John Adams (Virginia)

John Adams

Republican Party

Education

Bachelor's

Virginia Military Institute

Law

University of Virginia

Personal

Profession

Attorney

Contact

Personal website

John Adams was a 2017 Republican candidate for attorney general of Virginia. He was defeated in the general election on November 7, 2017.

Biography

Adams received a commission as an officer in the United States Navy in 1996 and went on to serve two tours of duty. After earning a law degree from the University of Virginia, Adams worked as an associate White House counsel under former President George W. Bush (R) and as a federal prosecutor. He works as an attorney in private practice.

Education

• Bachelor's degree, economics, Virginia Military Institute
• J.D., University of Virginia

Ballotpedia candidate survey

2017

Adams participated in a survey created by Ballotpedia. The survey was designed to let our readers know more about the candidates and feel confident that they are voting for the best person to represent them. The survey questions appear bolded, and Adams' responses follow below.

What kind of legacy would you like to leave?

“	I got into the attorney general's race because of the over-politicization of the office by Mark Herring. I have never run for political office before, but I believe that Mark Herring has repeatedly pursued his own personal political agenda and refused to do his job — defend his client, the Commonwealth of Virginia — far too many times. The attorney general of Virginia is the lawyer for Virginia, and when the Commonwealth needs defending it is the attorney general's job to do that. But on multiple occasions, Mark Herring has decided not to, and has even turned against Virginia and joined the other side. Virginia needs a new lawyer, and that's why I am running for attorney general. I will provide the best possible legal representation for the Commonwealth of Virginia, while also providing much-needed leadership on serious public safety issues facing our state, including the rapid increase in violent crime and the heroin and opioid epidemic.	”
—John Adams

What would your approach be to issues related to crime and incarceration?

“	As a former federal prosecutor, I have seen first hand the importance of our judicial system, as well as the impact committing a crime has on someone's life. Job one of the attorney general is keeping Virginians safe. That includes getting serious about the dramatic rise in violent crime and gang activity we are seeing in communities around Virginia. But we also must be proactive to keep people from committing crimes in the first place and ensuring that those who have are ready to be productive members of society after they have served their time. While it is now the attorney general's job to advance legislation, I will defend laws passed by the General Assembly to address this issue.	”
—John Adams

What one reform or policy change is most important to you?

“	We are seeing a rapid increase in violent crime in communities across Virginia, much of this due to gang activity. Virginia needs real leadership and someone who will get serious about the rise in violent crime. As a federal prosecutor, I prosecuted Project Exile cases in the city of Richmond. This joint effort between federal, state and local law enforcement was instrumental in lowering the city's crime rate. As attorney general, I will take violent crime seriously and fight it head on. I've done it before as a prosecutor and I will do it again as attorney general.	”
—John Adams

How do you view the current state of prescription opioid use in America?

“	We need to get serious about addressing the heroin and opioid epidemic. Since my opponent, Mark Herring, took office, fatal opioid overdoses have increased 66%. My substance abuse policy proposal includes looking at more community-based approaches to treatment. Additionally, I will use the attorney general's office to provide leadership on this issue and serve as a convener, bringing together law enforcement, government, and service providers to better coordinate the state's response to this issue.	”
—John Adams

What are the major public safety issues that Virginia faces? How can the state address them?

“	Virginia has two public safety issues that need serious leadership. The heroin and opioid crisis is only getting worse, with fatal opioid overdoses increasing 66% since my opponent, Mark Herring, took office. Additionally, we are seeing a rapid increase in violent crime in communities across Virginia, much of this due to gang activity. We need an attorney general who will take these issues seriously and provide real leadership, rather than focusing on a personal political agenda.	”
—John Adams

Elections

2017

See also: Virginia attorney general election, 2017

Incumbent Mark Herring (D) defeated John Adams (R) in the election for Attorney General of Virginia.

Virginia Attorney General Election, 2017
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Mark Herring Incumbent	53.39%	1,385,389
	Republican	John Adams	46.61%	1,209,339
Total Votes				2,594,728
Source: Virginia Department of Elections

Adams was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Campaign issues

The following issue statements were found on Adams' official campaign website. For a full list of issue statements, click here.

“	Spoofing As Attorney General, John Adams will protect consumers and crack down on fraudsters. Every day, scammers bombard Virginians with seemingly legitimate phone calls in the hope that you will pick up. Scammers know many people screen their phone calls. So they have turned to an increasingly common and effective fraud tactic known as caller ID “spoofing.” Spoofing occurs when callers hide their identity by tricking your phone into displaying false caller ID information. Scammers use spoofing to impersonate the government, legitimate businesses, or local, familiar telephone numbers. They might even use your own number. The goal of spoofing is to increase the chance you will pick up and fall victim to the scam. Mark Herring does not appear to take this very seriously. In July 2017, 30 attorneys general sent the Federal Communications Commission a letter calling for greater efforts to combat robocalls and spoofing. Herring refused to join them. As Attorney General, Adams will fight phone scammers with all the legal tools at his disposal. Drug Abuse and Overdose Crisis In the last year alone, we have lost over 1,400 lives to drug overdoses in Virginia, outpacing deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents and gun-related incidents. Well over half of those overdoses are due to the opioids and heroin epidemic. Currently, there are several agencies, localities, and community-based programs working hard to fight this epidemic. Virginia’s Attorney General, however, needs to do much, much more to leverage state resources and enhance those efforts across the Commonwealth. That's why John has put together a statewide substance abuse and overdose policy proposal that focuses on three main areas: prevention and education; treatment; and, enforcement. Safety and Security The safety of our communities is a chief concern for all elected officials. As your Attorney General, I will protect this Commonwealth just as I protected our nation as a naval officer and federal prosecutor. I support tough but effective laws to combat drug dealing, human trafficking, and violent crimes in Virginia. I believe that stopping violence and drug addiction starts with the successful prosecution of violent criminals and drug dealers. As a former federal prosecutor here in Virginia, I know how to keep drug dealers and violent criminals off the streets. Safety also includes protecting our financial resources and insuring public officials live up to the high standards citizens rightly expect. I have prosecuted those who illegally profited by stealing from Virginia taxpayers. For example, I led the investigation and prosecution of a former Virginia Secretary of Finance who embezzled more than $4 million from Virginia's tobacco settlement fund, thereby diverting precious state resources intended to improve literacy for his own personal gain. Finally, the Attorney General has the duty to defend the Commonwealth's criminal convictions on appeal. As a former U.S. Supreme Court law clerk and practicing appellate attorney, I have the experience necessary to represent the Commonwealth in every court.	”
—John Adams

External links

Suggest a link

• John Adams for Attorney General homepage
• John Adams on Twitter
• Virginia Attorney General homepage