Virginia sheriffs’ association urges Jay Jones to withdraw over violent texts
Resurfaced 2022 text messages in which Democratic Virginia attorney‑general candidate Jay Jones reportedly wrote violent lines including “Gilbert gets two bullets to the head” have prompted Jones to apologize, accept responsibility and say he reached out to Speaker Todd Gilbert and his family. The Virginia Law Enforcement Sheriffs’ Association — representing 86 sheriffs — sent a letter demanding Jones withdraw, Republicans and other critics pressed him to step aside, several Democrats publicly defended or declined to call for his exit, and Jones canceled a fundraiser amid the widening backlash.
Public Safety
Media
Elections
Campaign Finance
Ethics
Politics
📌 Key Facts
- Resurfaced August 2022 text messages from Jay Jones included explicit violent language — including the line, “Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.”
- Jones issued a public apology saying he was "embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry," said he took full responsibility, did not dispute the texts' accuracy, and said he reached out personally to Speaker Todd Gilbert and his family; reporting also says he spoke by phone with Republican Del. Carrie Coyner, with accounts that he described Gilbert’s children dying in the arms of their mother.
- The Virginia Law Enforcement Sheriffs' Association (representing 86 sheriffs), local sheriffs and a commonwealth’s attorney publicly condemned the messages and sent a letter demanding Jones withdraw from the attorney general race; Gov. Glenn Youngkin and other Republican officials also urged Jones to drop out.
- Democratic reaction was mixed: multiple Democrats publicly stood by Jones or declined to call for his withdrawal; Sen. Tim Kaine defended Jones while calling the texts "indefensible," Rep. Abigail Spanberger condemned the language but did not demand he leave the race, and several U.S. senators largely declined to call for his ouster when pressed.
- A separate allegation from former Del. Carrie Coyner says Jones told her in 2020 that if more police were killed it would reduce civilian shootings; Jones denied making that statement and said he supports law enforcement.
- Fundraising and donor scrutiny grew: Everytown for Gun Safety formally endorsed Jones and gave $200,000 in August 2025; the largest individual donor identified, Elizabeth Simons, has given $750,000 to Jones; Sen. Mark Warner made a $25,000 contribution in August and was linked to a joint ActBlue fundraising page; Jones canceled a planned fundraiser at novelist David Baldacci’s home and the campaign told donors their contributions would be refunded.
- Political attacks escalated: the Miyares campaign launched a $1.5 million ad buy targeting Jones, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle‑Sears released a minute‑long “Two Bullets” ad tying Abigail Spanberger to Jones and promoted it on social media, and national Republican figures including former President Trump urged Jones to withdraw.
- Media figures and commentators across networks publicly urged condemnation or for Jones to leave the race (including Joe Scarborough and MSNBC panelists), and coverage of Democrats’ responses — and perceived silence from some national Democrats — intensified pressure and scrutiny on Jones and his backers.
📚 Contextual Background
- In Virginia, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run for and are elected to their offices separately rather than on a single ticket.
📰 Sources (22)
Spanberger refuses to urge Jay Jones to exit race, dodges questions after ‘two bullets’ texts
New information:
- At Thursday’s Virginia gubernatorial debate, Abigail Spanberger declined to say whether she still endorses AG candidate Jay Jones or to urge him to exit the race.
- Spanberger said, "as of now, it's up to every voter to make their own individual decision," and noted she condemned Jones’ rhetoric when she learned of it.
- Winsome Earle-Sears pressed Spanberger onstage to call for Jones to withdraw, citing Jones’ 'two bullets' text referencing then–Speaker Todd Gilbert and his children.
- Spanberger accused Earle-Sears of selectively condemning violent rhetoric; Earle-Sears said she would not personally use certain rhetoric attributed to President Trump but did not condemn it.
AG-turned-senator lambasts Democrats' silence on Jay Jones as sheriffs call for ouster: 'We will not follow'
New information:
- The Virginia Law Enforcement Sheriffs' Association (representing 86 sheriffs) sent a letter to Jay Jones demanding he withdraw from the AG race over his violent text messages.
- Association president Sheriff Richard Vaughn and officials from Campbell, Mecklenburg, and Wise counties signed the letter, calling Jones’ remarks 'disgusting' and 'unacceptable.'
- The letter asserts Jones advocated violence against a family, including children, and allegedly said more police deaths would reduce civilian shootings.
