, keeping them safe, and the freedoms they deserve under the law,” said Jones in an early interview with The Washington Post.

On the trail and on his website Jones has discussed housing costs, “holding corporate rule breakers accountable” and other kitchen table issues but an examination into his legal career by Virginia Red News shows a history of defending “corporate rule breakers,” often at the expense of the individual.

🚨SHOCKING: More than HALF of violent criminals released early,(under a DEM supported policy) have victimized other innocent people.

That’s an example of a policy that has FAILED.

But Jay Jones wants to double down. @JasonMiyaresVA is taking the sensible approach and saying… pic.twitter.com/BpMNot7WPj
— Rally Virginia (@Rally_Virginia) July 10, 2025

From an internship at Goldman Sachs to a career at so-called “Big Law,” Jones’ legal work focused on protecting big businesses against discrimination cases, wrongful death claims, and defended online tracking of users.

In Swartz V. ESPN Inc. (2022) Jones tactics against privacy advocates were sanctioned by the court for violating civil practice. Jones has also represented Starbucks and other corporations to avoid civil liability.

From privacy advocates to the National Consumers League and small pro se defendants, Jones list of legal opponents includes the very people he says he will represent as AG.

.@JasonMiyaresVA lays out the disastrous consequences of Democrats’ radical early release program.

53 murderers and the rape of an 11 year old girl by criminals who should have NEVER been let out early – and that’s likely just “the tip of the iceberg.”

Jay Jones wants more…
— Virginia GOP (@VA_GOP) July 16, 2025

When it comes to campaign finance, Jones’s records tell a similar story.

Jones has raised nearly $5 million and sits on $1.2 million cash on hand.

The Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA) announced they would invest $1 million into his campaign shortly after the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) announced a $400,000 cash dump into competitive legislative seats.

The Jones campaign received a boost from large donors. At least 75 individuals have donated $10,000 or more each to his campaign. Of the $5 million Jones has raised, $320,000 is donations from plaintiff’s attorneys, including $100,000 from the wife of the former President of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.

“Jay Jones is running a campaign to defend democracy and fight for Virginia families, and we are confident he will deliver for the commonwealth as the next attorney general,” said DAGA President Sean Rankin.

“Jones says that his career has been devoted to ‘helping and protecting people,” says an in-depth report from Red Virginia News. “Evidence paints a picture of a legislator and lawyer who always sides with the powerful. Jones has built a successful career by protecting the powerful.”