Jason Miyares

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In May 2021, Miyares was nominated as the Republican candidate for Virginia Attorney General. He ran against Mark Herring, the incumbent Democratic attorney general, who sought a third term in the November 2021 general election. [16] [23] Miyares was selected at the Virginia Republican Party's "unassembled" convention, in which party delegates cast ranked-choice ballots at polling sites across the state. [23] Miyares defeated three other candidates: Leslie Haley, Chuck Smith, and Jack White. [23] In the final round, Miyares defeated Smith, a hard-right candidate, by a closer-than-expected margin of 52% to 48%. [24] [25]

During his campaign against Herring, Miyares emphasized crime issues. [16] He opposed proposals for the elimination of qualified immunity and declined to take a position on what he would do in the controversial police killing of Bijan Ghaisar. [16] In the November 2021 election, Miyares defeated Herring in a tight race, becoming the first Hispanic and Cuban American to be elected Attorney General of Virginia. [26] [27]

Tenure

Abortion

In January 2022, Miyares withdrew the Virginia AG Office's brief to the Supreme Court, submitted under his predecessor, supporting a challenge to Mississippi's abortion ban of restricting abortion to 15-weeks. [28]

On May 10, 2023, Miyares defended his decision to not join with 22 other Republican state attorneys general when they filed a lawsuit seeking to ban the abortion medication mifepristone, saying he supported the Food and Drug Administration's regulations. Miyares stated he believes in fostering compromise on abortion and supports a 15-week restriction on abortion with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. Miyares does not believe in prosecuting people for abortions with Yahoo! News writing that he has "sought to stake out a more moderate conservative position on the issue." [29]

COVID-19

In January 2022, Miyares issued an advisory opinion in which he concluded that Virginia's public colleges and universities lacked the power to require students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine before enrolling or taking in-person classes. Such advisory opinions are not binding, although at least two institutions (George Mason University and Virginia Tech) dropped their vaccine requirement after Miyares issued the opinion. [30] [31]

Elections

On February 10, 2022, Miyares' deputy attorney general for government operations and transactions resigned when it was reported that she had spread misinformation about the 2020 election and praised the 2021 United States Capitol attack; in her position, she would have overseen matters related to future elections in Virginia. Miyares himself has affirmed that Joe Biden was legitimately elected president and has condemned the attack on the United States Capitol. [32] [33]

On October 10, 2023, Miyares sent a cease-and-desist letter to a right-wing advocacy group over their misinformation pertaining to the 2023 Virginia elections. [34] Miyares stated, "Misinformation in our elections will not be tolerated in Virginia," and the group conformed to the letter. [34]

Environment

On September 13, 2023, Miyares announced an $80 million settlement with Monsanto to ameliorate "the environmental contamination in the Commonwealth, which was caused by Monsanto's distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)." [35] According to the settlement, the "funds will be directed toward restitution and remediation efforts... environmental studies, stream restoration projects, improvements to drinking water and wastewater systems, fisheries management, and land remediation efforts." [35]

Gun violence

In 2022, Miyares started a targeted violence intervention initiative, Operation Ceasefire, to crack down on gun violence through "rigorous prosecution and community prevention" in 13 cities. The initiative was lauded after its first year with Democratic Speaker of the House of Delegates Don Scott allocating $22 million to help fund it for the next two years after overall crime dropped in 12 of the 13 cities and violent crime dropped in 9 of the 13 cities. There were 225 fewer crimes in 2023 than 2022 in the targeted cities with Norfolk seeing a third as many homicides. [36] [37]

Policing

On September 7, 2023, Miyares reached a settlement with the Town of Windsor, in Isle of Wight County, over its alleged "discriminatory, unconstitutional policing" conduct. [38] Per the settlement, Windsor will have to "submit to an independent third-party review system for use-of-force complaints and other complaints of serious misconduct alleged against any officer." [38] The town police department will also have to "obtain accreditation from the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission, raising the bar on its internal investigation processes and officer training." [38] Jonathan Arthur, the attorney for Caron Nazario, a Black United States Army lieutenant, whose interaction with the Windsor police department prompted the investigation into its alleged discriminatory behavior, praised the settlement in an interview with WVEC. [38] Miyares said that "excessive use of force and violations of constitutional liberties will not be tolerated in Virginia." [38]

