Virginia AG Race Explodes: Jay Jones Apologizes for Graphic Texts Fantasizing Shooting Rival and Kids
It started as a normal Friday in October, but Virginia politics exploded into a national story. Old text messages from three years ago came out, showing Jay Jones—a Democrat running for attorney general—joking about shooting a Republican leader named Todd Gilbert and even his kids.
The story came from National Review. It showed texts from August 2022 between Jones (a former lawmaker from Norfolk and once an assistant attorney general) and Republican Del. Carrie Coyner from Chesterfield. In the messages, Jones imagined Gilbert getting “two bullets to the head.” He then wished the lawmaker’s children would “die in their mother’s arms.”
These texts were sent right after Gilbert sent kind words about the death of a retired Democratic lawmaker, Joe Johnson. Everyone in Virginia politics—and even outside—was shocked. Coyner confirmed the texts were real in a statement that night. She called them “disgusting” and said no public official should say things like that.
“On August 8, 2022, I texted Jay Jones,” she said. “What he said was disturbing and made him unfit for office. He wished harm on a colleague’s kids and joked about shooting Todd Gilbert.”
That same night, Jones admitted he sent the messages. He said he takes full blame. He apologized straight to Gilbert and his family. He promised to earn back the trust of Virginians.
Republicans Jump on the Story
This changed a close race for attorney general overnight. At first, Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares (the one already in office) didn’t comment. But on Saturday in Richmond, he held a quick news conference to blast Jones.
“The attorney general is Virginia’s top cop,” Miyares said. “It needs character and honesty. Jay Jones is reckless, biased, and throws away his honor. This makes him unfit.”
Miyares, who used to be a prosecutor, said he comforted crying victims of violence. He called Jones’s words “dark” and said they disqualify him from office.
Governor Glenn Youngkin posted on X (formerly Twitter) agreeing. He called the texts “violent, disgusting” aimed at a leader and his kids.
“Jay Jones said ‘Gilbert gets two bullets to the head’ and hoped his children would die,” Youngkin wrote. “No simple ‘sorry’ fixes this. Jones lacks the morals to stay in the race.”
Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears (now running for governor as a Republican) went even harder. She linked it to her Democratic opponent, former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger.
“Jay Jones is the face of the Democratic establishment. He dreams about murdered kids in their mom’s arms,” Earle-Sears said. “My opponent Spanberger tells supporters to fill their hearts with rage. ‘Let your rage fuel you,’ she says. Words matter.”
Her campaign put out a TV ad Sunday morning repeating this. But Spanberger’s “rage” comment from 2024 was about getting voters excited to turn out—not about violence.
The Story Goes National
The mess spread fast outside Virginia.
On Saturday, Vice President JD Vance posted on X. He accused Democrats of being fake about violence.
“The Democrat running for AG in Virginia fantasizes about killing opponents,” Vance wrote. “I’m sure the folks freaking out over silly memes will join me in saying this crazy guy should quit.”
President Donald Trump jumped on Sunday on Truth Social. He called Jones a “Radical Left Lunatic” running against “the GREAT Attorney General Jason Miyares.” Trump said Jones made “SICK and DEMENTED jokes” about killing a Republican leader, his wife, and kids.
Trump said the remarks were “not funny” and “deranged.” He slammed Spanberger as “weak” for not hitting Jones harder. “Even Democrats say it’s time to QUIT THE RACE,” Trump wrote. He demanded Jones drop out right away. Then he gave his full endorsement to Miyares—his first for Virginia races this year. “JASON WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN.”
Other big Republicans piled on. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said there’s “no excuse” for wishing harm on a rival and their family. He told Jones to quit now.
White House aide Stephen Miller said it shows how “radical” Democrats have gotten.
Kris Kobach, head of the Republican Attorneys General group, called the texts “horrible” and said Jones should withdraw. They even made a website showing the full messages.
U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) said he was “very upset” about Jones imagining Mrs. Gilbert watching her kids die.
Virginia House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore (R-Scott) praised Coyner for speaking up against Jones’s “wrong and offensive” words.
John Reid, the Republican running for lieutenant governor, joined in on X. (Reid had his own scandal earlier this year over old explicit posts linked to him. Governor Youngkin asked him to quit, but he didn’t.) “Democrats have a violence issue. Jones said it too plainly,” Reid wrote. “Killing your rival and his kids? Unfit.”
Democrats Are Upset But Don’t Push Him Out
Virginia Democratic leaders all said the texts were awful—but none called for Jones to quit.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) called them “shocking” and not like the Jones he knows.
Spanberger (running for governor) said she was “disgusted.” She talked to Jones Friday and told him to own it.
“I told Jay he must take full blame,” she said. “As a candidate—and future governor—I’ll always call out violent talk in politics.”
State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (Democrat running for lieutenant governor) said Jones “must own the hurt his words caused.”
Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) was one of the strongest. He called it “a huge mistake that can’t be excused.”
“I see Todd Gilbert as a friend and good guy, even if we disagree,” Surovell said. “The comments about him and his family were way over the line.” He noted the timing—after condolences for a death—made it worse.
After slamming the texts, Virginia House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) campaigned Sunday in Coyner’s area. At Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Hopewell, he told churchgoers to stay focused on the big election issues.
“We need to think maturely about voting,” Scott said. “Don’t get sidetracked by texts or other distractions. They want us distracted—stay on track.”
Jones Says Sorry and Calls It a Big Error
Jones gave his “deepest apology” to Gilbert and his family. “Reading those words back made me sick. I’m embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry.”
He said he called Gilbert, his wife Jennifer, and their kids to say sorry in person. “I can’t undo it, but I’ll own it fully and apologize from the heart.”
He told Virginians they “deserve leaders who admit wrongs and fix them.” He called the texts “a grave mistake” and promised to prove he’s right for attorney general by fighting for people every day.
On Richmond TV station WRIC Friday night, Jones said live: “I’m so deeply sorry. I wish it never happened—I’d take it back if I could.”
His campaign didn’t answer more questions.
Some Democratic friends, especially from Jones’s home area in Hampton Roads, backed him while hating the texts.
State Sens. Louise Lucas (Portsmouth) and Mamie Locke (Hampton) said in a joint statement the comments were “deeply troubling.” But they said don’t let this distract from the November vote.
“No room for violence or violent words in politics,” they wrote. “Jay must own this. But we won’t let it overshadow Virginia’s future fight.” They praised his past work as a lawmaker and assistant AG, calling him “a dad to two young boys” with “the character for attorney general.”
A Last-Minute Election Shocker
This hits just one month before Virginia votes for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and all 100 House seats. It’s already seen as a sign for 2026 and the next presidential race.
For Republicans, it’s fuel for their “Democrats are extreme” message. For Democrats, it’s a unity test at the worst time.
As of Sunday afternoon, Gilbert hadn’t said anything publicly.
He’s a longtime Republican from the Shenandoah Valley and ex-House speaker. In June, he quit the legislature to become U.S. Attorney for western Virginia—but quit that job after one month.