2017 Virginia Attorney General election

The Virginia Attorney General election of 2017 was held on November 7, 2017. The incumbent attorney general, Democrat Mark Herring, was expected to run for governor, but announced he would run for re-election instead.[1] As only Herring and Republican John Adams qualified for their respective party primaries, the two automatically became their parties' nominees. In the general election, Herring defeated Adams to win a second term as Attorney General of Virginia.

2017 Virginia Attorney General election

November 7, 2017 (2017-11-07)

Nominee Mark Herring John Adams Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,385,389 1,209,339 Percentage 53.3% 46.6%

County and independent city results Herring:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Adams:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Attorney General before election Mark Herring Democratic Elected Attorney General Mark Herring Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mark Herring, incumbent Attorney General[1]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John Adams, navy veteran, McGuire Woods partner, former law clerk for Clarence Thomas; former Assistant United States Attorney and White House aide[2][3][4]

Failed to Qualify

• Chuck Smith, former chair of the Republican Party of Virginia Beach, candidate for VA-03 and candidate for Virginia Beach City Council[2][5]

Withdrawn

• Rob Bell, state delegate and candidate in 2013[6][7]

Declined

• Bill Stanley, state senator[6][8]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	John Adams	Rob Bell	Chuck Smith	Undecided
Public Opinion Strategies	September 18–21, 2016	800	± 3.46%	11%	16%	3%	69%

General election

Candidates

• Democratic nominee: Mark Herring, incumbent attorney general
• Republican nominee: John Adams

Endorsements

John Adams (R)

Federal Officials Sean Spicer, former White House Press Secretary[9] Mike Lee, U.S. Senator from Utah[10] John Warner, Former U.S. Senator from Virginia[11] Tom Cotton, U.S. Senator from Arkansas[12] Tim Scott, U.S. Senator from South Carolina[13] National Figures Morton Blackwell, RNC National Committeeman[14] Kathy Hayden, former RNC National Committeewoman[15] State Officials Siobhan Dunnavant. State Senator[16] Mark Obenshain, State Senator, and candidate for Attorney General in 2013[17] Ben Cline, State Delegate 24th district[18] Dave Larock, State Delegate 33rd district Nick Freitas, State Delegate 30th district[19] Roxann Robinson, State Delegate 27th district William Howell, Speaker of the House of Delegates Tommy Norment, State Senate Majority Leader Dick Black, state senator Amanda Chase, state senator Glen Sturtevant, state senator Terry Austin, state delegate Dickey Bell, state delegate Chris Head, state delegate Terry Kilgore, state delegate Scott Lingamfelter, state delegate Manoli Loupassi, state delegate Jason Miyares, state delegate Chris Peace, state delegate Chris Stolle, state delegate Lee Ware, state delegate Javaid Siddiqi, former Virginia Secretary of Education[20] Ken Blackwell, former Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, 43rd Ohio State Treasurer, 51st Ohio Secretary of State[21] Nicole Price, former Commonwealth's Attorney for Washington County[22] Vince Donoghue, Commonwealth's Attorney for Essex County[23] Tim