Lt. Governor's Race
Ghazala Hashmi
Democrat
John Reid
Republican
Labor & Wages
Ghazala Hashmi
Hashmi champions Virginia workers. She’ll fight to strengthen unions, because hardworking families deserve fair wages and the power to bargain collectively. She supports repealing “right-to-work” laws – they hurt our communities and hold down wages.
Hashmi is a staunch defender of Virginia’s workers. She believes that “all workers deserve fair wages and fair benefits,” repeatedly supporting efforts to raise the minimum wage to “at least $15” and expand paid family and sick leave.
She stood shoulder to shoulder with striking Starbucks workers and rallied alongside federal employees facing unfair treatment.
John Reid
Reid has opposed efforts to raise the minimum wage, saying it’ll hurt businesses He says higher wages and better benefits just happened on their own.
He bragged about weakening unions in Virginia, calling them outdated. He calls Virginia’s anti-union “right-to-work” laws essential, even though they’ve driven down wages and silenced the voices of working people. He stands with corporate interests and wealthy donors—not the workers who keep Virginia running.
- Ghazala for Virginia, accessed 6/20/2025; Twitter, @SenatorHashmi, 9/1/2024; WAVY, 5/14/2025; Virginia Scope, 4/24/2025.
- Twitter, @SenatorHashmi, 12/24/2024; Twitter, @SenatorHashmi, 2/24/2024; Virginia Legislative Information System, SB 1, 11/20/2023; Twitter, @SenatorHashmi, 2/24/2024; VPM, 6/10/2025; Virginia Legislative Information System, HB 2137, 2/25/2021; Virginia Public Access Project, accessed 7/26/2021.
- Facebook, John Reid for Lt. Governor of Virginia, 9/5/2024; Facebook, John Reid for Lt. Governor of Virginia, 2/1/2023.
- Washington Post, 1/27/2025; John Reid for Virginia, accessed 6/24/2025; Twitter, @JohnReid4VA, 5/8/2025; Facebook, John Reid for Lt. Governor of Virginia, 3/24/2023; Facebook, John Reid for Lt. Governor of Virginia, 6/5/2023.
- Twitter, @JohnReid4VA, 5/8/2025.
Key Food Industry Legislation
Ghazala Hashmi
Protecting hardworking Americans, especially those in our vital agriculture and food sectors, is Hashmi’s top priority. Hashmi’s bill ensures farmworkers and food industry employees aren’t forced to work in dangerous heat. She also raised the need to reverse harmful cuts that weakened food safety protections.
John Reid
Reid mocked the USDA’s bird flu warning is reckless, risking farmers and food supply workers.
Health Care
Ghazala Hashmi
Hashmi believes in “ensuring access to affordable and quality health care,” and that “health care is a human right. She vowed to fight against the Administration’s threats to Medicaid expansion, which benefits over 630,000 Virginians, and build on the Affordable Care Act.
While in the state legislature, Hashmi has repeatedly supported bills that work towards her goals of lower costs and universal coverage. She introduced multiple budget amendments to establish the Prescription Drug Affordability Board.
John Reid
Reid’s record shows he’s out of touch with Virginia families struggling with healthcare costs. He opposes expanding access to quality, affordable healthcare for everyone, calling the Affordable Care Act “awful” and even opposing efforts to protect Virginians on Medicaid from devastating federal cuts
Reid says healthcare disparities don’t exist. He wants to cut funding for vital healthcare programs. He’d rather give tax breaks to big corporations than invest in our families and communities.
- Virginia Mercury, 6/16/2025; VPM, 6/10/2025; Ghazala for Virginia, accessed 6/20/2025; Richmond Times Dispatch, 4/26/2024.
- VPM, 2/26/2025; WPM, 1/21/2025; Globe Post, 8/6/2020; Virginia Legislative Information System, HB 570, 1/9/2024; Virginia’s Legislative Information System, SB 732, accessed 7/26/2021.
- Facebook, John Reid for Lt. Governor of Virginia, 10/12/2020
- Facebook, John Reid for Lt. Governor of Virginia, 4/22/2022; Blue Virginia, 8/4/2022.
Economic Security
Ghazala Hashmi
Hashmi stated that every bill she views is “through the lens of working families.” She understands the current economic uncertainty that Virginians are facing, vowing to help “families facing economic insecurity.” Hashmi has stressed the pressing need to address the affordable child care crisis.
In the state legislature, she voted for bills to combat energy price gouging and strengthen Virginia’s anti-price gouging laws during states of emergency.
John Reid
Reid has expressed opposition to countless efforts to help working families combat rising costs. He denounced efforts to bring down the price of groceries, combat rising gas prices, help families with childcare costs, and provide stimulus payments during COVID-19. Reid believes that poverty is a “personal problem” that government assistance will “never fix,” claiming that the solution is simply for “individuals to get jobs.”
