Virginia Democrats are standing by their Attorney General nominee Jay Jones despite explosive text messages revealing his violent fantasies about shooting a Republican lawmaker and wishing harm on the politician’s children.
Story Highlights
- Jay Jones sent texts describing shooting GOP House Speaker Todd Gilbert twice and wanting his children to suffer
- President Trump and VP Vance called for Jones to withdraw, endorsing Republican incumbent Jason Miyares
- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger condemned the rhetoric but refuses to demand Jones drop out
- Jones remains defiant, blaming the controversy on “Trump-aligned media” despite bipartisan condemnation
Disturbing Text Messages Surface From 2022
Jay Jones, Virginia’s Democratic nominee for Attorney General, sent shocking text messages in 2022 to GOP Delegate Carrie Coyner that included graphic descriptions of violence against Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert. The messages, which remained private until published by National Review in early October 2025, contained a hypothetical scenario where Jones described shooting Gilbert twice. Even more disturbing, Jones expressed wishes for Gilbert’s children to experience pain as a way to influence policy changes.
The timing of these revelations could not be worse for Virginia Democrats, coming as early voting is already underway in the highly competitive statewide race. Jones, a former state delegate, has built his political career on progressive advocacy, making the violent nature of his private communications particularly damaging to his public image and Democratic Party standing.
National Republicans Demand Accountability
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance quickly condemned Jones’s messages on October 3, 2025, with Trump calling the remarks “sick and demented jokes” that disqualify Jones from serving as the state’s top law enforcement officer. The President endorsed incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, framing the controversy as a clear choice between accountability and Democratic extremism that threatens Virginia families.
The Republican response has been swift and unified, with party leaders arguing that Jones’s violent rhetoric demonstrates unfitness for an office responsible for upholding law and order. Speaker Gilbert, the target of Jones’s threats, has remained largely silent publicly, but Republican allies have used the incident to highlight what they see as dangerous escalation in Democratic political discourse.
Democrats Refuse to Demand Withdrawal
Despite the severity of Jones’s comments, leading Virginia Democrats have stopped short of calling for his withdrawal from the race. Gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger criticized the rhetoric but refused to demand Jones step aside, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from Republicans who point to Democratic calls for accountability when similar controversies involve GOP candidates.
Jones has attempted damage control by expressing regret for the messages while simultaneously framing the controversy as a partisan smear campaign. His statement that “violent rhetoric has no place in our politics” rings hollow to critics who note that he authored the very messages he now condemns, raising questions about his judgment and character.
Sources:
Jay Jones is Unfit to be VA’s Attorney General and Should Drop Out
Jay Jones Virginia Attorney General Election Text Scandal