Martin, Commonwealth's Attorney for Augusta County[23] Local Officials Bill Campbell, Madison County Supervisor Wayne Hazzard, Hanover County Supervisor Bob Martin, Carroll County Supervisor Cindy Hall, Appomattox County School Board Member John Erbach, Chesterfield County School Board Member Rick Boyer, former member of the Board of Supervisors for Campbell County, Virginia[24] Sheriffs Sheriff J.E. "Chip" Harding, Albemarle County[25] Sheriff Karl Leonard, Chesterfield County Sheriff Mike Wade, Henrico County Sheriff Michael J. Brown, Bedford County Sheriff Ronald N. Sprinkle, Botetourt County Sheriff Brian K. Roberts, Brunswick County Sheriff C. Ray Foster, Buchanan County Sheriff W.G. "Billy" Kidd, Jr., Buckingham County Sheriff Steve A. Hutcherson, Campbell County Sheriff John B. "J.B." Gardner, Carroll County Sheriff Jim O'Sullivan, Chesapeake City Sheriff Karl S. Leonard, Chesterfield County Sheriff Scott H. Jenkins, Culpeper County Sheriff Bobby G. Hammons, Dickenson County Sheriff Robert P. "Bob" Mosier, Fauquier County Sheriff Brian J. Craig, Floyd County Sheriff Darrell W. Warren, Jr., Gloucester County Sheriff Richard A. Vaughan, Grayson County Sheriff Steven S. Smith, Greene County Sheriff David R. Hines, Hanover County Sheriff Michael L. Wade, Henrico County Sheriff Robert J. Deeds, James City County/Williamsburg City Sheriff Steve F. Dempsey, King George County (I) Sheriff J.S. "Jeff" Walton, King William County Sheriff Patrick McCranie, Lancaster County Sheriff Gary B. Parsons, Lee County Sheriff Michael L. Chapman, Loudoun County Sheriff Donald T. Sloan, Lynchburg City Sheriff L. Mark Barrick, Mathews County Sheriff R.W. "Bobby" Hawkins, Jr., Mecklenburg County Sheriff David P. Bushey, Middlesex County Sheriff C.H. "Hank" Partin, Montgomery County Sheriff James R. "Doc" Lyons, Northumberland County Sheriff Michael W. "Mike" Taylor, Pittsylvania County Sheriff Brad W. Nunnally, Powhatan County Sheriff Glendell Hill, Prince William County Sheriff Mark R. Armentrout, Radford City Sheriff J. Eric Orange, Roanoke County Sheriff Bryan F. Hutcheson, Rockingham County Sheriff Timothy C. Carter, Shenandoah County Sheriff J.B. "Jack" Stutts, Southampton County Sheriff David P. "DP" Decatur, Jr., Stafford County Sheriff Matt Robertson, Staunton City Sheriff Kenneth W. Stolle, Virginia Beach City Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron, Warren County Sheriff Joe Harris, Jr., Waynesboro City Sheriff Les R. Taylor, Winchester City Sheriff Ronnie Oakes, Wise County Sheriff W. Keith Dunagan, Wythe County Sheriff J.D. "Danny" Diggs, York County/Poquoson City Individuals Carly Fiorina, businesswoman [26] Rick Buchanan, Chair of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation[27] Don Blake, Chairman and President of Virginia Christian Alliance[28] Organizations Constitution Party of Virginia[29] Virginia Police Benevolent Association[30] National Rifle Association[31] National Federation of Independent Businesses[32] Virginia Farm Bureau[33] Tea Party Nation[34] Virginia Fraternal Order of Police[35] Susan B. Anthony List[36] Republican Attorneys General Association[37] Virginia Society for Human Life[38] Newspapers Chatham Star-Tribune[39] Harrisonburg Daily News Record[40] Richmond Times-Dispatch[41] The Winchester Star[42] The Free Lance–Star[43]

