Democratic Strategist’s Controversial Joke After Virginia Election

During an episode of “Politics War Room,” Democratic strategist James Carville made a lighthearted comment regarding the possibility of nominating a convicted felon, specifically a pedophile, for the Democratic party’s candidacy following Jay Jones’ recent victory as Virginia’s attorney general.

Jones won despite facing criticism from leaked text messages he sent in 2022 to his then-Republican colleague, Carrie Coyner. In those messages, he made threats against former Republican state House Speaker Todd Gilbert, suggesting he would give him “two bullets to the head” and then urinate on his grave. Carville, while joking, remarked that perhaps with former President Trump possibly holding the party back, a candidate like this might perform better against a Republican.

“I’m personally going to find a convicted pedophile and put him in a race to see if he can beat a Republican,” Carville said with a chuckle. “I don’t get it. I’m not saying a convicted pedophile can win.”

Carville also acknowledged Jones’ opponent, Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, for running a commendable campaign, while pointing out that Coyner lost her re-election bid in the House of Delegates—the whole situation he described as “the most interesting news this cycle.”

“The Republicans who released the documents lost, and Jay won,” he noted with amusement, suggesting that the Republicans might have overplayed their hand, especially with the association to Trump.

In the leaked texts, Jones had written that if he were faced with Gilbert, Adolf Hitler, and Pol Pot standing in front of him with a gun loaded with two bullets, “Gilbert would receive two bullets to the head.” This information was confirmed by National Review, which obtained the message.

Virginia Democrats, including figures like Sen. Tim Kaine and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have continued to support Jones despite the controversy, showing no inclination to push for his resignation.

On election day, Democrats achieved significant victories across Virginia, including wins for the governorship, lieutenant governorship, and a sizeable number of House seats.

Jones garnered 52.7% of the statewide vote compared to Miyares’ 46.9%, with over 96% of the expected votes counted, as reported by NBC News. Prior polls had suggested a competitive race according to The New York Times.