Republican Group Doubles Down on Virginia AG Race Following Democrat’s Controversial Texts

In a significant development in Virginia’s heated attorney general race, the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) has dramatically increased its financial support for incumbent Jason Miyares following the revelation of violent text messages from Democratic challenger Jay Jones. The organization recently added $2.5 million to its previous $2 million investment, bringing their total contribution to an unprecedented $8.5 million – the largest sum the group has ever committed to an attorney general race, surpassing their previous record of $7 million in 2017.

RAGA spokesman Adam Piper explained that the controversial text messages from Jones have fundamentally altered the dynamics of the race, generating a surge of new donor interest that enabled this increased investment. “Jason Miyares is surging in the polls and RAGA has been overwhelmed with millions in new donations,” Piper told Fox News Digital, highlighting how the controversy has energized their fundraising efforts. This substantial financial commitment has made RAGA the biggest spender among all political committees in Virginia’s current election cycle, outpacing even those focused on the high-profile gubernatorial contest.

The controversy stems from recently surfaced text messages from 2022 in which Jones, a lawyer and former state delegate, reportedly fantasized about the violent death of a Republican lawmaker. These messages have sparked widespread condemnation, with Republicans calling for Jones to withdraw from the race amid heightened national concerns about political violence. While Jones has apologized for the texts, he continues to face significant backlash. Democratic candidates, including gubernatorial hopeful Abigail Spanberger, have disavowed the messages but have stopped short of asking Jones to exit the race, creating a delicate balancing act for the party in Virginia.

The impact of this controversy is beginning to materialize in concrete ways beyond just fundraising. RAGA’s internal polling, conducted in early October, shows a dramatic 21-point drop in Jones’ favorability compared to just one month earlier. The same poll indicates Miyares now leading Jones by two percentage points with election day rapidly approaching. This represents a notable shift in a race that was previously thought to be safely Democratic, particularly given Virginia’s recent trend toward becoming a reliably blue state. The tightening of the attorney general race stands in contrast to the gubernatorial contest, where polls show Democrat Spanberger maintaining a more comfortable lead of approximately ten points over Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears.

With early voting already underway in Virginia, the ultimate impact of Jones’ controversial texts remains uncertain. Political analysts are closely watching whether this incident will remain isolated to the attorney general race or potentially create ripple effects that could influence other contests on the ballot. The unprecedented level of spending in this down-ballot race highlights its increasing importance to both parties, particularly as attorney general positions across the country have taken on greater political significance in recent years, often serving as launching pads for higher office and playing crucial roles in national legal battles.

The situation also underscores the volatile nature of modern political campaigns, where a single controversy can dramatically alter race dynamics and trigger massive shifts in financial resources. For Republicans, this represents an unexpected opportunity in a state that has been trending Democratic in recent election cycles. For Democrats, it presents a challenging test of voter loyalty and whether they can maintain their advantage in Virginia despite the controversy surrounding one of their candidates. As election day approaches, both parties are intensifying their efforts, recognizing that the outcome of this race could have implications that extend far beyond Virginia’s borders in today’s highly polarized political environment.