For Immediate Release
May 20, 2025
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AFGE, The Largest Federal Employee Union In The Nation, Endorses Jay Jones for Virginia Attorney General
As Trump attacks federal workers, Jones, a former AFGE member, pledges to fight back
Norfolk, VA — The American Federation of Government Employees today announced its endorsement of Jay Jones for Virginia attorney general in the statewide leadership elections taking place Nov. 4.
As a former dues-paying member of AFGE Local 1403, Jay knows firsthand the importance of protecting the rights and duties of the nonpartisan civil servants who make this country work.
Throughout his campaign, Jay has used his platform to oppose anti-worker policies and to engage with impacted federal workers across the state. In commitment to AFGE and other unions across the state, Jay has committed to “use every tool at [his] disposal to oppose any attempt to deny, infringe upon, or diminish the collective bargaining rights of federal and D.C. government employees who are Virginia residents.”
“Jay Jones comes out of my AFGE region. He is one of us,” said AFGE District 14 National Vice President Ottis Johnson Jr. “It’s time to put one of our own in the AG’s seat so that we can stand united, together, against the forces of Trump and Musk and all of those who are attempting to cut, privatize, and demean an effective civil service.”
“The members of AFGE District 4 are not going to be satisfied with more of the same from our elected officials,” said AFGE District 4 National Vice President Christine Surrette. “We are in a moment of crisis for AFGE and the entire labor movement, and our elected officials need to act like it. We need pro-labor champions in AG offices across the country, and we are going to make sure that we deliver that right here in Virginia.”
“Federal employees are hardworking members of our community – with families and bills to pay,” said Jay Jones. “Donald Trump and Elon Musk are illegally robbing Virginians in the federal workforce of their livelihoods and our current Attorney General is just standing by. As a former dues-paying AFGE member, I know how these attacks impact everyday families. All workers deserve equal protection under the law, and I will fight for them every day.”
During the 2023 nonfederal elections in Virginia, AFGE successfully mobilized more than 200 volunteer shifts in door-to-door and phone banking operations for endorsed candidates and was the top AFL-CIO affiliate in the state for total volunteer phone bank shifts.
About AFGE
More than 144,000 federal employees live in Virginia – caring for veterans, supporting the military, keeping our skies safe, and getting Social Security recipients their benefits accurately and on time.
AFGE represents nearly 46,000 federal employees in District 4, which includes Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; and more than 75,000 federal and D.C. government employees in District 14, which includes D.C. and the surrounding suburbs in Maryland and Virginia, plus Europe.