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Democratic Virginia Attorney General candidate Jay Jones is facing backlash online over an X post made in the wake of his text message scandal.
“As a father of two young boys, I know what it’s like to feel the pressure of food prices every week. I’m running for attorney general to protect families’ wallets from rising costs – be it rising tariffs or berry prices.” Jones wrote about X.
Many critics objected to his writing from his perspective as a father after a text message scandal rocked Virginia politics.
The Republican Attorneys General Association chimed in and said, “As a father of two young boys, you must think that anyone who dreams of killing children is seriously deranged and unfit for office!”
Jay Jones, who is running for Virginia attorney general, has come under fire for a series of text messages calling for the deaths of political opponents and comments about police officers. (Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post/Getty Images)
Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, also responded by calling Jones a “scumbag” and calling him out drop out of the race.
“‘As a father of two young boys,’ you should know that wishing death on the children of your political opponents is abhorrent. Get out, scumbag.” Gill wrote.
While some critics parsed Jones’ wording, Rep. Brad KnottR.N.C., simply asked, “What do you think about political violence?”
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger (center), attorney general candidate Jay Jones (left) and gubernatorial candidate Ghazala Hashmi (right) at a campaign rally on June 26, 2025. (Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Jones’ scandal came to light earlier this month when the National Review published text message exchanges between the Attorney General and his former colleague in the state parliament, Republican House Delegate Carrie Coyner. In the conversations, Jones appeared to incite violence against then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert, his wife Jennifer and their children.
“Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets in the head,” Jones wrote on August 8, 2022. In a subsequent text, he added: “Spoiler: Put Gilbert on the team with the two worst people you know and he gets both bullets every time.”
Coyner asked Jones to stop, adding: “It really bothers me when people talk about hurting people or wishing them dead.”
Virginia Attorney General candidate Jay Jones speaks at an event in Norfolk. (Trevor Metcalfe/The Virginian-Pilot/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Jones excused the tirade by saying he was asking questions. Coyner denied that was the case, saying Jones had “talked about it.” [hoping] Jennifer Gilbert’s children would die.
“Yes, I’ve told you this before. It’s only when people feel personal pain that they move toward politics,” Jones replied.
Coyner told National Review that she has not spoken to Jones since the exchange, aside from brief discussions about politics. In a statement, she told the outlet that “what he said was not only disturbing, but disqualifying for anyone seeking public office.”
Jones acknowledged the text messages and apologized. In a statement about it CBS Newshe said: “I would like to deeply apologize to Speaker Gilbert and his family. Reading those words again made me feel sick. I am embarrassed, ashamed and sorry.”
Democrats have largely avoided calling on Jones to drop out of the race or draw their consent of the contested candidate.
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares speaks during a campaign rally for gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears on July 1, 2025 in Vienna, Virginia. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
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On Thursday, Jones will debate his opponent, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, at the University of Richmond. The text scandal is expected to be addressed in the debate.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Jones’ campaign for comment.
