BREAKING: Jay Jones wins VA AG race despite scandal over fantasy of assassinating GOP colleague, children

Jones' campaign was plagued with scandal after it was revealed that in text messages he had fantasized about the assassination of a Republican colleague and that colleague's children. Despite that revelation, Democrat nominee for governor Abigail Spanberger continued to support him. She has also won her race.

Jones tried to walk back the comments he made, saying "I am so deeply, deeply sorry," he said, "for what I said. And I wish that it happened. And I would take it back if I could." However, the remarks he made in 2022 were horrific.

After the death of former state legislator Joe Johnson Jr. in 2022, former VA House Speaker Todd Gilbert publicly honored Johnson's legacy, which for Jones was abhorrent. Jones texted GOP House Delegate Carrie Coyner, though he said he meant to text someone else, about his wish for Gilbert to be shot to death.

"Three people, two bullets," Jones wrote. "Gilbert, hitler and pol pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head. Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time."

The two spoke on the phone and Coyner said that during that call Jones doubled down, saying that not only did he wish for Gilbert's death but also that Gilbert's wife should watch her own children die in her arms. Coyner was horrified and got off the phone only for Jones to continue texting.

She pointed out that Jones was "talking about hopping jennifer Gilbert's children would die" [sic] Jones served in the state legislature with Gilbert and according to a colleague at the time, the Gilbert children were always running around. Jones knew the very children for whose death he was advocating.

Jones replied "Yes, I've told you this before. Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy." He went on to say, "I mean do I think Todd and Jennifer are evil? And that they're breeding little fascists? Yes."

Spanberger was asked on the debate stage by her opponent, Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, if she stood by Jones. In response Spanberger stood there motionless, staring straight ahead, refusing to acknowledge the questions.

Spanberger's campaign organizer also appeared to be either in favor of or ambivalent to political violence. Undercover video revealed that her reaction to the public murder of Charlie Kirk was not at all one of sadness. When asked if she was sad about Kirk's murder, she laughed and said "Our stance on it for the most part has been we denounce political violence— And we are staying very far away from it."

Rather than run against Miyares, however, Jones chose to run against the president, saying "This race will decide whether we have an Attorney General who defends our freedoms, protects our democracy, and prioritizes the needs of Virginians – or one who takes directives from Donald Trump. The stakes couldn’t be higher."