Mark Herring (D)

Federal Officials Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State and 2016 presidential nominee[44] Kamala Harris, U.S. Senator from California and former California Attorney General[45] Mark Warner, U.S. Senator from Virginia[46] Tim Kaine, U.S. Senator from Virginia[47] Don Beyer, U.S. Representative from Virginia[48] Tom Perriello, former U.S. Representative from Virginia[49] State officials Terry McAuliffe, Governor of Virginia[50] Ralph Northam, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and 2017 nominee for Governor of Virginia[51] Justin Fairfax, 2017 nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia[52] Howard Dean, former Governor of Vermont[53] Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington, D.C.[54] Jaime Harrison, Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party[55] Alison Lundergan Grimes, Secretary of State of Kentucky[56] Sheriffs Sheriff Timothy A. Allen, Roanoke City Sheriff H. E. "Bucky" Allin, III, Prince George County Sheriff Mark A. Amos, Orange County Sheriff Beth Arthur, Arlington County Sheriff C. O. Balderson, Westmoreland County Sheriff Joe Baron, Norfolk Sheriff S. Stephen Bittle, Falls Church Sheriff Christopher Blalock, Rockbridge County Sheriff Sam C. Brown, Emporia Sheriff James E. Brown, III, Charlottesville Sheriff John R. Charboneau, King and Queen County Sheriff Vanessa R. Crawford, Petersburg Sheriff Steve M. Draper, Martinsville Sheriff Steven L. Dye, Russell County Sheriff Kevin Hall, Alleghany County Sheriff W. Randolph Hamilton, Jr., Buena Vista Sheriff Roger L. Harris, Spotsylvania County Sheriff Paul Higgs, Fredericksburg Sheriff Darrell L. Hodges, Cumberland County Sheriff William T. "Tim" Jarratt, Jr., Greensville County Sheriff Thomas D. Jones, Charlotte County Sheriff Alan M. Jones, Sr, Charles City County Sheriff Stacey A. Kincaid, Fairfax County Sheriff Dana A. Lawhorne, Alexandria Sheriff A. A. "Tony" Lippa, Caroline County Sheriff Mark A. Marshall, Isle of Wight County Sheriff L. W. "Lenny" Millholland, Frederick County Sheriff Michael Mondul, Danville Sheriff Gabe A. Morgan, Newport News Sheriff David Neil, Highland County Sheriff Fred P. Newman, Washington County Sheriff W. Q. "Bill" Overton, Jr., Franklin County Sheriff W. John Puckett, Scott County Sheriff Wesley W. Reed, Prince Edward County Sheriff B. J. Roberts, Hampton Sheriff Anthony W. "Tony" Roper, Clarke County Sheriff B. C. "Chip" Shuler, Smyth County Sheriff Stephan B. Smith, Richmond County Sheriff Arthur Townsend Jr., Lunenburg County Sheriff Carlos Turner, Surry County Sheriff Ernest "E. W." Viar, Jr, Amherst County Sheriff Jack Weisenburger, Bristol Sheriff C. T. Woody, Jr., Richmond City Organizations Americans for Responsible Solutions[57] CASA in Action[57] Equality Virginia[57] Equality Virginia PAC[58] Human Rights Campaign[57][59] LGBT Democrats of Virginia[57] NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia[57][60] Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce[57] Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia[57] Sierra Club[61] Virginia AFL-CIO[57] Virginia Education Association[57] Virginia League of Conservation Voters[57] Virginia National Organization for Women[57] Virginia Professional Fire Fighters[62][57] Virginia Sierra Club[57] Newspapers Daily Press[63] The Virginian-Pilot[64]

Polling

Polls

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Mark Herring (D)	John Adams (R)	Other	Undecided
Change Research	November 2–5, 2017	3,648	± 1.6%	51%	45%	—	4%
The Polling Company (R)	November 2–5, 2017	800	± 3.5%	44%	45%	—	9%
Christopher Newport University	October 29 – November 4, 2017	839	± 3.5%	49%	45%	—	6%
Gravis Marketing	October 30 – November 3, 2017	1,143	± 2.9%	48%	42%	—	10%
The Polling Company (R)	October 30 – November 2, 2017	800	± 3.5%	42%	43%	—	12%
Roanoke College	October 29 – November 2, 2017	781	± 3.5%	46%	46%	—	8%
Suffolk University	October 30 – November 1, 2017	500	± 4.4%	44%	42%	—	13%
Washington Post/Schar School	October 26–29, 2017	921	± 4.0%	51%	43%	—	5%
The Polling Company (R)	October 23–26, 2017	800	± 3.5%	43%	43%	—	11%
Christopher Newport University	October 20–25, 2017	812	± 3.8%	49%	44%	—	7%
Roanoke College	October 8–13, 2017	607	± 4.0%	47%	42%	—	10%
Christopher Newport University	October 2–6, 2017	928	± 4.3%	51%	40%	—	9%
Washington Post/Schar School Poll	September 28 – October 2, 2017	720 LV	± 4.5%	52%	41%	—	5%
		1,000 RV	± 3.5%	50%	39%	—	6%
Public Policy Polling	September 21–23, 2017	849	± 3.8%	46%	38%	—	16%
Christopher Newport University	September 12–22, 2017	776	± 3.7%	47%	42%	—	11%
Suffolk University	September 13–17, 2017	500	± 4.4%	39%	37%	—	23%
Mason-Dixon	September 10–15, 2017	625	± 4.0%	45%	36%	—	19%
University of Mary Washington	September 5–12, 2017	562 LV	± 5.2%	47%	40%	—	10%
		867 RV	± 4.1%	47%	38%	—	12%
Virginia Commonwealth University	July 17–25, 2017	538 LV	± 5.1%	45%	39%	—	15%
		707 RV	± 4.5%	43%	36%	—	17%