- Sen. Eric Schmitt (R‑Mo.), a former state attorney general, publicly condemned Jones’ texts and criticized Democrats’ silence.
- Sen. Tim Kaine defended Jones’ candidacy, while Sens. Mark Warner, Adam Schiff and Chris Coons declined to comment in encounters with reporters.
- Smyth County Sheriff Chip Schuler and the local commonwealth’s attorney also criticized Jones, adding to law‑enforcement pushback.
- Virginia AG Jason Miyares highlighted additional negative reactions from law enforcement around the state.
Who is Elizabeth Simons? Meet the largest individual donor to Virginia's disgraced Dem AG nominee
New information:
- Identifies Elizabeth 'Liz' Simons as the largest individual donor to Jay Jones, giving $750,000 to his campaign in four payments.
- Details that Simons gave $250,000 in August to a super PAC aligned with Zohran Mamdani.
- Notes Simons' broader giving: millions to Senate Majority PAC, substantial gifts to House Majority PAC, and over $800,000 to a PAC backing Kamala Harris.
Joe Scarborough tells Dem candidate Jay Jones to leave race over violent comments against GOP lawmaker
New information:
- MSNBC host Joe Scarborough publicly urged Jay Jones to withdraw from the Virginia attorney general race in an X thread, calling the 2022 texts 'disqualifying.'
- Scarborough's direct quoted appeal: he wrote Jones 'should [withdraw] from the Attorney General’s race at once' for the good of Virginia.
- Article reiterates specific text excerpts from 2022 and notes Del. Carrie Coyner's campaign confirmed the texts' authenticity.
Scoop: Virginia AG candidate Jay Jones cancels fundraiser amid "two bullets" backlash
New information:
- Jay Jones cancelled a Thursday night fundraiser scheduled at novelist David Baldacci’s home.
- Democratic donors were told by a Jones campaign memo that their donations for the event would be refunded.
- The Miyares campaign is running a $1.5 million ad buy attacking Jones over the resurfaced texts.
- Sen. Tim Kaine was still scheduled to attend the fundraiser and has called Jones 'indefensible' while remaining a supporter; Kaine declined further comment via his spokesperson.
Mark Warner silent when pressed on whether Jay Jones should drop out over violent texts
New information:
- Sen. Mark Warner was approached by reporters and declined to comment when asked whether Jay Jones should drop out of the Virginia attorney general race.
- The article reports Warner was specifically pressed about whether he would demand Jones return a $25,000 donation and notes a joint ActBlue fundraising page linking Warner and Jones was discovered.
- Provides on‑the‑ground detail about Warner avoiding comment (location: Philip Hart Senate Office Building, en route to a Senate Intelligence Committee briefing) and contrasts Warner's silence with Sen. Tim Kaine's public defense of Jones.
‘Staggering’ silence: Democrats knocked for keeping mum about candidate who fantasized about murder
New information:
- On‑the‑record reporting that multiple Democratic U.S. senators (Wyden, Blumenthal, Coons, Warner, Welch) were asked about Jones and largely declined to call for him to drop out or resign, with specific reactions documented (Wyden: 'horrifying' but would not call for withdrawal; Blumenthal: unfamiliar; Coons: smiled and walked away; Warner: ignored; Welch: not familiar).
- Compilation of the senators who were approached by Fox News Digital and the verbatim or behavioral responses recorded in the interview attempts.
- Republican reaction quote from Sen. Ted Cruz labeling Democrats' silence 'staggering' in light of political violence, tying the candidate's texts to broader concerns about political rhetoric and violence.
Winsome Earle-Sears releases ‘Two Bullets’ ad scathing opponent for failing to demand Jay Jones’ ouster
New information:
- Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle‑Sears released a new campaign ad titled 'Two Bullets' attacking Abigail Spanberger for not demanding Jay Jones withdraw from the attorney‑general race.
- The ad intercuts a narrator saying 'Jay Jones says he wants to put two bullets in a political opponent' with a widely circulated clip of Spanberger saying 'Let your rage fuel you.'
- Spanberger campaign responded with a spokesperson statement condemning comments that justify violence and defending her record and continued support for Jones as a candidate.
Dem senator's hefty donation to disgraced AG candidate's campaign comes back to haunt him
New information:
- Disclosure that Sen. Mark Warner personally (via his campaign) made a $25,000 contribution to Jones’ campaign in August.
- Identification of an ActBlue joint fundraising page linking Jones and Warner for fundraising purposes.
