John Adams, a Chesterfield County native, former naval officer, and prominent Virginia attorney, announced today that he will seek the Republican nomination for Attorney General in 2017. (John Adams for VA)

John Adams, a partner at the powerhouse Richmond law firm McGuireWoods, is the presumptive Republican nominee to challenge Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring (D) in November.

The Republican Party of Virginia on Friday announced Adams was the only GOP candidate to qualify for the June 13 primary ballot. Another candidate, Virginia Beach lawyer Chuck Smith, did not turn in the required signatures.

Adams has also been a federal prosecutor in Richmond, a White House lawyer under President George W. Bush and a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Herring is running for a second-term.