Jay Jones scandal dominates Virginia political debate scheduled Thursday
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The former state of Virginia, Del. Jay Jones’ escalating scandal over messages calling for the killing of a Republican lawmaker and his young “fascist” children is expected to dominate the attorney general debate at the University of Richmond on Thursday.
The tentacles of the scandal have reached far beyond the Spiders’ home, as President Donald Trump and Republican leaders across the country tuned in to messages from Jones, D-Norfolk, and muted responses from fellow Democrats.
The latest Fox News-approved poll, conducted by Christopher Newport University on Oct. 3 before the scandal broke, showed Jones leading Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares by six points, with other Democrats statewide holding similar margins.
But anecdotal evidence suggests the race has tightened as Jones’ campaign floundered, with Miyares putting the three-seat Republican ticket largely on his shoulders.
JOE SCARBOROUGH TOLD DEM CANDIDATE JAY JONES TO LEAVE THE RACE BECAUSE OF VIOLENT COMMENTS AGAINST GOP REPRESENTATIVES
Virginia attorney general candidates Jay Jones and Jason Miyares (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images; Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post/Getty Images)
Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears criticized Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger on this issue during their own debate in Norfolk last week, repeatedly asking whether Jones should drop out of the race.
Spanberger rejected the call to resign, saying voters should decide, but some voters in the Shenandoah Valley told Fox News Digital they were disappointed he didn’t take a stronger stance.
Even as polls and public sentiment suggest his troubles could bring down the rest of the Democratic ticket, Jones’ fellow Democrats have either remained silent or vaguely supported the embattled former Biden administration Justice Department employee moving forward with his bid.
Top Democrats back Jones despite backlash
Current Speaker of the Virginia House of Representatives, Don Scott Jr. (D-Portsmouth) struck a defiant tone as he addressed the media after the gubernatorial debate, comparing and contrasting the situation with Trump’s own remarks about facing gun barrels in one of the war zones championed by Wyoming Republican Liz Cheney’s neoconservative stances.
Senate President L. Louise Lucas, D-Norfolk, and her caucus campaign chief, Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, later issued a joint statement supporting Jones and warning that keeping Miyares in office would be worse.
Earle-Sears, meanwhile, has a similar stance to Youngkin’s among the Republican base, but he continues to trail Spanberger in recent polls. However, Miyares has now either closed the gap or left Jones slightly behind; experts say that could help reduce overall Democratic turnout.
LIBERAL MEDIA BELIEVES DEM VIRGINIA AG SCANDAL
Republican gubernatorial candidate John Reid recently took to social media to criticize rival Sen. He reported approaching Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, but the content of the polls he mentioned were not immediately verifiable.
Together, these signs suggest that statewide competition is tightening in a community increasingly trending blue.
Virginia’s political unrest shifts again
In 2021, Republican Glenn Youngkin won an upset victory over outrage over parental rights for transgender athletes in school sports. Earle-Sears has since advocated for the same issue, while also criticizing Democrats for their silence or indecision about keeping Jones in the race.
Youngkin’s upset over Terry McAuliffe was an outlier compared to other recent Virginia runs; especially veteran Republican soldier Hung Cao’s 20-point defeat to Sen. Tim Kaine in the intervening 2024 election. Kamala Harris also defeated Trump that year.
A decade ago, Republicans still had some presence in densely populated Northern Virginia. Then-Prince William County chairman Corey Stewart, considered a staunch conservative, unsuccessfully sought statewide office but remained in leadership of the suburban county for many years.
Although he is currently opposed to Trump’s brand of Republicanism, then-Rep. Barbara Comstock was a popular office holder in what is now progressive Loudoun County. Del. Geary Higgins, R-Lovettsville, remains the only Republican delegate in the once-red county west of Washington. But he too will face a tough challenge against Warrenton innkeeper John McAuliff in November’s contest.
YOUNGKIN SAYS DEMOCRATIC AG CANDIDATE JAY JONES ‘should step back in shame’ OVER TEXTS ABOUT FORMER GOP LEADER
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin addresses the crowd at an early voting rally in Petersburg, Virginia, on September 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
During his campaign, Youngkin made repeated visits to southwestern Virginia to expand margins and increase turnout in Republican strongholds; this strategy, combined with support from concerned parents in northern Virginia’s Democratic-leaning suburbs, helped ensure his victory.
Jones’ messages revealed
In messages first reported earlier this month, Jones, R-Hopewell, Del., is running for office in 2022. He texted Carrie Coyner, imagining a scenario in which he would choose to “put two bullets” in the head of then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert, describing Gilbert as worse than dictators Pol Pot or Adolf Hitler.
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Jones also referred to Gilbert’s young children as “fascists” in the interview.
Although Democratic leaders have so far resisted calls for Jones to drop out of the race (including Youngkin), the comments have drawn condemnation from both parties.
