ICYMI: Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano Joins Virginians for Jay Jones as a Co-Chair

For Immediate Release

May 6, 2024

ICYMI: Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano Joins Virginians for Jay Jones as a Co-Chair

Descano will not seek the Democratic nomination for Attorney General in 2025, is throwing support behind Jones

Norfolk, VA — Today, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano joined Virginiansfor Jay Jones as a co-chair. After considering a run for Attorney General himself, Descano announced today in a video statement that he will not seek the Democratic nomination for Attorney General next year and will instead be supporting a Jay Jones candidacy.

“The stakes in this race couldn’t be higher. Attorney General Jason Miyares has used his office to advance an extreme, MAGA agenda that threatens the safety of all Virginians. Through his time in the General Assembly and as an attorney, Jay has been an advocate for abortion rights, gun safety, and other policies that defend justice and safety, and I know we can count on Jay to defend our most fundamental rights and move us forward,” said CA Steve Descano. “Jay Jonesis the leader we need as our next Attorney General and I hope you’ll join me in supporting him.”

Descano joins Virginians for Jay Jones co-chairs former Governor Ralph Northam, former First Lady Pam Northam, Senator Lashrecse Aird, Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg, Delegate Alex Askew, Delegate Paul Krizek, and former Delegate Jeff Bourne in spearheading this effort.

“Steve Descano is a tenacious public servant who has taken principled stands as Fairfax County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney to stop the proliferation of guns in communities and fiercely protect a woman’s right to an abortion,” said Virginians for Jay Jones co-chair, Senator Lashrecse Aird. “I’m thrilled that he is enthusiastically joining Virginians for Jay Jones to ensure we have an Attorney General who works for Virginians — and no one else.”

“I’m excited to welcome Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano as a co-chair for Virginians for Jay Jones,” said Virginians for Jay co-chair, Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg. “The overwhelming support from leaders across the Commonwealth makes clear that Jay Jones will be an Attorney General who can bring Virginians together, put an end to Jason Miryares’ MAGA extremism, and advance justice and equality for all.”

WATCH: Steve Descano Joins Virginians for Jay Jones as a Co-Chair

Transcript:

Descano: Hi everybody. This is Steve Descano, your Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Today, I’m announcing that I’ve decided not to seek the Democratic nomination for Attorney General next year. Instead, I am thrilled to announce that I will be joining Virginians for Jay Jonesas a co-chair.

I want to thank all those who have reached out encouraging me to run and ask you to join me in supporting Jay Jones for Attorney General.

The stakes in this race couldn’t be higher.

Even as we’ve worked at the county level to protect abortion rights and build a justice system where safety and justice go hand in hand, Attorney General Jason Miyares has used his office to advance an extreme, MAGA agenda.

Now is the time to elect a new Attorney General that will work for all Virginians. That Attorney General is Jay Jones.

I know we can count on Jay to defend our fundamental rights, keep Virginians safe, and move us forward.

Jay Jones is the leader we need for our next Attorney General and I hope you’ll join me in supporting him.

About Jay Jones

Jay Jones is an attorney at Hogan Lovells, a global law firm, where he focuses his practice on state Attorneys General work as well as regulatory and policy matters, including environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues. He is an accomplished litigator with extensive trial experience in state court. He served in the House of Delegates from 2018-2021 where he fought to expand Medicaid, increase the minimum wage, and raise teacher pay. Jay also championed legislation known as the “Ashanti Alert,” a bill to establish a missing persons alert for adults in the Commonwealth, which was used as the model for a bill that eventually became federal law.

After serving in the House, Jay served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, where he was a member of the Office of Consumer Protection. Jones lives in Norfolk with his wife Mavis and son.