Staffing

Upon taking office in January 2022, Miyares fired 17 attorneys, and 13 other employees, in the Virginia AG's Office and the counsels for George Mason University (GMU) and the University of Virginia. [39] [40] [41] [42] After the firings, Miyares hired former Commonwealth's Attorney for Arlington County and Falls Church City Theodoulos Stamos, a moderate Democrat, to lead the conviction integrity unit. [43] [44]

Electoral history

Jason Miyares
Jason Miyares in November 2021.jpg
48th Attorney General of Virginia
Assumed office
January 15, 2022
DateElectionCandidatePartyVotes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 82nd district
November 3, 2015 [45] GeneralJason S. Miyares Republican 10,04665.19
William W. Fleming Democratic 5,33534.62
Write-ins290.19
Bill DeSteph ran for Senate; seat stayed Republican
DateElectionCandidatePartyVotes %
Virginia Attorney General
November 2, 2021 [46] GeneralJason S. Miyares Republican 1,647,10050.36
Mark R. Herring Democratic 1,620,56449.55
Write-ins2,9950.09

Personal life

Miyares and his wife, Page (Atkinson) Miyares, have three daughters and live in Virginia Beach, Virginia. [47] His father-in-law, John Atkinson, was formerly treasurer of Virginia Beach. [6] Miyares is a member of the Galilee Episcopal Church and a past President of the Cape Henry Rotary, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow. [4]

