Gov. Ralph Northam endorses Jay Jones over incumbent Attorney General Mark Herring
(AP Photo/Steve Helber) RIGHT: Jay Jones picture from his campaign websiteOn Thursday morning, rather than the man he’s served beside for four years, Gov. Ralph Northam endorsed the Democrat looking to halt two-term Attorney General Mark Herring’s reelection campaign, Jay Jones. Simply put, Ralph Northam is the most consequential governor in the history of this Commonwealth.”AdIf elected, Jones would be Virginia’s first Black attorney general. Jones’ opponent, Mark Herring won the 2017 race for attorney general, beating Republican John Donley Adams by 175,850 votes, with 53.3% of all votes cast. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring (WSLS)In the election prior, 2013, Herring only defeated his Republican challenger, Mark Dudley Obenshain, by 165 votes.
Attorney General Mark Herring creates Virginia’s first worker protection unit
RICHMOND, Va. – Attorney General Mark Herring announced Wednesday the designation of the Virginia Attorney General’s first Worker Protection Unit, a multidisciplinary team of prosecutors and attorneys within the Office of Attorney General. It will be led by a dedicated criminal prosecutor, that will focus on investigating, stopping and prosecuting individuals and businesses who unlawfully engage in worker exploitation, in addition to educating Virginia workers on their rights. Ad“Misclassification, payroll fraud, and wage theft are somewhat complicated terms, but at their simplest they are all instances of business owners and managers stealing from their hardworking employees,” said Herring. “For way too long, Virginia’s weak worker protection laws have made it way too easy for business managers, owners, and labor brokers to cheat their workers and cheat the Commonwealth. The Unit will also engage, as needed, with state agencies that have enforcement and oversight authority around worker protection laws including the Virginia Department of Taxation, Virginia Employment Commission, Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, and Office of Inspector General.
‘It’s a really important step’: Virginia Attorney General touts win in defense of mask mandate
RICHMOND, Va. – Wearing a mask in public buildings will continue to be mandatory in Virginia. A lawsuit filed in the state’s 20th Judicial Circuit challenging Governor Northam’s mandate issued last month lost in court Monday. The state attorney general's office argued in defense of the mandate. Attorney General Mark Herring said masks help keep people safe and show others you care about them. This is the tenth case the attorney general’s office has won in defense of the state’s coronavirus regulations.