Results

Virginia Attorney General election, 2017[65]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Democratic	Mark Herring (incumbent)	1,385,389	53.34%	+3.43%
	Republican	John Adams	1,209,339	46.56%	-3.31%
	Write-ins	Write-ins	2,486	0.10%	-0.12%
Majority			176,050	6.78%
Total votes			2,597,214	100%
	Democratic hold		Swing

See also

• 2017 Virginia elections
• 2017 Virginia gubernatorial election
• 2017 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election
• 2017 United States gubernatorial elections

References

1. Portnoy, Jenna; Vozzella, Laura (September 2, 2015). "Va. attorney general to seek reelection, won't run for governor in 2017". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
2. "Attorney launches challenge for GOP attorney general nomination". The Daily Progress. January 27, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
3. Portnoy, Jenna (February 1, 2016). "GOP race for Va. attorney general heats up". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
4. "John Adams is presumptive Republican nominee for Virginia Attorney General". Washington Post. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
5. report, Staff. "GOP attorney general candidate Chuck Smith fails to qualify for primary ballot". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
6. "Del. Rob Bell ends campaign for Virginia attorney general". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
7. Vozzella, Laura (December 3, 2015). "Republican Rob Bell vows to oust Herring as Va. attorney general". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
8. Dashiell, Joe. "State Senator Bill Stanley elected chairman of the New College Institute Board of Directors". Retrieved 2016-12-10.
9. Sean Spicer. "It's #ElectionDay in Virginia. Get out and vote @EdWGillespie @JillHVogel @JohnAdamsforVA #Election2017 #VAGOTV #gop #VAGov #Gillespie". Twitter.
10. "U.S. SENATOR MIKE LEE (R-UT) ENDORSES JOHN ADAMS FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL". March 29, 2017. Archived from the original on June 15, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
11. "FORMER SENATOR JOHN W. WARNER ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR JOHN ADAMS". June 9, 2017. Archived from the original on June 15, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
12. John Adams. "Great to have fellow veteran @SenTomCotton on the trail with us today. First stop: James City County!". Twitter.
13. John Adams. "Chesterfield County is ready for a big victory on Tuesday night. Thank you @SenatorTimScott for helping us fire up the crowd tonight!". Twitter.
14. "MORTON BLACKWELL JOINS GROWING LIST OF GOP LEADERS AND CONSERVATIVES TO ENDORSE JOHN ADAMS". November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on June 15, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2017-10-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
16. "SENATOR DUNNAVANT ENDORSES JOHN ADAMS". July 12, 2016. Archived from the original on June 15, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
17. "MARK OBENSHAIN ENDORSEMENT". November 23, 2016. Archived from the original on June 15, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
18. "DELEGATE BEN CLINE ENDORSES JOHN ADAMS". November 30, 2016. Archived from the original on June 15, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
19. "DELEGATE NICK FREITAS ENDORSES JOHN ADAMS". November 28, 2016. Archived from the original on June 15, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-10-13. Retrieved 2017-10-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
21. https://patriotpost.us/opinion/51328
22. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2017-10-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
23. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2017-10-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
24. http://thebullelephant.com/rick-boyer-john-adams-for-virginia-attorney-general-in-17/
25. "JOHN ADAMS ENDORSED BY 47 SHERIFFS". July 26, 2017. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
26. Carly Fiorina. "Tomorrow is election day in Virginia - make your plan and get to the polls and vote for @EdWGillespie @JillHVogel and @JohnAdamsforVA". Twitter.
27. "RICK BUCHANAN ENDORSES JOHN ADAMS". December 27, 2016. Archived from the original on June 15, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
28. "DON BLAKE ENDORSES JOHN ADAMS". July 28, 2016. Archived from the original on June 15, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
29. http://virginiaconservative.net/virginia-constitution-party-endorses-hyra-adams/