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References

  1. ↑ Gamboa, Suzanne. "Republican Jason Miyares makes history as Virginia's first Latino attorney general". www.nbcnews.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Official Legislative Profile".
  3. 1 2 Vozella, Laura (January 2, 2016). "Va. Republican challenges McAuliffe to meet with dissidents in Cuba". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Jason S. Miyares". Virginia Capitol Connections. Winter 2022. p. 5.
  5. ↑ McKinney, Matt (November 4, 2015). "Miyares wins Virginia House of Delegates 82nd District". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Matt McKinney, Miyares wins Virginia House of Delegates 82nd District, The Virginian-Pilot (November 4, 2014).
  7. ↑ Jenna Portnoy, How George Allen's chief of staff inspired legislation to make it easier for gay couples to raise children, Washington Post (February 26, 2019).
  8. ↑ Todd Allen Wilson, Hirschbiel calls for reform of Congress, pay cuts for lawmakers, Daily Press (July 11, 2012).
  9. ↑ Official election results. Virginia State Board of Elections
  10. ↑ Miyares wins GOP nod for attorney general, Inside NoVa (May 10, 2021).
  11. ↑ "HB5001". LIS Virginia. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  12. ↑ Laura Vozzella, Rubio announces more Virginia endorsements, Washington Post (February 2, 2016).
  13. ↑ Schneider, Gregory (February 1, 2017). "Richmond notebook: Rapt silence, then applause for a lawmaker with a critique of McAuliffe's Cuba outreach". The Washington Post.
  14. ↑ "STATEWIDE JEWISH COMMUNITY PRAISES THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR OVERWHELMINGLY PASSING H177, A FORCEFUL CONDEMNATION OF THE ANTI-ISRAEL BDS MOVEMENT" (PDF). JCRC. March 9, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 3, 2016.
  15. ↑ "LIS > Bill Tracking > HJ177 > 2016 session". lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Matthew Barakat, Herring seeks 3rd term as AG; Miyares stands in his way, Associated Press (October 12, 2021).
  17. ↑ Sarah Rankin and Denise Lavoie, Republican Virginia Attorney General Miyares defends staying out of abortion pill case, AP (May 10, 2023).
  18. ↑ Sarah Rankin, Virginia House joins Senate in voting to end death penalty, Associated Press (February 5, 2021).
  19. ↑ Denise Lavoie, Virginia, with 2nd-most executions, outlaws death penalty, Associated Press (March 24, 2021).
  20. ↑ Gregory S. Schneider, , Washington Post (March 8, 2020).
  21. ↑ "Virginia lawmakers working to pass bills making it tougher to sue over COVID-19 issues". WTKR. August 27, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  22. ↑ Laura Vozzella, Two Republicans running statewide in Virginia back Lee statue removal, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, Washington Post (September 9, 2020).
  23. 1 2 3 Virginia GOP announces AG nominee; vote-counting to continue, Associated Press (May 9, 2021).
  24. ↑ Candidate seeks recount in Virginia attorney general race, Associated Press (May 10, 2021).
  25. ↑ Mel Leonor, Del. Jason Miyares edges Chuck Smith to win GOP nomination for attorney general, Richmond Times-Dispatch (May 10, 2021).
  26. ↑ Nate Raymond, Republican Miyares defeats Herring in Virginia attorney general race, Reuters (November 3, 2021)
  27. ↑ Miyares defeats Herring in tight race for Virginia attorney general, Daily Press (November 3, 2021).
  28. ↑ North, Emma (January 22, 2022). "Attorney General Miyares: Virginia no longer opposes 15-week abortion ban". WRIC ABC 8News. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  29. ↑ Rankin, Sarah; Lavoie, Denise (May 10, 2023). "Republican Virginia Attorney General Miyares defends staying out of abortion pill case". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  30. ↑ Justin Jouvenal, Lauren Lumpkin and Hannah Natanson, Virginia's public colleges and universities can't require coronavirus vaccine, new GOP attorney general finds, Washington Post (January 28, 2021).
  31. ↑ Sands, Tim (January 31, 2022). "From President Tim Sands: Changes in vaccine mandate, plans for successful semester". news.vt.edu. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Deputy Va. attorney general resigns after revelation of Facebook posts praising Jan. 6 rioters, claiming Trump won election". The Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  33. ↑ Jiménez, Jesus; Chung, Christine (February 11, 2022). "Praise for Jan. 6 Costs Virginia Deputy Attorney General Her Job". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  34. 1 2 Ben Peters, Virginia attorney general orders right-wing group to halt voting misinformation campaign, InsideNoVa (October 10, 2023)
  35. 1 2 Hercyk, Ezra (September 13, 2023). "Virginia Attorney General secures $80M from Monsanto for distribution of toxic chemicals". WJLA. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  36. ↑ Payne, Raven (March 20, 2024). "Attorney General Miyares discusses crime reduction rates in Ceasefire Cities". Yahoo! News . Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  37. ↑ Blair, Tannock (March 21, 2024). "Miyares credits Operation Ceasefire with decrease in murder, other crimes across Virginia". WRIC-TV . Nexstar Media Group . Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 Steger, Preston (September 7, 2023). "Virginia AG Miyares, Town of Windsor resolve lawsuit alleging 'pattern of discriminatory policing'". 13newsnow.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  39. ↑ Patrick Wilson, Miyares fires 30 in AG's office, including lawyer investigating dangerous conditions at Richmond apartments, Richmond Times-Dispatch (January 14, 2022).
  40. ↑ Patrick Wilson, Partisan debate erupts in Va. Senate over Miyares' firing of 30 in AG's office, Richmond Times-Dispatch (January 18, 2022).
  41. ↑ Goncalves, Delia (January 21, 2022). "Miyares' 'backup plan' would give concurrent jurisdiction to AG's office, allowing police and sheriff to bypass local prosecutor's office". wusa9.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  42. ↑ Justin Jouvenal and Lauren Lumpkin, Va.'s new attorney general fires U-Va. counsel who was on leave working as top investigator for Jan. 6 panel, Washington Post (January 23, 2021).
  43. ↑ Justin Jouvenal, Miyares plans to be ‘new sheriff in town’ as Virginia attorney general, The Washington Post (January 19, 2022).
  44. ↑ C.J. Ciaramella, New Virginia Attorney General Fires Entire Conviction Integrity Unit, Reason (January 21, 2022).
  45. ↑ "November 2015 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  46. ↑ "November 2021 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections.
  47. ↑ "Del. Jason Miyares running for Va. attorney general in 2021". WAVY.com. December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
Virginia House of Delegates
Preceded by Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 82nd district
2016–2022		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Attorney General of Virginia
2021 		Most recent
Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of Virginia
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