Jay Jones (politician) facts for kids

Jerrauld C. C. "Jay" Jones (born March 14, 1989) is an American politician and lawyer. He served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates for the 89th district. The House of Delegates is like a state-level parliament where laws are made. In 2020, Jones announced he would run for Attorney General of Virginia. This is a top legal job for the state. He lost the election in 2021. In December 2021, Jones left his role in the Virginia House of Delegates. He said he wanted to focus on his family. In 2024, he announced he would run for Attorney General again in 2025.

His Early Life and School

Jay Jones was born in Norfolk, Virginia. His father, Jerrauld Jones, was also a politician. His mother is Lyn M. Simmons. Jay comes from a family with a history of public service and education. His grandfather, Hilary H. Jones, Jr., was a lawyer and a civil rights leader in Norfolk. His grandmother, Corinne D. Jones, was a school teacher. His other grandparents, Charles and Margaret Simmons, were professors at universities.

Jay went to Norfolk Collegiate School and finished in 2006. After that, he studied at the College of William & Mary. He was a special scholar there. He earned degrees in government and history. While in college, Jay worked as an intern for a lawmaker named Paula Miller in 2009.

What He Did Before Politics

After college, Jay Jones worked in New York for two years. He was an associate at a company called Goldman Sachs. His job was to help manage financial risks for companies. He mostly worked with companies that dealt with natural resources and technology.

Then, he came back to Virginia. He earned his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2015. While studying law, he worked as an intern for Algie Howell. Today, Jay Jones is a practicing trial lawyer in Norfolk, Virginia. He also serves on several local boards in the Hampton Roads area. He is a lifelong member of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception church.

Serving in the Virginia House of Delegates

On February 13, 2017, Jay Jones announced he would run for the Virginia House of Delegates. He was running for the same seat his father had held from 1988 to 2002. On June 13, 2017, he won the primary election for the Democratic nomination. This meant he would be the Democratic candidate for the 89th district.

On November 7, 2017, he won the general election. He beat the Libertarian candidate, Terry Hurst. Jay Jones officially became a Delegate on January 10, 2018. He took over the seat from Daun Hester. In 2019, he ran for reelection and won without anyone running against him. During his second term, he joined the House Appropriations Committee. This committee helps decide how the state's money is spent.

In December 2021, Jay Jones announced he was leaving the Virginia House of Delegates. He and his wife were expecting their first child. A new election was held on January 11, 2022. Another Democrat, Jackie Glass, was elected to take his place.

Running for Attorney General

Jay Jones was a candidate in the Democratic primary for the 2021 Virginia Attorney General election. The Attorney General is the state's chief legal officer. This person acts as the state's lawyer and chief law enforcement officer. On June 8, 2021, Jay Jones lost the Democratic primary election. The current Attorney General, Mark Herring, won the primary.