- VPM, 6/10/2025; Virginia Legislative Information System, SB 1321, 2/2/2023; Virginia Legislative Information System, HB 5047, 10/2/2020.
Facebook, John Reid for Lt. Governor of Virginia, 8/17/2024; Facebook, John Reid for Lt. Governor of Virginia, 10/2/2021; Facebook, John Reid for Lt. Governor of Virginia, 4/15/2020; Facebook, John Reid for Lt. Governor of Virginia, 3/13/2022; Facebook, John Reid for Lt. Governor of Virginia, 4/22/2022.
Corporate and financial accountability
Ghazala Hashmi
Hashmi has criticized tax policies that favor the wealthy over the working class, opposing tax cuts for large corporations. Hashmi proposed closing corporate tax loopholes and “rightsizing” the state’s tax structure. She also supports eliminating the state sales tax on food to save working families money.
John Reid
Reid’s plan for a “business-friendly future” means lower taxes for big corporations and less regulation. He opposes fair tax policies that would help everyday Americans by making the wealthy pay their fair share.
Education & Future Investment
Ghazala Hashmi
Hashmi is a strong proponent of increasing school funding to ensure that “every child in Virginia has access to high quality education.” Hashmi champions career training programs that get Virginians good-paying jobs.
John Reid
Our schools need more resources, not stricter rules. While Reid wants harsher punishments, we need to invest in our teachers and classrooms.
Ghazala for Virginia, accessed 6/23/2025; Virginia Mercury, 6/16/2025; Virginia Mercury, 6/16/2025.
- Cardinal News, 6/5/2025; Twitter, @SenatorHashmi, 2/23/2021; Twitter, @SenatorHashmi, 2/11/2020; RVA Mag, 6/5/2024; Richmond Times-Dispatch, 2/26/2025.
WV News, 6/16/2025; Bacon’s Rebellion, 9/16/2024; Virginia Mercury, 6/18/2025.
Attorney General's Race
Jay Jones
Democrat
Jason Miyares
Republican
Labor & Wages
Jay Jones
Jones is a former union member. He’ll fight to raise the minimum wage, protect workers’ rights, and ensure everyone has access to affordable healthcare.
In the House of Delegates, Jones repeatedly fought to increase the minimum wage. He also supported legislation to bolster paid parental leave and paid sick leave for workers. Jones fought for working families, passing bills to strengthen unions, expand workers’ compensation, and protect LGBTQ+ employees from discrimination.
As Attorney General, Jones will fight for Virginia’s working families, creating a dedicated unit to crack down on employers cheating hardworking Virginians. As Attorney General, Jones has vowed to use the full power of the Worker’s Protection Unit to fight wage theft and worker misclassification.
Jason Miyares
Miyares blocked efforts to raise the minimum wage, even voted against paid sick leave, leaving families vulnerable during crises like COVID-19.
Miyares defended the unfair right-to-work law, even trying to make it permanent.
When port workers – vital to our economy – faced a potential strike, Miyares sided with big corporations over working families.
- AFGE, 5/20/2025.
Jay Jones for Virginia, accessed 3/6/2025; Twitter, @jonesjay, 5/1/2021; Virginia Legislative Information System, SB 7, 3/8/2020; Twitter, @jonesjay, 5/1/2021; Virginia Legislative Information System, HB 2327, 2/5/2021; Virginia Legislative Information System, HB 2234, 1/8/2019; Virginia Legislative Information System, HB 2137, 2/25/2021; Virginia Public Access Project, accessed 7/26/2021.
Washington Post, 3/8/2020; Virginia’s Legislative Information System, accessed 7/26/2021; Virginia Public Access Project, 4/22/2020; Virginia Legislative Information System, HB 2327, 2/5/2021; Virginia Democrats, 7/1/2021; Virginia Legislative Information System, HB 1596, 1/23/2017; Virginia Legislative Information System, HB 2137, 2/25/2021; Virginia Public Access Project, accessed 7/26/2021.
Virginia Automobile Dealers Association, 4/14/2021; Virginia Public Access Project, 2/3/2016; Ballotpedia, accessed 8/3/2021; Virginia Public Access Project, 4/22/2020; Virginia Public Access Project, 4/22/2020; Virginia Public Access Project, 4/22/2020; Office of the Attorney General, 11/15/2023.
- Twitter, @JasonMiyaresVA, 10/1/2024.
Key Food Industry Legislation
Jay Jones
Jones fights back against corporate greed. As Assistant Attorney General, he took on the Kroger-Albertsons merger, blocking a deal that would jack up grocery prices and hurt Virginia families. He’ll continue fighting for you, ensuring lower costs and protecting our communities.
Jason Miyares
Miyares attacked farmworker’s right to collectively bargain.
- Office of the Attorney General, 11/15/2023
Health Care
Jay Jones
Jones believes that “healthcare is a right and not a privilege.” He vowed to “protect access to care” and defend Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act from the Administration’s efforts to dismantle them.”
