Republican Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares expressed optimism about a future Trump administration, expecting it to bring “a lot more common sense” to Washington, D.C. With Donald Trump set to take office in January, Miyares anticipates that the new administration will work to eliminate some of the heavy regulations that have affected many Americans over the previous four years.
Miyares pointed out specific issues he believes need addressing, such as the OSHA vaccine mandate and the interpretation of Title IX, which he argues has allowed biological boys to compete on women’s sports teams. “I think we’ll see a shift towards more sensible policies under the new administration,” he said.
Looking ahead, Miyares is eager to see how the new Republican administration will unfold. He noted that Trump and his team have already begun making various Cabinet nominations, including the appointment of Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as a contender for Attorney General. While Miyares did not specifically comment on this nomination, he conveyed his enthusiasm for collaborating with the new Attorney General.
Miyares stated, “We’re going to work with the attorney general and look forward to a change from the more extreme left ideologies that have been prominent under the Biden administration.”
Recently, Miyares made headlines by appealing a lower court’s decision that required Virginia to restore nearly 1,600 potential noncitizens to its voter rolls ahead of the upcoming elections. Along with Governor Glenn Youngkin, he maintained that their process for removing these individuals was in line with both state and federal law.
As Miyares approaches re-election in 2025, he faces competition from Democratic candidates such as former state delegate Jay Jones and Henrico County Attorney Shannon Taylor, both of whom have criticized Gaetz’s nomination on social media.
Jones pledged to fight against what he views as overreach, stating, “When I’m Virginia’s next Attorney General, I will challenge Matt Gaetz’s actions in court to hold this administration accountable for Virginia families.” Taylor echoed this sentiment, urging Miyares to oppose Gaetz’s nomination and advocate for a candidate without ongoing ethics investigations.
Trump added to the conversation by announcing Gaetz’s nomination via a post, praising him for his focus on necessary reforms within the Department of Justice. In response, Gaetz expressed his eagerness to accept this role, stating, “It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General!”
As discussions continue regarding Gaetz’s appointment, some Republicans express concerns, especially given past investigations related to his conduct, although no charges were filed.
