Winsome Earle-Sears releases ad tying Spanberger to Jay Jones scandal
Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears launched a campaign ad on October 5, 2025, connecting her Democratic opponent Abigail Spanberger to attorney general candidate Jay Jones amid resurfaced violent text messages. The ad highlights disturbing 2022 messages from Jones targeting a GOP leader. Spanberger has condemned the texts but not called for Jones to withdraw.
On Sunday, October 5, 2025, Winsome Earle-Sears, Virginia's Republican nominee for governor, released a one-minute campaign advertisement criticizing Democratic opponent Abigail Spanberger for her association with Jay Jones, the Democratic candidate for attorney general. The ad features news clips detailing violent text messages Jones sent in August 2022 to a colleague, shortly after leaving his role as a Norfolk delegate.
The messages targeted former Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert. In one exchange, Jones wrote, "Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head." In another, he speculated whether Gilbert and his wife Jennifer were "breeding little fascists."
The ad includes photos of Spanberger and Jones together, along with audio of Spanberger saying, "It's been great to be out on the campaign trail with Jay Jones." Earle-Sears accompanied the video with an X post stating, "Jay Jones dreamed of murdering two young kids and their dad over politics — and Abigail Spanberger wants him to be attorney general." It ends with the message: "Reject the insanity. Vote Republican."
President Donald Trump commented on Truth Social, calling Jones a "radical left lunatic" and urging him to drop out immediately. Trump described Spanberger as "weak and ineffective" and endorsed her opponent's rival, current Attorney General Jason Miyares, saying, "JASON WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!"
Jones responded in a statement, taking full responsibility: "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, "Virginians deserve honest leaders who admit when they are wrong and own up to their mistakes."
Spanberger condemned the messages but did not demand Jones' withdrawal from the race. Earle-Sears, Spanberger, and Jones did not immediately respond to requests for comment.