Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney won't seek state A.G. seat

Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor won't run for Virginia Attorney General, she announced this morning.

Taylor been rumored this summer to be planning a run for the Democratic nomination, and a supporter had sent a fundraising email to voters. Two-term attorney general Mark Herring, who was expected to run for governor, later opted to seek a third term as A.G. He’s still expected to face a crowded field for the Democratic nomination, led by Del. Jerrauld C. “Jay” Jones (Norfolk).

In a statement, Taylor said that she had work left to do in Henrico.

“While I have been encouraged to run by many, many people, and not just Democrats, I must focus on the critical issues happening in Henrico from criminal justice reform to addressing longstanding systemic racism in our society,” she wrote. “This is a seminal year for those important issues and my office is at the forefront of creating a fairer, more equitable, and more just criminal justice system that keeps Henricoans safe.

“Just this year, we’ve had an avowed Klansman drive his truck into a group of innocent protesters, we are working towards getting a civilian review board, we have a new police chief committed to accountability and transparency, and I continue to work to bolster and improve the community’s interactions with the criminal justice system. There is much more to do and the time to do it is now.”

Without directly endorsing another candidate, Taylor wrote “we need an Attorney General with experience and expertise to ensure we can make progress on all these crucial issues.
“We cannot afford to wait, we simply must have someone who can and will build on our much-needed progress. I commit to lead on this necessary change in Henrico and pledge to work with the Attorney General as we move Virginia forward for change.”