(The Center Square) – Leaked text messages from Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones describing violent fantasies have rattled Virginia’s 2025 races, but so far, party leaders across the commonwealth are standing by him.
Republicans quickly called for Jones to drop out. Gov. Glenn Youngkin said it was “beyond disqualifying,” and President Donald Trump weighed in on Truth Social, calling Jones a “Radical Left Lunatic” and urging Democrats to demand his resignation.
Trump also gave a “complete and total endorsement” to Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares.
Democrats have responded in different ways, but no one on the statewide ticket has joined GOP calls for Jones to step aside.
Sen. Mark Warner called the comments “appalling, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the person I’ve known.”
The Henrico County Democratic Committee defended Jones as accountable for past mistakes while accusing Republicans of trying to “weaponize this moment to distract from their own appalling record.”
The Virginia Beach Democratic Committee also reaffirmed its support, saying Jones “has taken responsibility, apologized, and shown he is committed to serving with integrity.”
In a statement, the group said Virginians deserve a leader who “learns, grows, and stands for everyday people — and Jay is that leader.”
One Democrat did break with the pattern. Rise Hayes, a House of Delegates candidate in District 52, said she withdrew from a planned fundraiser with Jones and that his texts were “disappointing and inappropriate.”
Hayes wrote, “The moment I choose the party line or money over my moral compass is the moment I should drop out of this race.”
Other Democrats, including Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., have continued to campaign alongside Jones and include him in appeals to voters.
Vindman urged Virginians to make a plan to vote early for Democrats up and down the ballot, naming Jones along with Abigail Spanberger and Ghazala Hashmi.
Jones has apologized for the texts, saying they were regrettable and that violent rhetoric has no place in politics. As previously reported by The Center Square, the messages, sent in 2022, described fantasies of killing House Speaker Todd Gilbert and included references to his family.
With less than four weeks until Election Day, Republicans are united in demanding Jones withdraw, while Democrats on the statewide ticket have condemned his words but stopped short of calling on him to step aside.
Election day is Nov. 4.
