Virginia Democratic leaders are performing the most breathtaking political contortion act of 2025, condemning violent rhetoric while simultaneously refusing to abandon the candidate who fantasized about shooting a Republican lawmaker and wishing pain on his children.
Story Snapshot
- Jay Jones, Democratic AG nominee, sent texts describing shooting Republican Speaker Todd Gilbert twice and wishing harm on Gilbert’s children
- Gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger criticized Jones’s comments but refuses to call for his withdrawal from the race
- President Trump and VP Vance publicly condemned Jones and endorsed his Republican opponent Jason Miyares
- Jones remains in the race despite bipartisan condemnation, blaming Trump-aligned media for the controversy
The Texts That Shook Virginia Politics
Jay Jones’s 2022 text messages to GOP Delegate Carrie Coyner revealed a disturbing pattern of violent fantasies. In one exchange, Jones hypothetically described shooting Speaker Todd Gilbert twice. In another message, he expressed wishes that Gilbert’s children would experience pain to motivate policy changes. These weren’t heated political arguments or policy disagreements – they were detailed scenarios involving violence against a sitting legislator and malicious intent toward his family.
The timing of the leak couldn’t be more politically damaging. With early voting already underway in Virginia, National Review’s publication of these messages in early October sent shockwaves through both parties. The explicit nature of Jones’s language left little room for interpretation or political spin, forcing Democrats into an uncomfortable defensive position just weeks before Election Day.
Democratic Leadership’s Calculated Cowardice
Abigail Spanberger’s response perfectly encapsulates the Democratic Party’s moral flexibility when electoral stakes are high. While she condemned Jones’s rhetoric as inappropriate, she stopped short of the obvious next step – calling for his withdrawal. This half-measure approach reveals a party more concerned with maintaining power than upholding the standards they routinely demand from Republicans. Spanberger’s refusal to disavow Jones completely undermines any future Democratic complaints about Republican rhetoric.
The Virginia Democratic Party’s continued backing of Jones exposes their situational ethics. These are the same leaders who spent years lecturing about the dangers of political violence and the need for elevated discourse. Yet when faced with their own candidate’s violent fantasies, they choose political expediency over principle. Their response would be laughable if it weren’t so revealing about their true character.
Jones’s Defiant Damage Control
Rather than accepting responsibility and withdrawing gracefully, Jones chose the modern Democrat playbook: blame the messenger. His public statement expressed regret for the texts while simultaneously framing the controversy as a smear campaign by Trump-aligned media. This deflection strategy shows a candidate more interested in salvaging his political career than acknowledging the severity of his actions.
Jones’s decision to remain in the race despite bipartisan condemnation demonstrates either stunning political tone-deafness or brazen ambition. His violent rhetoric wasn’t a momentary lapse in judgment – the texts span multiple conversations and include detailed scenarios. Any candidate with genuine respect for democratic institutions would recognize that such behavior disqualifies them from serving as the state’s top law enforcement official.
Republican Response and National Implications
President Trump and Vice President JD Vance’s swift condemnation of Jones and endorsement of incumbent Republican Jason Miyares elevated this local scandal to national significance. Their involvement transforms the Virginia Attorney General race into a broader referendum on political accountability and Democratic hypocrisy. Trump’s characterization of Jones’s remarks as “sick and demented jokes” resonates because it captures the absurdity of Democrats defending the indefensible.
The contrast between Republican calls for accountability and Democratic equivocation couldn’t be starker. While Republicans unanimously condemned Jones and called for his withdrawal, Democrats engaged in semantic gymnastics to avoid taking a principled stand. This disparity will likely influence voter perceptions not just in Virginia, but in races across the country where Democratic candidates claim the moral high ground on political rhetoric.
Sources:
Jay Jones is Unfit to be VA’s Attorney General and Should Drop Out – WhoWhatWhy
Jay Jones Virginia Attorney General Election Text Scandal – Hungarian Conservative
