Republicans call for Virginia AG candidate Jay Jones to withdraw over violent texts
Virginia Republicans have demanded that Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones drop out of the race following the surfacing of 2022 text messages in which he wished death on a GOP rival's children and referenced shooting him. Jones has apologized and taken responsibility, but critics including Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares deem the remarks disqualifying. Democrats, including gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, have condemned the language while continuing to support him.
The controversy erupted in early October 2025, just weeks before Virginia's 2025 elections, when private text messages from August 2022 were obtained and reported by outlets including Fox News Digital and National Review. In the exchanges with then-Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chester, Jay Jones, a former Democratic delegate from Norfolk, wrote about former Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah: "Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head." Jones also expressed hope that Gilbert's children would die, later doubling down by saying such grief might be "a good thing" if it advanced his political goals.
Republicans swiftly condemned the messages. On October 4, 2025, Gov. Glenn Youngkin posted on X: "This violent, disgusting rhetoric targeted at an elected official and his children is beyond disqualifying." He urged Jones to "step away in disgrace" and criticized Democrats for not calling for his withdrawal. Incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares, Jones's opponent, issued an open letter on social media that evening, stating: "Jay Jones has shown he’s reckless, biased, and willing to trade away his integrity. This conduct is disqualifying." Miyares added: "If you believe it is okay to wish death upon a political opponent, vote for my opponent. If you believe it is worth the death of children to advance your political goals, vote for my opponent."
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears spoke out the same day, accusing Democrats of being "consumed with hate": "The enemy is among us, devouring us in Virginia and in America today. Jay Jones fantasizes about murdered little children lying lifeless in their mother’s arms." The Republican Attorneys General Association, chaired by Kris Kobach, also called for Jones to withdraw, saying: "There is no place for political violence, including joking about it—especially from an elected official."
Democrats rallied behind Jones. Spanberger, running for governor against Earle-Sears, said: "I will always condemn violent language in our politics," but noted she had spoken "frankly" with him without demanding he quit. The Virginia Beach Democratic Committee affirmed support: "We are lined up, ten toes down... Jay Jones has taken responsibility, apologized and shown he is committed to serving with integrity."
Jones responded in a statement: "Reading back those words made me sick to my stomach. I am embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry. I have reached out to Speaker Gilbert to apologize directly to him, his wife Jennifer, and their children." He added: "I cannot take back what I said; I can only take full accountability and offer my sincere apology." A Coyner campaign spokesperson confirmed the texts' authenticity, calling them "disturbing and disqualifying." The incident has intensified tensions in the race, with Miyares framing it as a question of "basic fitness for public office."