Virginia AG Race Roiled by Jay Jones’ Text Scandal as November Elections Loom
Virginia AG Race Roiled by Jay Jones’ Text Scandal as November Elections Loom
Bombshell text messages from Virginia Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones, revealed late last week, have sent shockwaves through his campaign against incumbent Jason Miyares (R) as the November elections draw near. The controversial messages, reportedly from 2022, include Jones joking about shooting then-Virginia state House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R) and stating, ‘Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.’ While Jones initially dismissed the comments, he later issued a more contrite statement.
The scandal has prompted strong criticism from top Democrats, though none have called for his withdrawal, citing Virginia law making a replacement on the ballot too late. Republicans, including former President Trump, are actively amplifying the story, with Miyares already running attack ads highlighting the texts. The timing is particularly sensitive given recent political violence, including the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk last month.
Early voting in Virginia is already underway, with approximately 390,000 votes cast as of Tuesday, representing about 12% of the total votes from the last gubernatorial cycle. Voter data indicates an early Democratic lean, typical for the state.
Amidst the AG race drama, other controversies have surfaced, including a report by Virginia Scope citing state Del. Carrie Coyner’s claim that Jones suggested in 2020 that police officer deaths might change policy—a claim Jones denies. Additionally, Jones faced a headline last week regarding a 2022 speeding incident where he drove 116 mph, leading to community service, some of which reportedly benefited his PAC.
Meanwhile, Republican lieutenant gubernatorial nominee John Reid is also facing renewed scrutiny over a Tumblr blog allegedly linked to him, which reportedly shared pornographic and Nazi-fetishizing content, a story Democrats are now amplifying. Despite these controversies, gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger (D) remains favored, though the AG race’s competitiveness has intensified.
Beyond Virginia, two other crucial November races are heating up. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom (D) and his allies appear to be gaining ground on Proposition 50, a ballot issue designed to authorize a Democratic congressional gerrymander. Fundraising heavily favors the ‘Yes’ campaign, and recent polls suggest it holds a consistent lead, despite the complexities of ballot measure polling. Republicans are reportedly growing pessimistic about defeating the measure with less than a month until the election.
Pennsylvania’s state Supreme Court retention elections are also drawing significant attention. Three Democratic-elected justices—Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht—face retention votes. Governor Josh Shapiro (D), enjoying high approval ratings, is actively campaigning for their retention, emphasizing their defense of abortion rights. While retaining judges is common, the outcome of these races could significantly impact the court’s 5-2 Democratic majority and set a precedent for future judicial elections, with Donohue’s seat facing an election in 2027 regardless due to mandatory retirement.
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