Earle‑Sears releases ad linking Spanberger to Jay Jones after violent texts resurface
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle‑Sears unveiled a minute‑long ad tying Rep. Abigail Spanberger to Jay Jones after resurfaced 2022 text messages in which Jones wrote, according to reporting, "Gilbert gets two bullets to the head," using news clips, photos and audio of Spanberger saying she campaigned with Jones. Jones has apologized, taken responsibility and did not dispute the texts' accuracy, while reactions split along party lines — Republicans including Gov. Glenn Youngkin and former President Trump urged him to withdraw and condemned the messages, and some Democrats publicly stood by Jones even as Spanberger condemned the violent language but did not call for his exit.
Politics
Public Safety
Elections
📌 Key Facts
- August 2022 text messages sent by Jay Jones resurfaced and media reports republished the specific offending content, including the explicit line: "Gilbert gets two bullets to the head."
- Jones' campaign did not challenge the accuracy of the 2022 texts, and Jones issued multiple public apologies saying he was "embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry" and that he "took full responsibility."
- Jones said he reached out personally to Speaker Todd Gilbert and his family following the revelations and issued a statement apologizing to them.
- Reporting says Jones spoke by phone with Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner and in that conversation reportedly described Gilbert’s children dying in the arms of their mother.
- Reactions split politically: Republican officials including Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Attorney General Jason Miyares, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle‑Sears, Vice President J.D. Vance and President Trump condemned the messages and some urged Jones to drop out; many fellow Democrats publicly stood by Jones and did not call for him to end his campaign.
- Rep. Abigail Spanberger condemned the violent language but said she had spoken "frankly" with Jones and did not call for him to withdraw.
- Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle‑Sears released and promoted a roughly one‑minute campaign ad linking Spanberger to Jones; the ad uses news clips about the texts, photos of Spanberger and Jones together, audio of Spanberger saying she campaigned with Jones, ends with on‑screen text "Reject the insanity. Vote Republican," and was promoted on social media with a post quoting the texts.
- The controversy prompted updated responses and pressure from statewide figures amid early voting in the Virginia attorney general race.
📚 Contextual Background
- The Virginia Attorney General election contest between Jay Jones and incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares is scheduled for November 4, 2025.
📰 Sources (5)
Winsome Earle-Sears releases ad linking Abigail Spanberger to Jay Jones after violent texts resurface
New information:
- Winsome Earle‑Sears unveiled a new minute‑long campaign ad linking Abigail Spanberger to Jay Jones after Jones' 2022 violent text messages resurfaced.
- The ad features news‑report clips about the texts, photos of Spanberger and Jones together, audio of Spanberger saying she campaigned with Jay Jones, and ends with on‑screen text 'Reject the insanity. Vote Republican.'
- Earle‑Sears posted to X quoting Jones: 'Jay Jones dreamed of murdering two young kids and their dad over politics' and promoted the ad on social media.
- President Trump publicly weighed in via Truth Social calling Jones a 'radical left lunatic,' urged him to drop out, and endorsed incumbent Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares.
- The article republishes specific offending text content (dated August 2022) and includes Jay Jones' apology statement acknowledging and apologizing for the messages.
Virginia Dems back AG candidate Jay Jones, despite sinister text messages
New information:
- Multiple fellow Democrats are publicly standing by Jay Jones and none have called for him to end his campaign, even after the texts surfaced.
- Rep. Abigail Spanberger condemned the violent language but said she spoke 'frankly' with Jones and did not call for his withdrawal.
- Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin publicly called on Jones to drop out on Oct. 4, 2025; Republicans (AG Jason Miyares, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle‑Sears) sharply condemned Jones and called the remarks disqualifying.
- Jones issued an apology and said he reached out personally to Todd Gilbert and his family.
Democrat in Virginia attorney general race apologizes for 2022 texts depicting political violence
New information:
- Jay Jones issued a public apology and said he 'took full responsibility' after the texts surfaced.
- Jones' campaign did not challenge the accuracy of the 2022 texts.
- Jones spoke by phone with Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner following the revelations; reporting notes a conversation in which Jones described Gilbert’s children dying in the arms of their mother.
- Reactions quoted from incumbents and other statewide Democratic candidates (Jason Miyares, Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi) are included, adding updated political responses and pressure amid early voting.
Virginia AG candidate faces backlash over violent, inflammatory text messages
New information:
- CBS quoted the explicit line from the resurfaced 2022 texts: "Gilbert gets two bullets to the head."
- Jay Jones issued a direct apology to Speaker Gilbert and his family in a statement to CBS News, saying he is "embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry."
- Named, on‑the‑record condemnations from Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle‑Sears, and Vice President J.D. Vance calling for Jones to withdraw or criticizing the remarks were included.