AG nominee faces calls to exit race over 2022 texts

Former Del. Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, is facing backlash over 2022 text messages where he described a scenario where then-Del. Todd Gilbert “gets two bullets to the head.”

First reported by the National Review on Oct. 3, the text messages originated from an August 2022 exchange between Jones, at that time months removed from his resignation as delegate representing the 89th District, and Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chester.

In the texts, Jones wrote that Gilbert, then the speaker of the House of Delegates, would “get two bullets” in a hypothetical scenario where he was given a choice of shooting Gilbert, Adolf Hitler or Pol Pot. In the conversation reported by the National Review, Jones went on to call Gilbert and his wife “evil” and said the couple are “breeding little fascists.”

Gilbert, who is now a prosecutor with the Page County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, did not comment publicly about the text messages.

Hours after the text messages were reported on, Jones released a statement via his campaign confirming he sent the messages.

“I take full responsibility for my actions, and I want to issue my deepest apology to Speaker Gilbert and his family,” Jones said. “Reading back those words made me sick to my stomach. I am embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry.”

In his statement, Jones said he reached out to apologize directly to Gilbert and his family, adding that he “can only take full responsibility and offer my sincere apology.”

“Virginians deserve honest leaders who admit when they are wrong and own up to their mistakes,” Jones said. “This was a grave mistake, and I will work every day to prove to the people of Virginia that I will fight for them as Attorney General.”

Attorney General Jason Miyares, who Jones is challenging in the Nov. 4 election, released a statement Oct. 4 calling the text messages “disqualifying.”

“With recent revelations, it is clear that Jay Jones has proven he is reckless, he is biased, and he is willing to trade his integrity away, disqualifying himself from ever serving as Attorney General of Virginia,” Miyares said.

Miyares’ campaign announced on Oct. 6 that it had launched two new television ads in a statewide media buy focusing on the texts as well as Jones’ 2022 reckless driving conviction, which was first reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Oct. 2.

Per court records, Jones was caught driving 116 mph in New Kent County on Interstate 64 in January 2022 — 46 mph over the speed limit. Jones paid a $1,500 fine and completed 1,000 hours of community service, split between his Meet Our Moment political action committee and the NAACP Virginia State Conference.

In an Oct. 2 statement, Jones expressed regret for the infraction and said he “accepted responsibility for my actions, paid the fine, and fulfilled my responsibility to the court, which was accepted by the New Kent County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and the judge.”

Jones’ texts faced widespread condemnation on both sides of the political aisle, with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger saying in an Oct. 3 statement that she spoke with Jones about her “disgust with what he had said and texted.”

“I made clear to Jay that he must fully take responsibility for his words,” Spanberger said, adding that as governor she would “always condemn violent language in our politics.”

State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Richmond, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, said in a statement that “political violence has no place in our country, and I condemn it at every turn.”

“Jay must take accountability for the pain that his words have caused,” Hashmi said.

While Miyares did not explicitly call for Jones to withdraw from the race, other Republican politicians including President Donald Trump, called on Jones to withdraw.

In a social media post on Oct. 5, Trump said Jones “made SICK and DEMENTED jokes,” and that Jones “should drop out of the Race, IMMEDIATELY.”

Trump also gave Miyares his “Complete and Total Endorsement” in the post.

Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, said on her X account that the texts “should be wholly disqualifying of someone running for an office that protects the people of Virginia” while calling for Spanberger to “call on [Jones] to drop out.”

The Republican Attorneys General Association called on Jones to “immediately withdraw” from the race in an Oct. 3 statement.

“There is no place for political violence, including joking about it — especially from an elected official,” RAGA Chairman Kris Kobach said in a statement. “Jay Jones should drop out of the Attorney General’s race.”

Early voting for the Nov. 4 general election is underway. Jones and Miyares are set to meet for their only debate on Oct. 16 at the University of Richmond, at an event co-hosted by the Virginia State Bar.