- Public Republican response quoting NRSC regional press staffer Samantha Cantrell criticizing Warner for donating, endorsing, and fundraising with Jones despite the texts.
Kaine defends Jay Jones amid AG candidate’s texts envisioning murder of top Republican: ‘Still a supporter’
New information:
- Sen. Tim Kaine publicly defended Jay Jones and said he remains a supporter despite calling Jones's resurfaced texts 'indefensible.'
- Kaine quoted: 'Jay has apologized' and said the remarks appear 'not in character,' urging that Jones explain himself to Virginia voters.
- Kaine said the controversy is a 'significant challenge' for Jones but indicated he does not expect it to affect other statewide Democratic races.
Jay Jones said if more police were killed it would reduce shootings of civilians, according to VA lawmaker
New information:
- Former Del. Carrie Coyner alleges a 2020 conversation in which Jay Jones said 'Well, maybe if a few of them died, that they would move on, not shooting people, not killing people,' referring to police.
- This allegation is separate from the previously reported 2022 text messages that included 'Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.'
- Jones has issued a denial to Virginia Scope, saying he 'did not say this' and expressing support for law enforcement.
- Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin publicly called on Jones to abandon his campaign in response to the resurfaced messages and new allegation.
Democrats stand by Virginia AG hopeful who fantasized about killing GOP lawmaker
New information:
- Sen. Cory Booker has not rescinded his June endorsement of Jay Jones (office did not respond to inquiry).
- Offices of Reps. Eugene Vindman, Robert Scott and Suhas Subramanyam did not respond to requests about whether they are rescinding endorsements.
- Rep. Eugene Vindman publicly reaffirmed his support for Jones in a post on X after the National Review report.
- Abigail Spanberger condemned Jones' messages and said he must take responsibility but did not call for Jones to withdraw from the race.
- The Virginia Beach Democratic Committee issued a statement explicitly reaffirming support for Jones and urging voters to 'line up behind' him.
Democratic Virginia AG candidate apologizes for violent, inflammatory texts
New information:
- Jay Jones issued an on‑camera apology over resurfaced 2022 text messages containing violent language.
- CBS News aired a video segment (includes 'The Takeout' discussion) reporting the apology and contextualizing the resurfaced texts.
- The segment names reporters Julia Manchester (The Hill) and Sophia Cai (Politico) as contributors to the discussion.
Gun control group gave six-figure donation to Dem candidate who fantasized about shooting GOP lawmaker
New information:
- Campaign finance records show Everytown for Gun Safety gave Jay Jones $200,000 in August 2025.
- Everytown had formally endorsed Jones in June 2025 and its president John Feinblatt issued an endorsing statement.
- The article quotes Feinblatt's endorsement language and notes Fox News Digital sought comment from Everytown (no response reported).
Liberal MSNBC panelist calls for Virginia AG candidate to drop out over violent text messages
New information:
- MSNBC 'Morning Joe' panelist John Heilemann publicly urged Jay Jones to drop out of the Virginia AG race over the resurfaced violent texts.
- On‑air reactions from MSNBC co‑host Mika Brzezinski (calling the texts 'horrible') and reporting that Neera Tanden also condemned the messages on NBC's 'Meet the Press' were documented.
- The Fox News article reiterates the texts' content (including the line 'Gilbert gets two bullets to the head') and confirms Jones has apologized and said he is 'deeply ashamed.'
Youngkin presses Dems to push Jay Jones off Virginia AG ticket after 'beyond disqualifying' messages surface
New information:
- Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin publicly doubled down and urged Democrats to push Jay Jones off the attorney general ticket in an on‑air Fox & Friends interview.
- Youngkin said on Fox & Friends: 'This is beyond disqualifying' and urged Democrats to 'figure out where their moral compass is.'
- Article notes Jones did not deny the texts, blamed his opponent for planting stories, apologized and said he reached out to Todd Gilbert and his family.
Former Biden official calls Virginia AG candidate Jay Jones' violent texts part of a 'private conversation'
New information:
- Neera Tanden publicly responded on Meet the Press, condemning Jay Jones' violent text messages but characterizing them as part of a 'private conversation.'
- Tanden framed the texts as 'awful and disgusting' while pressing for equivalent condemnation of incendiary language by Republicans (including President Trump) in the same segment.
- The article includes a direct pushback quote from a spokesperson for Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares criticizing national Democrats for excusing Jones.
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.
+ 2 more sources