Mary Jones, former member of the James City County Board of Supervisors, has announced her intent to challenge Congressman Scott Taylor for the Republican nomination in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District. Taylor, a first term Congressman from Virginia Beach, has recently come under fire for his statements against President Trump, his refusal to condemn AntiFa violence, and his frequent appearances on CNN.
Jones, who has a great deal of experience in Hampton Roads politics, was first elected to the James City County Board of Supervisors in 2007, Jones served on a variety of committees until her departure in 2016. Jones served as James City County Representative to the Hampton Roads Transportation Organization and Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission, as well as Chair of the Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance, Local Emergency Preparedness and Regional Issues Committee, and the Community Action Agency Board of Directors. In addition to serving on multiple regional committees, Jones represented the Board of Supervisors on the School Board Liaison Committee, the James City Comprehensive Steering Committee, and the Economic Development Authority. Outside of politics, Jones served as manager of Replay Sports, a sports consignment shop, from 2009 to 2016. Jones, a very active member in her community, has also volunteered her time as a youth soccer coach, a parent volunteer at local schools, and as a member of the Committee of Boy Scouts of America Troop 155.
It should come as no surprise that Jones has emerged to challenge Scott Taylor, as the conservative constituents who elected him are becoming increasingly frustrated with his displays of liberal leanings. In fact, the first piece of legislation introduced by Taylor has become a favorite of Democrats and their allies in the media. Taylor’s bill, which has yet to pass the House, was put forth in February and sought to take even more rights away from property owners nationwide, by adding discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity to federal housing guidelines. In Taylor’s bill, gender identity is defined as ‘appearance, or mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, without regard to the individual’s assigned gender at birth,’ adding even more convoluted language to an already complex topic, and stripping homeowners of even more of their rights to control who lives on their own property. Taylor has also infuriated his constituents by repeatedly appearing on left-leaning news networks such as CNN, to attack President Trump and his fellow Republicans. Notably, after a weekend of politically motivated violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, Taylor appeared on CNN where he refused to acknowledge violence perpetrated by violent left-wing protestors and attacked President Trump’s statement decrying the violence as a ‘failure of leadership.’
Politics Elections reached out to Jones for comment following her declaration of candidacy. When asked why she is running for office and what she hopes to accomplish, Jones responded: ‘We need a government that works for the people, not politicians catering to special interests and fringe issues. We need tax reform, repeal of Obamacare, to support law enforcement, and rebuild our military. You don’t grow the economy by growing government, and I want to fight for the people of Hampton Roads and work together on real solutions that will make our region prosper again.’ Jones also affirmed her support for President Trump and a principled, conservative agenda. Congressman Taylor was also contacted for comment but did not respond.
As Taylor’s popularity wanes early in his first term in Congress, Democrats are circling the wagons with hopes of flipping Hampton Roads in 2018. Two Democrats have already made clear their intent to run for their party’s nomination in the 2nd District, and it isn’t unreasonable to believe there may be more to come. As is the case with Barbara Comstock in Virginia’s 10th District, Democrats see blood in the water as wounded RINOs lose support from their own party and the very conservatives who elected them. Politics Elections reached out to some Taylor’s constituents, including grassroots activist Titus Folks, for comment. When asked his opinion of Taylor’s short time in Washington, Folks was none too pleased, responding: ‘Scott Taylor supported a $1.1 trillion spending increase. Republicans are supposed to stand for fiscal conservatism. Our country is going down the drain and people like Scott Taylor are too busy wining and dining the swamp in D.C.’
Folks’ sentiment is one echoed by conservative voters throughout the 2nd District, Virginia, and the United States. As Republican members of Congress begin showing their true color, yellow, look for more conservatives such as Shak Hill and Mary Jones to present primary challenges.
