Virginia Democrats are standing by gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger as she navigates a texting scandal that has emerged less than a month before the election.
Recent developments in the gubernatorial race revealed that Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones sent messages in 2022 that hinted at violence against former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R). Republicans are leveraging Jones’ comments to attack Spanberger, especially in the context of growing concerns over political violence.
While Spanberger has openly condemned the texts, she chose not to demand Jones leave the debate on Thursday night with Republican candidate Winsome Earl Sears. Many Democrats see Spanberger’s approach as appropriate, even as Republican criticism intensifies.
“She made it clear that she owns her words,” state House Speaker Don Scott (D) said after the debate. “She criticized his remarks but emphasized that she has her own campaign to focus on.”
The scandal dominated the debate in Norfolk, where Earl Sears repeatedly interrupted Spanberger, pressing her on the controversy.
“Jay Jones advocated the murder of a former Speaker of the House and his children,” Sears stated. “What if he said that about your three kids?”
Debate moderators questioned Spanberger about her support for Jones, but she avoided a direct answer.
Republicans consider the Jones controversy a significant vulnerability for both Democratic candidates leading into November. Some members of the party also recognize that Earl Sears’ chaotic performance might have diluted some of his effective attacks on Spanberger.
“If I were Winsome, I would’ve let her keep talking, because she was struggling to provide a solid answer,” noted former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell (R).
“She needed to strike a balance by condemning the comments, yet also suggesting it was up to voters to decide. That’s not exactly what leadership looks like,” he added.
Spanberger has been campaigning alongside Jones and Ghazala Hashmi, the lieutenant governor candidate, but each is running independently. During the debate, Spanberger attempted to distance herself from Jones.
“When I learned about those comments, I condemned them, and I will continue to do so,” she stated. “As a mother, a public servant, and a governor candidate, I stand firmly against them.”
When asked if she would still endorse Jones, Spanberger reiterated that voters should decide based on the new information. This response mirrored her initial reaction to the scandal issued by her campaign last week.
“She made a strong statement initially, and many Democrats were upset, feeling it was too strong. I believe she was right to stand by it,” said Democratic strategist Ben Tribbett.
“There wasn’t anything that occurred afterward to change her stance, so why would she shift from her original position during the debate?” he added.
The impact of the texting scandal on the attorney general race remains uncertain, but there is concern about potential voter splits. Current polls indicate Spanberger is leading Earl Sears by a wide margin, whereas the attorney general race appears much tighter.
A recent Christopher Newport University poll showed Jones ahead of Republican nominee Jason Miyares by six points, while an internal poll from Jones’ camp after the texting scandal found him slightly behind Miyares. Conversely, a Republican internal poll indicated Miyares was leading Jones by two points.
“Generally, recent elections have maintained a partisan consistency,” remarked McDonnell, who won the attorney general position during Virginia’s last divided election in 2005.
“I think the Democratic ticket will struggle overall, but specifically, Jay Jones may see a significant drop in support,” he noted.
On Thursday, before the debate, Jones campaigned at City Hall and criticized recent federal worker cuts amidst the government shutdown.
Last week, he issued two statements addressing the leaked messages, one of which criticized Miyares for “spreading slander through a Trump-controlled media outlet.”
In the second statement, Jones expressed his embarrassment and sorrow directly to Gilbert, the former Speaker he had mentioned.
Despite his follow-up responses and attempts to clarify, some Democrats worry that Jones has not fully extricated himself from the controversy. The upcoming debate against Miyares could be pivotal.
“You can’t win an AG election by merely changing the subject,” Tribbett commented. “He needs to offer a genuine apology and response, not just a rehearsed soundbite as he tries to steer back to normalcy.”
Miyares and moderators will have the chance to challenge Jones on the scandal in the coming week. Simultaneously, Jones has the opportunity to persuade voters to stick with him despite the fallout from the leaked texts.
“Abigail is effectively giving him a chance to explain himself,” said Tribbett. “However, that opportunity won’t last forever, nor will his party’s patience as he navigates this.”
