Did Donald Trump’s win and Winsome Sears’ popularity lead to AG Miyares forgoing a run for governor?

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The 2025 race for the Virginia Governor's Office is coming into focus. On Monday, Attorney General Jason Miyares announced he will not run for governor in 2025 and will instead seek a second term as attorney general.

"I don't think it should be all that surprising.," said 8News Political Analyst Rich Meagher.

Meaher says one of the reasons he believes Miyares opted against running for governor is because President-elect Donald Trump's win earlier this month complicates things for Republicans in Virginia.

"There is always this kind of backlash against a new president that comes in and almost always, at least in recent years, the votes tend to move away from the party in power, " Meagher told 8News. "So that makes it harder for Republicans to run for office."

Plus, Meagher says Miyares wanted to avoid what would have been a very competitive primary against Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears.

"I certainly think the risk of not being able to even win the nomination was a big one," Meagher explained. "I don't know that it's a slam dunk that Sears would beat Miyares head to head, but she is popular."

Meagher says Miyares' announcement also changes things for the likely Democratic nominee for governor, Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger.

"Spanberger can't wait for Miyares and Sears to attack each other. She kind of has to go on the offensive a little bit sooner than she would have otherwise," Meagher said.

Meagher adds that although the race for attorney general will be close, Miyares does hold a slight advantage as the incumbent against whoever Democrats choose as their nominee.