See below for information from the Mark Herring for Attorney General campaign, in advance of the Virginia State Bar’s Attorney General’s debate this afternoon, between Democrat Mark Herring and right-wing Republican Jason Miyares. The debate takes place from 1:30 to 2:30 pm….not sure if it’s being broadcast publicly or not, but I’m planning to watch it.
During this afternoon’s attorney general [Virginia State Bar] debate, Virginia voters will get their first look at the stark difference between Mark Herring’s record of fighting to protect and expand the rights of Virginians, and the extreme conservative positions that will make Republican candidate Jason Miyares an unacceptable choice for Virginia voters.
After a strange, secretive Republican convention in which Miyares barely secured the nomination after multiple ballots, he now heads into the general election dragging an undeniably Trumpy record that will be a two-ton anchor on his campaign.
Jason Miyares is wildly out of step with Virginians on the issues that matter most—our safety, our healthcare, and our right to be treated equally.
JASON MIYARES CHOOSES THE GUN LOBBY OVER VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE
Jason Miyares brags that he is “proud to receive an A rating from the NRA” and that his “record comes not from a questionnaire, but from a lifetime voting record of supporting your 2nd amendment rights.” (Twitter, 04/21/21)
The gun extremists at the Virginia Citizens Defense League describe Miyares as “very pro-gun” and he received a 100% pro-gun rating from the group in four of the last five years. (VCDL Convention Rating; Voting Records)
Jason Miyares voted against every significant piece of gun violence prevention legislation, including:
- Expanded background checks. (SB 70, 2020, and HB 2, 2020)
- One handgun a month. (HB 812, 2020, and SB 69, 2020)
- The “red flag” or extreme risk protective order. (SB 240, 2020, and HB 674, 2020)
- Ban on guns on school property. (HB 1909, 2021)
- Ban on untraceable ghost guns. (HB 2276, 2021)
JASON MIYARES OPPOSES PROTECTING LGBTQ VIRGINIANS FROM VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION
Jason Miyares voted against:
- Protecting LGBTQ Virginians from employment and housing discrimination. If Jason Miyares had his way, it would still be legal to fire someone or refuse them housing because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. (HB 1049, 2020, and HB 1663, 2020)
- Adding protections for LGBTQ Virginians to Virginia’s hate crime statutes. (HB 618, 2020, and HB 276, 2020)
- Enshrining marriage equality in Virginia law. (HJ 582, 2021, and SJ 270, 2021)
- Banning the “gay panic defense” and dangerous youth “conversion therapy.” (HB 2132, 2021, and HB 386, 2020)
- Establishing an LGBTQ+ Advisory Board. (HB 2130, 2021)
JASON MIYARES IS A THREAT TO VIRGINIANS’ HEALTHCARE
Jason Miyares voted against:
- Expanding Medicaid, which has provided 500,000 Virginians with access to healthcare. (HB 5002, 2018, and Virginia Business, 12/30/20)
- Creating a state health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act. (SB 732, 2020)
JASON MIYARES OPPOSES WOMEN’S EQUALITY AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
Jason Miyares voted against:
- Ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment. (HJ 1, 2020)
- The Reproductive Health Protection Act, which repealed medically unnecessary “TRAP regulations” designed to restrict abortion. (HB 980, 2020, and SB 733, 2020)
JASON MIYARES SUPPORTS RESTRICTIVE VOTING LAWS, JUST LIKE HIS “BIG LIE” ALLIES
Just like his Big Lie allies Ted Cruz and Glenn Younkin, Jason Miyares wants as few people as possible to vote.
Miyares voted against:
- The Virginia Voting Rights Act. (SB 1395, 2021)
- No-excuse absentee voting. (HB 1, 2020)
- Ballot drop boxes and pre-paid postage for vote-by-mail. (HB 1888, 2021)
- Same-day voter registration. (HB 201, 2020)
- Automatic restoration of rights for people who have served their time. (SJ 272, 2021)
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