Republicans have condemned Democratic Virginia Attorney General candidate Jay Jones after text messages emerged in which he talked about shooting a former Virginia House Speaker.
Jones reportedly told a Republican colleague in 2022 that, in a hypothetical scenario, if he were in a room with then-Republican Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert, Adolf Hitler, and Cambodian dictator Pol Pot, and he had two bullets, he would shoot Gilbert twice.
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“Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head,” Jones texted Republican House Delegate Carrie Coyner.
Jones made the statements after recently resigning from the state’s House. He had been expressing anger about the statements Republicans made eulogizing recently deceased former state legislator Joe Johnson Jr. He said that he would “piss” on the graves of the Republicans wishing Johnson peace.
Jones’ opponent, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, has not commented on the texts. However, the Republican Attorneys General Association told the Washington Examiner they believed Jones should “immediately” withdraw from the race.
“There is no place for political violence, including joking about it – especially from an elected official. Jay Jones should drop out of the Attorney General’s race. His comments are not acceptable from someone who wants to represent law enforcement,” RAGA Chairman Kris Kobach told the Washington Examiner in a statement.
The Republican State Legislative Campaign Committee, the top GOP campaign organization for state legislatures, did not call for Jones to drop out but said Virginia voters deserved “a full explanation.”
“Jay Jones’ recent comments have crossed a line that should never be crossed,” RSLC President Edith Jorge-Tuñón told the Washington Examiner in a statement.
“He owes Virginians a full explanation and an apology for his actions,” she added. “We urge leaders from both parties to denounce this behavior and reaffirm that threats — whether real or imagined —have no place in public service or our democracy. As political violence becomes more common, we need to rely on our public officials to lower the temperature and unite us, rather than divide us with such reprehensible comments.”
Virginia Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle called Jones’s comments, which also reportedly included wishing violence on Gilbert’s children, “abhorrent.” The Virginia GOP asked whether Virginians should support a candidate who “fantasizes” about shooting a political opponent, or whether they should reject the violent rhetoric.
In a statement to the Virginia Scope, Jones did not apologize but said, “like all people,” he’s sent text messages that he regrets.
“I believe that violent rhetoric has no place in our politics,” he said. “Let’s be clear about what is happening in the Attorney General race right now: Jason Miyares is dropping smears through Trump-controlled media organizations to assault my character and rescue his desperate campaign. This is a strategy that ensures Jason Miyares will continue to be accountable to Donald Trump, not the people of Virginia. This race is about whether Trump can control Virginia or Virginians control Virginia.”
Jones later apologized directly to Gilbert and his family.
Virginia Democrats have said publicly that Jones should apologize. Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, a Democrat, said Jones “needs to apologize now” and that his comments were “harmful, reckless, and wrong.”
Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas and state Sen. Mamie Locke, chair of Virginia Senate Democrats, said in a statement that Jones should “take accountability,” and that the party should “remain united” in their support for him.
Virginia’s Attorney General race was considered one of the most competitive statewide races for 2025.
A recent Washington Post-Schar School poll showed Jones ahead of Miyares 51% to 45% among likely voters.
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Jones is the youngest major party candidate running for statewide executive office in Virginia at 36 years old, over a decade younger than the 49-year-old Miyares.
President Donald Trump will visit Jones’s former district on Sunday to celebrate the Navy’s birthday.