Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears’ (R) gubernatorial campaign rolled out an ad tying her Democratic opponent, Abigail Spanberger, to the fallout over leaked text messages from Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones.
The ad opens with a series of clips from news anchors about Jones’ unearthed 2022 text messages from Jones calling for the then-statehouse speaker to get “two bullets to the head.”
A series of images of Spanberger and Jones together on the campaign trail is shown as the former congresswoman praises the Democratic attorney general nominee prior to news of the existence of the correspondence.
The ad comes as the revelation over the text messages rocks Virginia’s off-year elections. The messages were first reported by the National Review, and the texts were later published by the Republican Attorneys General Association.
“Three people, two bullets,” Jones said in a text to House Delegate Carrie Coyner (R) about former House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R ).
“Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot.” Jones wrote. “Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.”
“Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time,” Jones told Coyner.
Coyner, in response, told Jones, who at the time did not hold an elected office, to stop. Jones on Friday apologized for the messages, stating he reached out to Gilbert and his family to express regret.
“I am so deeply, deeply sorry for what I said and I wish that it hadn’t happened and I would take it back if I could,” Jones told WRIC, which is owned by The Hill’s parent company Nexstar Media Group, on Friday.
Spanberger rolled out a statement following the news of the text messaging, condemning the correspondence.
“After learning of these comments earlier today, I spoke frankly with Jay about my disgust with what he said and texted,” Spanberger said. “I made clear to Jay that he must fully take responsibility for his words. What I have also made clear is that as a candidate–and as the next governor of the commonwealth, I will always condemn violent language in our politics.”
The text messages come as Americans grapple with an uptick in political violence, particularly following the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last month.
Republicans across the country, including Vice President Vance, were quick to call on Jones to drop out of the race over the weekend.
“The Democrat candidate for AG in Virginia has been fantasizing about murdering his political opponents in private messages,” Vance said in a post on X. “I’m sure the people hyperventilating about sombrero memes will join me in calling for this very deranged person to drop out of the race.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair also called on Jones to end his campaign.
“Maybe seek counseling or something,” Blair said in a post on X. “This not forgivable for someone trying to become a top law enforcement agent.”
In a post on TruthSocial, Trump said the text messages from Jones made him “sick” and called Spanberger “weak and ineffective.”
“Democrat Jay Jones should drop out of the race immediately, and the people of Virginia must continue to have a great Attorney General in Jason Miyares, who by the way has my complete and total endorsement,” the president said.
Updated at 11:55 a.m. EDT