30. "VIRGINIA POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION ENDORSES JOHN ADAMS". August 15, 2017. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
31. Hoeft, Jim (August 3, 2017). "Republican Ticket Gets NRA Endorsement". Bearing Drift. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
32. http://www.nfib.com/content/news/elections/nfib-vogel-adams-earn-small-business-endorsements/
33. https://www.vafb.com/membership-at-work/farmers-in-action/political-endorsements
34. http://www.teapartynation.com/john-adams-for-virginia/
35. http://augustafreepress.com/fraternal-order-police-endorses-john-adams-attorney-general/
36. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-10-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
37. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/national-group-goes-all-in-for-va-gop-attorney-general-hopeful/article/2637200
38. http://vshlpac.org/
39. http://www.chathamstartribune.com/opinion/article_b0302ea8-a384-11e7-9525-13cca2797105.html
40. http://www.dnronline.com/opinion/repudiate-bloomberg-vote-for-john-adams/article_5d1d4284-ad1e-11e7-9ee2-372f02e1b3a9.html
41. "Editorial: For Attorney General, John Adams". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
42. "Our Views: Down ticket ... We endorse Vogel and Adams". The Winchester Star. October 29, 2017.
43. "EDITORIAL: John Adams for Attorney General". The Free Lance–Star.
44. Hillary Clinton. "Virginians: my friends @RalphNortham @FairfaxJustin @MarkHerringVA need you to show up and vote to get across the finish line". Twitter.
45. Mark Herring. "Proud to have the support of my good friend, and former California AG, Senator @KamalaHarris!". Twitter.
46. Mark Herring. "Incredible energy for our ticket at @NewDistrictBrew. Great to be joined on the trail by @MarkWarnerVA! #GameOnVA". Twitter.
47. Danni Gonyo. "Sen. @timkaine wants you to make calls to elect @RalphNortham, @FairfaxJustin, @MarkHerringVA, and @KathyKLTran. Sign up and help the @GMUdems #KeepGMUBlue! bit.ly/gmuGOTV #GameOnVA #Flip42Blue". Twitter.
48. Don Beyer. "Extraordinary turnout for @KathyKLTran canvass in Springfield. We need @RalphNortham, @fairfaxforlg, and @MarkHerringVA. #GameOnVa". Twitter.
49. Mark Herring. "My friend @tomperriello knows what's at stake tmw. Proud to have him supporting @RalphNortham, @FairfaxJustin, and me! #VAgov #gameOnVA". Twitter.
50. Terry McAuliffe. ".@DSMcAuliffe, Trooper and I are fired up! 400+ Dems in Fluvanna County excited to GOTV for the Northam/Fairfax/Herring ticket! #GameOnVA". Twitter.
51. Don Beyer. "Proud to stand at @VA8thCDDems dinner with our fabulous ticket -- @RalphNortham, @fairfaxforlg, and @MarkHerringVA". Twitter.
52. Justin Fairfax. "Thanks to @FbcManassas and First AME for powerful worship this morning with @MarkHerringVA! Incredible enthusiasm for Nov 7. #GameOnVA". Twitter.
53. Howard Dean. "The big Lie strikes again. Unemployment is 3.7 % in Virginia. Don't hire the liar. Vote Northam/Fairfax/Herring". Twitter.
54. https://mobile.twitter.com/MurielBowser/status/927240814136307713
55. Jamie Harrison. "I'm proud to support a great group of leaders @RalphNortham @FairfaxJustin @MarkHerringVA @TerryMcAuliffe @vademocrats are leading the way". Twitter.
56. Alison Lundergan Grimes. "Tomorrow, Virginia! Are you ready to vote @RalphNortham @FairfaxJustin @MarkHerringVA? Be prepared: Go to (link: http://IWillVote.com) IWillVote.com!". Twitter.
57. "Ralph Northam's Ratings and Endorsements". Vote Smart.
58. Riley, John (June 26, 2017). "Equality Virginia PAC endorses AG Mark Herring for re-election". Metro Weekly. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
59. "HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN ENDORSES MARK HERRING FOR RE-ELECTION AS VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL". August 1, 2017.
60. "2017 ENDORSEMENT: MARK HERRING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL". August 17, 2017. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
61. Willson, Michael (June 6, 2017). "SIERRA CLUB ENDORSES ATTORNEY GENERAL MARK HERRING FOR RE-ELECTION". Vote Green Virginia. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
62. "PRESS RELEASE: VIRGINIA PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS ENDORSE ATTORNEY GENERAL MARK HERRING FOR REELECTION". July 13, 2017.
63. http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-edt-endorsing-ag-ca-1024-story.html
64. "Editorial: Vogel and Herring at the state Capitol". The Virginian-Pilot.
65. 2017 November General

External links

Official campaign websites

• Mark Herring for Attorney General
• John Adams for Attorney General
• Chuck Smith for Attorney General