Virginia Attorney General Nominee Faces Backlash Over Violent Texts
A recent flurry of text messages from Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general in Virginia, has ignited significant controversy and may disrupt the upcoming elections in November. In these messages, Jones appeared to contemplate violence against a political rival, prompting an outcry from various political quarters.
Despite the growing pressure, Jones has indicated he intends to stay in the race. Republican candidates at various levels are now urging Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for governor, to publicly demand that Jones withdraw from the contest.
In August 2022, Jones sent texts discussing shooting then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert, which were first reported by National Review and later referenced by The Washington Post. While POLITICO has not verified the authenticity of these texts, Jones has not disputed their accuracy and has offered a public apology.
“Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler, and Pol Pot,” Jones wrote. “Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.”
His messaging partner, Republican Del. Carrie Coyner, quickly responded, “Jay, please stop.” However, Jones continued the conversation by calling Coyner and alluding to the tragic deaths of Gilbert’s children, suggesting it might influence the speaker’s political perspectives, according to National Review.
These revelations threaten to complicate Virginia’s off-year elections, which have already begun with early voting. The state’s gubernatorial races are often seen as barometers for national sentiments following a presidential election. Although Virginia has leaned Democratic in federal elections recently, statewide positions remain fiercely contested, typically favoring the party not currently in power in Washington.
Notably, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s victory over former Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe four years ago was deemed an upset, catapulting him into the national political spotlight. A gubernatorial win in Virginia can act as a launchpad for broader ambitions; Youngkin even contemplated a presidential run in 2024 before opting out, and he is now viewed as a potential contender for 2028.
Democrats have generally shown a lead in public polling for the three statewide offices at stake this November: governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. Nonetheless, both Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running against Spanberger, and Youngkin have pressed Spanberger to call for Jones’s withdrawal from the race.
“There is no ‘gosh, I’m sorry’ here,” Youngkin stated in a post on Saturday. “Jones lacks the morality and character to remain in this race, and his running mates Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi, and every elected Democrat in Virginia lack the courage to call for his resignation.”
Earle-Sears commented on X that the texts “should be wholly disqualifying for someone running for an office that protects the people of Virginia.”
“Jay Jones’ horrific comments reflect the broader issues within the Democratic Party, and Abigail Spanberger must demand his exit from the race,” she asserted.
Vice President JD Vance also called for Jones to step down on Saturday, remarking, “The Democrat candidate for AG in Virginia has been fantasizing about murdering his political opponents in private messages. I trust the same people who are upset about sombrero memes will join me in demanding this deranged individual withdraw from the race.”
A poll from the Washington Post and George Mason University’s Schar School showed that Spanberger led Earle-Sears by 12 points among likely voters. In contrast, Jones’s lead over his Republican opponent, incumbent Jason Miyares, was a closer 6 points.
The three offices are elected separately, and with Youngkin being term-limited, he cannot seek consecutive full terms as Virginia’s chief executive.
In her statement, Spanberger condemned Jones’s messages but refrained from explicitly calling for his resignation. “After learning of these comments on Friday, I spoke frankly with Jay about my disgust with what he had said and texted,” she stated. “I conveyed to Jay that he must fully take responsibility for his words. As a candidate — and as the future Governor of our Commonwealth, I will always denounce violent language in our politics.”
The recent assassination of conservative organizer Charlie Kirk last month has heightened scrutiny on the public discourse emanating from elected officials, with Republicans blaming the so-called “radical left” for a surge in political violence.
Jones told WRIC ABC 8News that he reached out to Gilbert and his family to apologize after the texts were revealed. “I’m sick to my stomach reading those words,” he admitted. “They are objectionable, abhorrent, and have no place in Virginia or in our country’s discourse. I am deeply, deeply sorry.”
Nevertheless, he remains resolute in continuing his campaign. “We’re going to move forward,” he affirmed. “This race has never been about me; it’s always been about the people of Virginia and what they deserve from their leaders and attorney general.”
