Phillip Jones: Public Safety, Opportunity and Newport News’ Next Term

Phillip Jones brings military and management experience to the Newport News mayor’s office. His campaign biography describes graduation from the Naval Academy, service as a Marine infantry officer, graduate study at Harvard and work advising organizations before becoming mayor.

Housing, education and a regional outlook

His 2026 priorities page connects public safety with housing for working families, support for local businesses and expanded access to early-childhood education. It also emphasizes cooperation across Hampton Roads on economic development and tourism.

Those areas meet in everyday decisions about living and working in Newport News. A family weighing a move needs more than an available home; childcare, job access and confidence in its neighborhood also matter. An employer considering an investment has related concerns about its workforce and the services surrounding a site.

The city’s 2026 State of the City material offers concrete examples of the administration’s development direction, discussing the new Grissom Library at the former Sherwood Shopping Center and investment in a government center at City Center. Residents can follow these public projects through their individual approvals and schedules.

Jones’s regional emphasis also makes the office relevant beyond city boundaries. Business, transportation and visitor activity connect Newport News to neighboring communities, even while council remains responsible for decisions within the city.

Election update: Virginia ELECT’s unofficial November 4, 2026, 9:26:15 AM snapshot showed Phillip D. Jones leading with 39,392 votes. Canvassing and certification were still pending; this is not a certified outcome.

Contact the mayor’s office

The official mayor’s office page provides constituent resources. The city lists mayorsoffice@nnva.gov and 757-926-8403 for contact.

Meet the council leaders across seven Hampton Roads cities.