Virginia AG nominee Jay Jones faces bipartisan backlash after violent 2022 text messages
Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones is facing bipartisan backlash after resurfaced 2022 text messages in which he described political violence — including the explicit line, "Gilbert gets two bullets to the head" — and recounted horrific scenarios involving Speaker Todd Gilbert’s family. Jones issued a public apology, said he took responsibility and did not dispute the texts' accuracy, and said he reached out to Gilbert and others, while Republicans including Gov. Glenn Youngkin, AG Jason Miyares, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle‑Sears and VP J.D. Vance have called for him to withdraw and some Democrats (including Rep. Abigail Spanberger) have condemned the language but stopped short of demanding he end his campaign.
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📌 Key Facts
- Resurfaced 2022 text messages from Jay Jones include an explicit line quoted by CBS: "Gilbert gets two bullets to the head."
- Jones publicly apologized, said he was "embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry," took full responsibility, and his campaign did not challenge the accuracy of the texts.
- Jones said he reached out personally to Speaker Todd Gilbert and his family and spoke by phone with Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner; reporting notes Jones described Gilbert’s children dying in the arms of their mother during those exchanges.
- CBS cited on‑the‑record condemnations calling for withdrawal or criticizing the remarks from officials including Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle‑Sears and J.D. Vance.
- Fox reported that Rep. Abigail Spanberger condemned the violent language but, after a frank conversation with Jones, did not call for him to withdraw.
- Republican leaders including Gov. Glenn Youngkin, AG Jason Miyares and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle‑Sears sharply condemned the texts and called on Jones to drop out; Youngkin publicly called for Jones to withdraw on Oct. 4, 2025.
- Despite the backlash and mounting political pressure amid early voting, multiple fellow Democrats were publicly standing by Jones and, according to reporting, none had formally asked him to end his campaign.
📚 Contextual Background
- The Virginia Attorney General election contest between Jay Jones and incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares is scheduled for November 4, 2025.
📰 Sources (4)
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.