Virginia Governor Critiques Democratic Leaders Over Controversial Candidate

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has taken aim at Democratic lawmakers in the state, accusing them of a “lack of courage” following their decision not to censure attorney general candidate Jay Jones. This comes after Jones allegedly sent threatening text messages aimed at political opponents and police officers.

“He emailed me saying he wanted to put two bullets in the head of the former Speaker of the House and see kids die too, so that a few police officers would also die,” Youngkin shared during an interview with American Report. “Democratic leaders across the state are trying to downplay this as if that’s not what he really said.”

Response to Jay Jones’ Text Messages

Jones, who previously served as a state representative, is currently running for attorney general alongside Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger in Virginia’s upcoming election this November.

Last week, during a debate, Spanberger defended her support for Jones, even as he faced scrutiny over the text messages that surfaced from 2022. These messages revealed him expressing a desire to harm then-Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert, with the revelation coming just days before the debate against his Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earl Sears.

Interestingly, in another incident from 2020, Jones reportedly suggested that fewer shootings might occur if more police officers were killed, as relayed by a former colleague to The Virginia Scope.

“The reality is that Abigail Spanberger had three opportunities in the recent debate to state she would no longer support Jay Jones, and she didn’t,” Youngkin noted. Despite calling Jones’ comments “abhorrent,” Spanberger stopped short of withdrawing her backing for him.

Concerns Over Political Momentum

Youngkin emphasized that Spanberger’s reluctance to distance herself from Jones could significantly impact the gubernatorial race’s momentum. “I believe this race will be rocky,” he stated, underlining the importance of voter participation in Virginia.