Democratic candidate Jay Jones, running for Attorney General in Virginia, has decided to cancel a fundraiser set for Thursday night. This decision came after he faced criticism for past text messages where he expressed a desire to put “two bullets” into the head of a Republican colleague.
The fundraiser was supposed to take place at the home of author David Baldacci, with several donors expected to attend. The cancellation hints that Jones’ campaign might still be dealing with fallout from his controversial remarks. Interestingly, despite this turmoil, his fellow Virginia Democrats have not pushed for him to withdraw from the race.
In a recent campaign advertisement titled “Two Bullets,” Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears targeted her Democratic rival, Abigail Spanberger, who previously served in the Virginia House of Representatives. The ad directly mentions Jones’ comments, saying, “Jay Jones says he wants to put two bullets into his political opponents,” and encourages Spanberger to allow her anger to motivate her. The narrator also refers to a headline stating, “Jones Says He Wants Opponent’s Child to Die,” implying a serious accusation against Jones.
In response to Jones’ messages, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has rolled out a significant advertising campaign, spending around $1.5 million in retaliation to Jones’ past statements.
The controversial text from Jones dates back to 2022, where he allegedly used a hypothetical scenario to discuss whom he would target if given two bullets and three people to choose from. In his message, he named then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert and expressed a clear preference for Gilbert as the target, implying he would receive both bullets. This resurfaced communication comes during a time of heightened sensitivity towards violent political language, especially after recent acts of violence tied to political figures.
Even among Democrats, there has been a recognition of how “violent words precede violent actions,” emphasizing the need for a culture that condemns violent rhetoric. Jones has yet to respond to requests for commentary regarding this incident, while Miyares’ representative also chose not to comment.
