Jay Jones (politician)


Jerrauld "Jay" Jones is an American politician. He is the Delegate for the 89th District of the Virginia House of Delegates and is currently an attorney at Bischoff Martingayle, P.C. in Norfolk, Virginia. In July 2020, Jones announced he is running for Attorney General of Virginia in the 2021 state elections.

Early life, education, and family

Jay Jones was born in Norfolk to Jerrauld Jones and Lyn M. Simmons. He is the grandson of Hilary H. Jones, Jr. and Corinne D. Jones and Charles and Margaret Simmons, who were tenured professors at Norfolk State University and Hampton University, respectively.
He attended Norfolk Collegiate School and graduated in 2006. Jones then went on to attend the College of William & Mary as a William & Mary Scholar. He was a double major in Government and History. During college, Jones served as a legislative intern with Del. Paula Miller in 2009.
After college, Jones spent two years in New York as an associate with Goldman Sachs where he focused on risk management and credit rating advisory, focusing on natural resources and technology companies. He then returned to Virginia and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2015. While in law school, Jones interned in the office of Del. Algie Howell.
Jones serves on several boards in Hampton Roads, and is a lifelong member of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception.
He is a partner with the law firm of Bischoff Martingayle P.C.

Political career

On February 13, 2017, Jones announced his candidacy for the Virginia House of Delegates, running for the same seat his father held from 1988–2002. On June 13, 2017, Jones won a contested Democratic primary to become the Democratic nominee for Virginia's 89th District. On November 7, 2017, he defeated Libertarian candidate, Terry Hurst, to become the Delegate-elect for the 89th District and sworn in on January 10, 2018. He succeeded Daun Hester. Jones ran for reelection unopposed in the 2019 election cycle.
In September 2019, Jones endorsed Cory Booker for President in the 2020 Democratic Primary.
Jones was appointed to the House Appropriations Committee at the beginning of his second term.
Jones is currently a candidate in the Democratic primary for the 2021 Virginia Attorney General election.

Electoral history