Controversial Victory in Virginia Attorney General Race
A Democrat, previously arrested for sending threatening messages about a Republican and his children, has unexpectedly won the attorney general race in Virginia. This follows a campaign filled with controversy.
Incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican, faced off against former Virginia Delta state Senator Jay Jones. Despite the scandal surrounding the death threats, Miyares was unable to secure victory.
As the polls closed at 7 p.m. local time, Fox News projected Jones as the winner around 9:50 p.m. making this race one of the most costly in U.S. history—Republicans spent $21.9 million while Democrats spent $14.9 million. Interestingly, CNN’s exit poll showed mixed results with Miyares winning male voters by 18 points, while Jones led among female voters.
The controversy traces back to a text sent by Jones in August 2022 that was revealed by National Review, including violent remarks directed at then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert. Republicans pushed for Jones to remove himself from the race, but he persisted.
“Three people, two bullets,” Jones had texted. His reference to Gilbert and some notorious figures raised eyebrows, and he reportedly went on to express similar sentiments about Republican children.
Initially, Jones did not deny sending the texts. He acknowledged sending regrettable messages and stressed that violent rhetoric is unacceptable in politics. “This election isn’t just about me; it’s about whether we remain accountable to the people of Virginia, not to Trump,” he argued.
Later, he apologized and accepted responsibility for his words, though his competitors and the public had already reacted strongly. Notably, a Fox News exit poll indicated that 46% of voters found his texts disqualifying, while some expressed concerns but weren’t as decisive in their judgment.
Miyares, the first Hispanic American elected in Virginia, called for Jones to step down during the campaign. “Will we pass the test of common sense?” Miyares questioned in his closing statements.
