Virginia State Attorney General Race

The Candidates on The Issues

John Adams (Republican)

• John Adams (Republican)Believes the job of the Attorney General is to defend the state and federal Constitution and defend the rule of law, not to use the law to enact an ideological agenda.
• Clerked under Supreme Court Justice and defender of the Constitution, Justice Clarence Thomas.

Mark Herring (Democrat)

• Refused to defend the Virginia State Constitution in federal court. Is a career politician who has used his power to advance his personal agenda even when in conflict with state laws.

John Adams (Republican)

• Supports conscience rights and believes that religious liberty is a fundamental right and foundational American value.
• Filed briefs in support of the Little Sisters of the Poor and Hobby Lobby and against the government’s unconstitutional “contraception mandate.”

Mark Herring (Democrat)

• Opposes conscience rights in healthcare and has vowed to oppose recent executive orders to expand religious liberty.

John Adams (Republican)

• Said, “I believe that all human life is precious, created equal, and deserving of legal protection, whether already—or yet to be—born.” Vowed to uphold state laws and regulations passed to protect vulnerable women and children.

Mark Herring (Democrat)

• Holds extreme pro-choice positions and has worked tirelessly in his career to oppose any and all regulations on the abortion industry, including commonsense safety regulations on clinics.
• Supports taxpayer-funded abortion.

John Adams is the Republican candidate for the state of Virginia Attorney General. Born in Virginia, Adams attended public school and then the Virginia Military Institute and the University of Virginia Law School. Adams served his country as an officer in the United States Navy and went on to clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington and then on the Supreme Court under Justice Clarence Thomas. He then served as counsel to President George W. Bush. Adams is currently in private practice in Virginia and raising four sons with his wife Lisa.

Mark Herring is the Attorney General for the state of Virginia. A career politician with the Democratic Party, Mark was a local town attorney, then a member of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, then served eight years in the Virginia State Senate. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Richmond School of Law. He and his wife have two daughters.