Virginia GOP's Winsome Earle-Sears Releases Ad Linking Democrats to Jay Jones' Violent Texts

Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears released a campaign ad spotlighting controversial 2022 text messages from Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones, in which Jones made violent remarks about shooting former Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his family. The ad connects Jones to gubernatorial opponent Abigail Spanberger, showing Spanberger's campaign trail appearances with Jones and implying her support for him despite the inflammatory texts. The backlash has been swift, with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin condemning Jones's messages as violent and disgusting, and former President Donald Trump calling Jones a "radical left lunatic" and urging him to withdraw from the race while endorsing Republican incumbent Jason Miyares. Jones apologized for his comments, expressing deep regret, but the controversy has intensified political tensions ahead of the Virginia elections. The scandal has also drawn criticism from Republican Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, who emphasizes the dangerous rhetoric of both Jones and Spanberger, and has been praised by supporters for her resilience amid political attacks. The Virginia governor's race has thus become a focal point of debate over political violence and accountability within the Democratic Party.