Jay Jones’s Controversial Rise: Virginia AG Race and the Role of Political Scandal
The 2025 Virginia attorney general election delivered a bombshell to Republicans and concerned Americans alike as Democrat Jay Jones clinched victory over incumbent Jason Miyares (R). In an era where law and order, political civility, and public trust are supposed to anchor our democracy, the fact that Jones—the architect of some of the most inflammatory and violent rhetoric ever texted by a statewide candidate—won is an ominous sign for the future of decency in our government.
Jay Jones’s 53% victory over Miyares despite open, documented fantasies about killing his political rivals stands as a stark warning to conservatives across America. Voters in the Commonwealth chose not only to overlook a candidate’s calls for violence and disregard for the rule of law, but to actually reward them with one of the most powerful offices in the state.
This was no typical campaign. The shocking scandal that broke in October—revealing that Jones had texted a Republican state lawmaker his wish to have “two bullets” and “shoot the Republican twice,” as well as his deranged hopes that the children of then-Speaker Todd Gilbert would “die in their mother’s arms”—might have derailed any other candidacy in past decades. Yet, the Democrat machine, aided by state party elites and the Black Caucus’s millions, managed to shield Jones and even turned the disaster into an opportunity, blaming the uproar on “Trumpism” rather than their own candidate’s choices. According to the Associated Press, Jones also had a conviction for reckless driving at 116 mph and performed community service at his own PAC, raising further ethical questions about his fitness for office.
Polls showed the vast majority of Democratic voters were unbothered by Jones’s dangerous rhetoric. “You can now say that you wish to see your opponent and his children brutally killed, and still win an election on the Dem side for a statewide office,” fumed one disillusioned Virginia voter on Election Night. Many were shocked that early voting rules—extended under the guise of pandemic precautions—meant thousands had cast ballots for Jones before news of his text messages hit the headlines.
“I think this election now is really a referendum on the Virginia Way,” said Jason Miyares (R). “Ten years ago, not in a million years would anybody even consider this mindset. But now, it seems that power is more important than decency.”
The Democratic sweep of all three statewide offices and both chambers in the General Assembly now leaves Republicans wondering if Virginia will ever return to the standards of conduct that once defined its “bipartisan collegiality.” With Virginia split nearly 50-50 by the numbers, the result also underscores the new power of scorched-earth politics and the continuing weakness of the GOP’s electoral infrastructure, especially with early voting’s unpredictable impact.
A Campaign Defined by Scandal and a Pushback Against Decency
Jay Jones, a Norfolk native and former assistant attorney general, was hardly new to the rough-and-tumble of Virginia politics. But his candidacy hit overdrive after old texts surfaced, exposing his previously hidden disdain for political civility. The rawness of his comments—publicly wishing death on opponents’ children, glorifying violence as politically useful, and cheering the deaths of police—ripped through news cycles for days. Yet, the coordinated Democratic machine, with help from wealthy special interests, circled the wagons. The Black Caucus in Virginia, seeing an opportunity to back the state’s first Black attorney general, dumped millions into the race, giving Jones the boost he needed to weather negative coverage.
According to the Associated Press, Jones’s family background in civil rights and legacy politics appealed to portions of Virginia’s urban voting bloc, even as moderate Democrats privately admitted grave discomfort with his track record. Republicans hammered the scandals up to the final hour, reminding voters not just of the texts, but of Jones’s reckless behavior: a reckless driving conviction and a highly publicized incident outside a polling place where Jones was caught on video kicking a dog. GOP candidate Kristin Hoffman summed up conservative anger, saying, “He really is an evil person. Who kicks a dog?” reported the Associated Press.
With months of campaign ads, televised debates, and aggressive ground-game tactics, Miyares’s team sought to define the race as a referendum on character. But Jones and Democrat strategists pushed back hard, spinning the controversy as a manufactured “Trumpian smear” and arguing the real threat to Virginians was not Jones’s conduct but a “hard-right federal agenda.” Jones repeatedly brought up Donald Trump (R) during debates, tying Miyares to federal cuts to Medicaid, proposed reductions in the civil service, and the economic pressure of new tariffs and tax cut bills—messaging that resonated in a state anxious about government jobs and public services. According to the Associated Press, this pivot allowed him to keep the heat off his own record.
“The text messages were vile, but it’s a symptom, not the disease,” said one Miyares supporter. “The real sickness is that our political process now rewards hate as long as you’re saying the ‘right’ things about Trump.”
On Election Night, as supporters urged Jason Miyares to consider a gubernatorial run, many Virginia conservatives reflected grimly on how far the state’s political environment has shifted—rewarding division over decency, and raw power over principled service. Republicans now look to the future with resolve, knowing every election matters more than ever.
Broader Ramifications: Virginia’s New Era and the National Conservative Response
Jay Jones’s election as Virginia attorney general, in spite of a campaign marred by outbursts, dangerous rhetoric, and criminal behavior, shows that the left’s machinery now dominates in high-stakes contests—even in battleground states. From a national standpoint, the implications are massive, and conservative leaders are already sounding the alarm.
With this victory, Democrats now control not only the AG’s office but also the governorship under Abigail Spanberger and both chambers of the legislature, giving them complete command of Virginia’s agenda. Conservative critics warn that this is precisely what happens when GOP turnout falters, early voting rules benefit Democrats, and the media refuses to hold progressives accountable.
Just four years ago, Jason Miyares (R)—a son of Cuban refugees—carried the attorney general’s office after pledging to restore order, constitutional protections, and American principles in Richmond. His narrow loss, coming on the heels of warnings that Jones’s dangerous language would wreck “the Virginia Way,” is a bitter pill for pro-freedom advocates. At Miyares’s concession event, supporters were already pressing him to run for governor next term. Calls for a bold comeback echoed through the room, especially from grassroots conservatives frustrated by the party’s performance and wary of internal division. Many had little faith in Winsome Earle-Sears (R), the GOP’s nominee for lieutenant governor, with some blaming her for broader Republican losses statewide.
How did a candidate whose open endorsement of violence was not just tolerated, but actively encouraged by many Democratic primary voters, manage to win? Analysts point to a combination of early voting (long expanded in the state by Democrats under COVID “emergency” justifications), urban mobilization, and relentless party discipline on the left. “We’ve entered an era where campaigns built on opposition to Trump—regardless of the issues at stake or the character of the candidate—can trample all standards of decency,” said a Virginia GOP strategist interviewed after the results.
“If you can win on a platform of hate and lies, what’s next for America’s future? This wasn’t just about Jones, it was a test for the whole country.”
For conservatives nationally, Virginia’s AG race is an urgent lesson in the need for stronger election infrastructure, candidate vetting, and voter education. Letting Democrats define the campaign narrative—even in the face of heinous scandals—will keep costing elections. As 2026 midterms approach, there are renewed calls for reforms on early voting windows, campaign finance oversight, and rigorous fact-based messaging across all 50 states.
One thing remains certain: the rise of Jay Jones proves the left will stop at nothing, while Republicans must rally around values, vigilance, and a united front if America’s best days are to return. Every contest counts.