Former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares spoke at the Center for Politics Thursday evening for the first annual Newnam Family Lecture. During the event, Miyares reflected on the state of American democracy, warning about rising political polarization while urging attendees to take an active role in sustaining civic institutions ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The lecture series was established through a gift from Class of 1991 alumna Angela Clontz Newnam and her husband Todd Newnam to promote reflection and public conversation about ideas, institutions and responsibilities that sustain a free and self-governing society. The event featuring Miyares was co-sponsored by the Jefferson Council, College Republicans and the University’s Turning Point USA chapter.
According to the Jefferson Council, U.Va. Dissenters — a group of “anti-imperialist organizers” working against “endless war” — publicly encouraged individuals to register for the Center for Politics event without the intention to attend — an effort described by the Jefferson Council as an attempt to overwhelm the event’s registration system.
Miyares — the 48th attorney general of Virginia and the first Latino elected to statewide office in the Commonwealth — framed his remarks around the uniqueness of the founding of the U.S. He described the U.S. as “the greatest single experiment in self-government the world has ever seen,” emphasizing that the U.S. is uniquely defined by a written Constitution that limits government power and is based on the idea that authority derives from the people.
Referencing Thomas Jefferson and the University’s founding principles, Miyares emphasized the importance of free speech and intellectual inquiry as foundational to higher education and democracy. Quoting Jefferson, he said there must be “the illimitable freedom of the human mind to explore and expose every subject acceptable to its contemplation,” adding that universities should pursue truth without restriction and allow differing viewpoints to be challenged through reason rather than suppressed.
“Here at [the University], we are not afraid to follow the truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error, so long as reason is left free to combat it,” Miyares said.
Miyares described the U.S. Constitution as the first written constitution in history to limit government power by placing boundaries on its authority and protecting individual rights. He characterized the U.S. Constitution as a result of debate and compromise among the original framers, arguing that compromise should be viewed as essential to democratic governance.
Miyares also argued the nation’s upcoming anniversary should prompt Americans to consider the country’s progress alongside its shortcomings. While acknowledging that the U.S. has not always lived up to its ideals throughout its history, Miyares said that the U.S. should be assessed in the context of other nations and governance systems, which he said have provided fewer opportunities and protections.
“If you compare [the U.S.] to perfection, we have failed, but if you compare [the U.S.] to every other country in the history of the world, we have given more second chances to more people like my family than any country that has ever existed,” Miyares said.
Throughout the lecture, Miyares warned about rising political polarization and the normalization of political violence, which he described as one of the most serious threats facing the country. He cited public reactions to the Dec. 4, 2024 killing of Brian Thompson, former chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare. Miyares said he found the murder “chilling” and expressed concern that some individuals — particularly younger Americans — perceived the act as justified due to Thompson’s role as a corporate executive.
“Political violence is one of the most dangerous things facing our country today … [and it] needs to be condemned on both the right and left,” Miyares said. “If you want to see society unravel, it’s when … people decide we’re not going to settle our differences at the ballot box.”
Drawing on his personal background, Miyares shared his family’s immigration story, describing how his mother fled Cuba in pursuit of freedom in the U.S. He used this experience to highlight that many people around the world would go to great lengths for the chance to access education and freedom, emphasizing the country’s unique capacity to provide opportunity and upward mobility.
“[My mother] was penniless and homeless, but she wasn’t hopeless because her desire was to come and seek freedom in what this country has,” Miyares said. “If you ever lose your faith in America, my challenge to you is to realize how uniquely special this country is.”
When asked a question regarding immigration, Miyares expanded the discussion of his mother’s personal story to the broader topic of immigration policies in the U.S. He emphasized the country’s scale of legal immigration, noting that the U.S. admits roughly one million legal immigrants annually — more than any other country. He also added this level of immigration reflects a core part of the American identity, pointing to the large share of first- and second-generation immigrants in U.S. higher education.
However, Miyares said that recent levels of unauthorized border crossings under former President Joe Biden’s administration were unsustainable, citing roughly 8.2 million crossing over four years — a figure he emphasized as an unbelievable level of immigration.
He expressed his support for stricter enforcement of immigration laws — particularly in cases involving individuals with prior deportation orders or criminal records — while maintaining that the U.S. should continue to welcome legal immigrants.
“Americans are unbelievably generous people,” Miyares said. “Americans intuitively want to give everybody a fair shake. [Americans] love the highest levels of legal immigration the world, but [Americans] also don't want to feel like people are taking advantage of [their] generosity.”
The lecture also addressed what Miyares identified as a challenge facing younger generations. He noted that, while current students are the most highly educated and financially secure generation in American history, students are also experiencing rising rates of depression, suicide and addiction. He attributed this disconnect, in part, to a lack of awareness of the privileges associated with access to higher education.
“There was somebody who woke up on this planet … with just as many hopes and dreams … who would do everything in their power … to be seated exactly where you’re seated right now,” Miyares said.
Miyares said that “gratitude is the most underrated of all human traits,” contrasting it with what he described as a growing culture of grievance and dissatisfaction. He encouraged attendees to recognize and express appreciation for their education, support systems and opportunities — including professors, scholarship donors and family members.
Regarding redistricting, Miyares criticized partisan gerrymandering and reiterated his long-standing support for nonpartisan map-drawing processes. Miyares currently serves as the co-chair of Virginians for Fair Maps — a nonprofit organization that advocates to “keep maps fair” and for nonpartisan redistricting in Virginia.
He pointed to Virginia’s 2020 redistricting amendment — which created a bipartisan redistricting commission and was approved by roughly two-thirds of voters — as a model for fairer representation.
His remarks come amid a contentious statewide debate over a proposed mid-decade districting plan backed by Democratic lawmakers, which would create a “10-1” congressional map favoring Democrats in 10 of Virginia’s 11 U.S. House districts. This proposal — which voters will decide on in the April referendum — would shift the state’s current delegation.
Miyares also said that such efforts contribute to what he described as a “gerrymandering nuclear arms race” among states. He argued that proposals to redraw congressional districts mid-decade could undermine competitive elections and incentivize candidates to appeal primarily to partisan primary voters rather than a broader electorate.
Second-year College student Spencer Lieb said he attended the event as a supporter of the Center for Politics and its programs. Lieb added that many issues Miyares highlighted — specifically political violence — have been made worse by actions from President Donald Trump, including a recent post on Truth Social regarding the death of former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Robert Mueller.
“Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Lieb added that, as a Democrat, he does not agree with everything Miyares says but said he enjoyed listening to Miyares at Thursday’s event.
“There wasn't anything [Miyares] said that I objectively disagreed with. I have trouble seeing how someone of his character can be from the same party as [President Donald Trump] — who didn't come up a lot tonight,” Lieb said.
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