Virginia Politics Ignites After Disturbing Texts from Attorney General Candidate
Virginia’s political landscape has been thrown into turmoil after the emergence of private text messages in which Democratic Attorney General candidate Jay Jones expressed wishes for the death of a Republican rival’s children. The controversy has prompted strong rebukes from current Republican state officials, with Attorney General Jason Miyares and Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears delivering sharp condemnations that have escalated tensions heading into the 2025 election. Miyares didn’t mince words in an open letter posted to social media, declaring that Jones has “shown he’s reckless, biased, and willing to trade away his integrity,” concluding that such behavior is “disqualifying” for someone seeking to become Virginia’s top law enforcement officer.
The texts in question, sent in 2022, reveal Jones stating he hoped then-Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert’s children would die. When challenged about these comments, Jones reportedly doubled down, suggesting that such grief might be “a good thing” if it advanced his political aims. Since the messages became public, Jones has apologized, describing his remarks as “embarrassing and shameful,” and claims to have reached out personally to Gilbert and his family. However, Virginia Republicans maintain that the damage cannot be undone, with Miyares drawing on his experience as a prosecutor who has “sat with crying victims and grieving families” to emphasize the severity of Jones’ statements.
Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears broadened the criticism beyond Jones himself, connecting his comments to what she described as a culture of Democratic “rage politics.” In a passionate speech, she accused Democratic Party leadership of “inciting violence as a strategy to win power,” referencing gubernatorial candidate Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s call for supporters to “let your rage fill you.” Sears warned that “words have meaning,” defining rage as “violent, uncontrolled anger,” and cited past threats and attacks on Republicans nationwide, from the 2022 attempt on Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s life to school shootings targeting Christians, suggesting that “the unstable pull the triggers, but they are inspired by the hate tolerated and encouraged by the leadership of the Democrat Party.”
Both Republican officials framed the controversy as a pivotal moment in the upcoming 2025 election. Miyares stated that before these revelations, the race centered on “competing views on public safety,” but now it concerns “basic fitness for public office.” The clear implication is that Jones’ comments should disqualify him from serving as Attorney General, a position Miyares characterized as requiring impartiality and a commitment to protecting all Virginians “regardless of whether they are a Democrat or Republican.” His open letter presented voters with a stark choice: “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.”
The controversy highlights the increasingly heated nature of political discourse in Virginia, a state that has become a battleground between Democrats and Republicans in recent years. Jones was considered a rising star in the Democratic Party before these texts emerged, and the fallout threatens not only his candidacy but could potentially impact other Democratic races in the state. The coordinated responses from Miyares and Earle-Sears suggest Republicans see this as an opportunity to gain political advantage by portraying Democrats as extreme and divisive, while positioning themselves as the more reasonable alternative committed to serving all Virginians regardless of political affiliation.
As the 2025 election approaches, this incident serves as a reminder of how quickly the political landscape can shift and how personal conduct can overshadow policy debates. Sears concluded her remarks with an appeal to unity and faith, stating: “As an immigrant, I have seen what happens when leftists destroy the foundations of freedom,” and urging Virginians to “protect our beloved Commonwealth of Virginia and the gift from God that is the United States of America.” The controversy remains ongoing, with Jones yet to indicate whether he intends to continue his campaign in the face of these calls for him to step aside, leaving Virginia voters to determine whether such rhetoric should indeed be disqualifying for public office.