Jones also believes that “no one should be a medical emergency away from financial ruin.” He vowed to go after “pharmaceutical companies who are inflating prices,” fight “complex billing schemes” by insurance companies, and protect Virginians’ “right to prescription drugs at fair cost.”
As a state legislator, he opposed efforts to weaken protections for those with pre-existing conditions and ensure everyone has access to quality, affordable healthcare.
Jason Miyares
Miyares blocked affordable healthcare for thousands of working families. He refused to expand Medicaid, leaving Virginians without the care they need. He sued to deny healthcare to DACA recipients.
Miyares sided with insurance companies, voting for bills that would weaken protections for people with pre-existing conditions, jack up premiums, and leave thousands without coverage. He also backed a plan to force Virginians off Medicaid, potentially impacting 26,000 families struggling to afford healthcare.
As Attorney General, Miyares sided with the administration, cutting vital medical research and jeopardizing $400 million for Virginia.
- Twitter, @jonesjay, 5/20/2018; Twitter, @jonesjay, 4/4/2025; Virginia Mercury, 11/12/2024; Jay Jones for Virginia, accessed 3/6/2025; Twitter, @jonesjay, 9/20/2020; Twitter, @jonesjay, 1/28/2025.
- Charlottesville Tomorrow, 4/19/2021; WPM, 6/2/2025; Jay Jones for Virginia, accessed 6/18/2025; WAVY, 4/5/2021.
- Virginia’s Legislative Information System, accessed 7/26/2021; Virginia Legislative Information System, SB 1689, 2/19/2019; Virginia Legislative Information System, SB 1674, 2/19/2019; WHSV, 3/26/2019.
- Blue Virginia, 12/2/2020; Office of the Attorney General, 8/9/2024; Virginia’s Legislative Information System, accessed 7/26/2021.
- Virginia’s Legislative Information System, accessed 7/26/2021; Virginia Legislative Information System, SB 1689, 2/19/2019; Virginia Legislative Information System, SB 1674, 2/19/2019; WHSV, 3/26/2019; Virginia Legislative Information System, HB 338, 2/13/2018; Roanoke Times, 12/16/2018.
- Virginia Mercury, 2/14/2025; Virginia Mercury, 10/10/2024.
Economic Security
Jay Jones
Jones views consumer protection as one of the Attorney General’s primary responsibilities. He vowed to “crack down on price-gougers” that “make life unaffordable for the middle class” and lower costs, particularly by holding utilities accountable for prices. Jones believes that “a strong economy starts with strong protections for working families,” repeatedly committing to aggressively go after price-gougers and protect Virginians against corporations.
In the state legislature, Jones voted for legislation to strengthen Virginia’s anti-price gouging laws during declared states of emergency.
Jason Miyares
In the state legislature, Miyares voted against protecting Virginia families from skyrocketing prices during emergencies, leaving them struggling to put food on the table.
As Attorney General, Miyares allowed the Administration to cut critical NIH funding, risking hundreds of millions in research vital to Virginia’s future and countless jobs.
Blue Virginia, 11/12/2024; Charlottesville Tomorrow, 4/19/2021; WAVY, 4/5/2021; Twitter, @jonesjay, 12/10/2024; WPM, 6/2/2025; Virginia Mercury, 6/16/2025; Twitter, @jonesjay, 3/10/2025; Twitter, @jonesjay, 5/28/2025; Twitter, @jonesjay, 3/12/2025.
- Virginia Legislative Information System, HB 5047, 10/2/2020.
- Virginia Legislative Information System, HB 5047, 10/2/2020; Virginia’s Legislative Information System, accessed 7/26/2021.
- Virginia Mercury, 2/14/2025.
Social Security & Retirement
Jay Jones
In the House of Delegates, Jones championed a plan to boost retirement savings, helping hardworking Virginians secure their future. He also voted to ensure that those overcoming past mistakes have access to the food assistance they need, putting food on the table for families across the Commonwealth.
Jason Miyares
Miyares, as Attorney General, unfairly attacked Virginia’s retirement system, spreading false claims about its investments. He also blocked efforts to create a secure state-sponsored retirement savings plan and opposed expanding food assistance for Virginians struggling to put food on the table.
Tax Justice & Wealth Accountability
Jay Jones
As a state legislator, Jones fought to create a tax credit that would put money directly back into the pockets of hardworking families.
Jason Miyares
Miyares blocked tax cuts for hardworking families, giving a break to massive corporations instead. He voted against a second-chance hiring tax credit, making it harder for families to get back on their feet.
Education & Future Investment
Jay Jones
Jones understands the importance of public education and believes that education is a “right that we owe all children.” He vowed to “build a more equitable education system” and “stem the tide” of rising college tuition.
Jason Miyares
Attorney General Miyares voted against in-state tuition for hardworking immigrant students, harming our economy and rejecting the contributions these students make to our state.