Virginia Democrats face scrutiny over pattern of political violence

Last week, Virginians across the political spectrum were shocked to read text messages from Democratic Attorney General Candidate Jay Jones, who fantasized about killing a former Republican colleague and wishing death on his children. But this is just the beginning of Virginia Democrats’ disturbing embrace of political violence.

As National Review First, in 2022, just after resigning from the house of delegates, Jones sent a disturbing text message to another legislator stating that if her Republican colleagues died before her, she would “go p— p— to their funerals.”

Jones later said that if there were “two bullets” and faced with the prospect of shooting Pol Pot, Adolf Hitler and former Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert, “Gilbert would take two bullets to the head.”

Jones later called Gilbert and his wife “evil,” saying they were “raising little fascists” and wishing death on their children. Jones specifically stated that he hoped Gilbert’s children would die in their mother’s arms.

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All of these comments are repulsive, disgusting and completely disqualifying for anyone seeking public office.

Jay Jones wants Virginians to trust him to protect them as the Commonwealth’s top cop, but it’s clear he harbors intense, violent malice towards anyone who disagrees with him. There’s no doubt Jones will weaponize his office against his political opponents. There would be no fair and impartial pursuit of justice under Attorney General Jay Jones.

When pressed on past statements, Jones claimed outrageously HE It was the real victim who accused Attorney General Jason Miyares of “leaving smears from Trump-controlled media outlets.” No regrets. No apology. Just more hate and vitriol.

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Equally shocking has been the lack of calls for Jones to leave the race. In 2019, prominent Virginia Democrats, including Abigail Spanberger, Mark Warner, Tim Kaine and Terry McAuliffe, Democratic Gov. He called for Ralph Northam to resign over a decades-old yearbook photo showing him in a racist costume.

But now Spanberger says he only “spoke openly” to Jones after he repeatedly and openly wished death on his political rivals and their children. He did not rescind Jones’ enthusiastic endorsement and did not urge him to leave the race.

Here’s what Virginians want to know: How can Abigail Spanberger claim to be against political violence when she condones it from candidates with whom she shares a ticket? Would Spanberger hire a commentator like Jones? How can anyone trust Jones when he doesn’t even have the courage to call on him to stand down?

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Every Virginia Democrat should make it clear whether they believe Jay Jones should fall.

Unfortunately, Abigail Spanberger is part of the Virginia Democrats’ violence problem. During several recent campaign stoppages, Spanberger urged his supporters to “let your anger fuel you.” When criticized over these comments, Spanberger refused to back down — even as multiple Virginia Republicans faced credible death threats.

Just days before Jones’ texts became public, a man was arrested for threatening the life of Petersburg Republican Del. Kim Taylor. Prior to this, Del Geary Higgins of Lovettsville texted a death threat in which the individual threatened to shoot Higgins at his next rally.

These developments also follow the disgusting response from many Virginia Democrats to the killing of Charlie Kirk last month.

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Immediately after that shooting, Democrat Chesterfield County School Superintendent Dot Heffron, who has been endorsed by both Spanberger and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ghazala Hashmi, said, “Call me old-fashioned, but I remember when we were good at shooting Nazis.” Jasmine Frye, identified as an employee of Spanberger’s campaign, published “F around and learn” in response to Kirk’s assassination.

Meanwhile, a Virginia Democratic PAC finance director took to mocking those upset by Kirk’s death and claiming his killing was “objectively funny.” In another case, Katie Pillis, Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner’s case operations coordinator posted snide remarks about Kirk’s shooting on Instagram.

Spanberger and the Virginia Democrats want us to dismiss all of these events as isolated outbursts. But the pattern is undeniable.

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This isn’t just about Jay Jones. It’s about a Democratic party in Virginia that conveniently excuses, rationalizes, and even encourages political violence and murder. When their candidates joke about killing Republicans, when their operatives laugh at assassinations, when their leaders tell supporters to let them direct “rage,” what they’re really doing is setting the stage for more threats, more intimidation, and more bloodshed.

Virginians should not tolerate this. We cannot hand the keys of government to a party that shrugs off violence against its rivals. If Democrats aren’t going to draw a line, voters must.

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