AG race takes dramatic turn with revelations of 2022 text messages

In Virginia, the race for Attorney General has taken a dramatic turn. Democratic candidate Jay Jones is under fire after 2022 text messages surfaced in which he suggested a prominent Republican, Todd Gilbert, should get “two bullets to the head.”

The messages, first reported by The National Review, have sparked bipartisan outrage. Jones has since publicly apologized, saying the messages made him “sick to his stomach,” and that he takes full responsibility. He says he has reached out to Gilbert and his family to apologize directly.

Gilbert, who was Virginia’s House Speaker at the time of the texts, is now a former legislator and has not commented. Jones was not in office when he sent the messages but had previously served as a state delegate.

Republican incumbent Jason Miyares, whom Jones is challenging, condemned the comments as deeply disturbing, saying they reflect an “incredibly dark place.” Other Democrats, including gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger and lieutenant governor candidate Ghazala Hashmi, also condemned the violent language.

Governor Glenn Youngkin said this Monday on Fox and Friends.

“I thought this was a joke because no one could write this. This is demented and here we have the Democrat candidate running for attorney general, the top cop in Virginia, wishing not only that he had two bullets to put in a guy’s head but then he wishes death on his children,” Youngkin said. in an interview Monday on “Fox & Friends.”

“But that is where the violent left of the Democrat Party is. This is where these folks are,” he continued.

The Republican Attorneys General Association has called on Jones to drop out of the race, calling the remarks “abhorrent” and unfit for someone seeking to represent law enforcement.