This article originally appeared here, at wjla.com

RICHMOND, Va. (7News) — The race for Virginia attorney general is within the margin of error.

That’s according to a co/efficient poll released at the end of August, which showed 45% of voters would vote for Democratic challenger Jay Jones, and 44% of voters would choose Republican incumbent Jason Miyares.

Eleven percent of voters remained undecided in the poll.

7News requested interviews with both men who are seeking to be Virginia’s top law enforcement officer.

In August, when 7News asked Miyares what he accomplished in his first term as Virginia attorney general — he immediately pointed to Ceasefire Virginia, which he launched in Virginia’s most violent cities to lower crime.

“We went after repeat violent offenders,” Miyares said. “We investigated them, we indicted them, we prosecuted them, many of these cases in federal court and in our 13 ceasefire cities, our murder rate has dropped 66% on average. Our murder rate in Virginia dropped 30%. Our violent crime rate is down by double digits as well.”

Miyares said the operation has also been successful in getting fentanyl off the streets.

“We prosecuted and got enough fentanyl off the street just from our office, the attorney general’s office, to kill 6 million Virginians,” Miyares said. “That’s how much fentanyl we have worked to get off the streets as attorney general. And then on the demand side, we went after these huge pharmaceutical companies that drove this addiction crisis.”

During his time as Virginia attorney general, Miyares also investigated alleged wrongdoing in two of the largest school districts in Virginia.

Miyares investigated and prosecuted Loudoun County school officials after two school sexual assaults in 2021.

He investigated Loudoun County Public Schools again this year after the school district launched Title IX investigations into boys who complained a biologically female student was using the boys’ locker room, and Miyares referred the matter to the feds.

Miyares also investigated Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) admission policy for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, and this year found FCPS in violation of the Virginia Human Rights Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by discriminating against Asian American students.

Right now, Miyares is going after social media companies that he claims are targeting minors.

“We actually filed suit already on TikTok,” Miyares said.

If reelected, Miyares said he wants to expand Ceasefire Virginia to more cities. He added that he would continue his push to get the Virginia General Assembly to pass laws that will hold criminals accountable and allow prosecutors to charge fentanyl dealers with felony homicide.

“We want to be able to charge these dealers a felony homicide, as they should,” Miyares said. “Jay Jones voted no every time. He sided with fentanyl dealers instead of victims and their families. I have a view of going after these dealers, making sure they have the consequences. My opponent has a very much soft on crime, social justice warrior approach to public safety, and I think that’s the difference between us. I’ve often said what separates me and my opponent is who do you trust with that badge? Do you trust somebody who’s never been a prosecutor with that badge? Do you trust somebody who wants to just push a far-left, left-wing agenda with that badge? Or do you want somebody who actually has a record of being a prosecutor, working with law enforcement, lowering crime, and getting drug dealers off the street? I’m proud of our record, and I’m proud to ask Virginians to rehire me.”

Several weeks ago, 7News requested an interview with Jones to give him the same opportunity to tell you about his record and what he wants to do for you if he’s elected.