A Democratic candidate for Virginia attorney general is facing fierce backlash after shocking text messages surfaced in which he joked about shooting a Republican lawmaker—then-Speaker Todd Gilbert—in the head and insulted the GOP leader’s family.
According to texts obtained by Fox News Digital, Jay Jones—once hailed as a rising star in the Virginia Democratic Party—made the violent remarks in 2022, just months after stepping down from the state legislature. The comments were part of an unhinged conversation with Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner following the death of a respected bipartisan colleague.
“Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot,” Jones wrote. “Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.”
Coyner responded in disbelief: “Jay. Please stop.”
But Jones pressed on. “Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time,” he added.
The conversation grew darker as Jones wondered aloud if Gilbert and his wife Jennifer were “breeding little fascists.”
The texts have ignited outrage across Virginia’s political landscape, with Republicans demanding that Jones withdraw from the race immediately.
“This isn’t just distasteful—it’s deranged,” said Delegate Geary Higgins (R-Lovettsville). “We’ve already seen what happens when Democrats normalize political violence. They shot the president. They killed Charlie Kirk. They threatened to kill Kim Taylor—and now this. The left’s so-called ‘rage politics’ are getting people hurt.”
House Speaker Todd Gilbert, who recently stepped down after serving as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia under President Donald Trump, has not publicly commented on the remarks. However, a source close to Gilbert described the texts as “deeply disturbing and unforgivable.”
A spokesperson for Coyner’s campaign confirmed the authenticity of the messages first reported by National Review, calling them “disqualifying for anyone seeking public office.”
“Jay Jones wished violence on the children of a colleague and joked about executing another. That’s not leadership—it’s hate speech,” the spokesperson said.
The scandal has also split Virginia Democrats. Gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger—already under fire for past comments about letting “rage fuel” her campaign—quickly distanced herself from Jones, saying she spoke “frankly” with him about her “disgust.”
“I will always condemn violent language in our politics,” Spanberger said in a statement.
Political observers note that Jones, once viewed as a moderate voice from Norfolk, has veered sharply left since 2021, embracing the “activist energy” of progressive groups that oppose what they call the “Trump-Miyares machine.”
But the discovery of his violent rhetoric could sink his campaign before it begins.
“This is exactly the kind of extremist talk that has voters flocking back to President Trump and Republicans in Virginia,” said conservative analyst Dana Hall. “People are tired of Democrats talking about ‘unity’ one minute and fantasizing about shooting their opponents the next.”
Jones has not denied sending the messages. Instead, he lashed out at Attorney General Jason Miyares—his Republican opponent—accusing him of “dropping smears through Trump-controlled media outlets.”
“Like all people, I’ve sent texts I regret,” Jones said in a statement. “This is about whether Donald Trump controls Virginia or Virginians control Virginia.”
Republicans immediately blasted that defense as pathetic.
“Typical,” said Miyares campaign manager Tom Ellison. “When caught red-handed, Democrats don’t apologize—they point fingers at President Trump. Virginians deserve an attorney general who defends the rule of law, not someone who jokes about murder.”
Political violence has become an increasingly visible concern across the country since 2024, as radicalized activists—many aligned with far-left movements—have targeted conservatives in protests, online threats, and now, apparently, private conversations among elected officials.
“This is what happens when hatred becomes a political strategy,” said Richmond resident and military veteran Sarah Tomlinson. “We’ve got kids watching this. If this is how Democrats talk about Republicans, what’s next?”
Jay Jones’ campaign has yet to respond to new calls for his withdrawal from the attorney general race.
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Not very smartSent from my iPhone
all I can say this is typical for a democRAT. I surely would not want him as a state attorney general> what is wrong with the democRAT Party. they have gone Louny.
Why isn’t he arrested isn’t that a death threat?