Republican gubernatorial candidate, Winsome Earle-Sears has launched a campaign ad targeting Democratic opponent Abigail Spanberger for not advocating for Jay Jones’ removal from the Democratic ticket for Virginia Attorney General.
The 60-second ad dropped Thursday and features a series of news reports on the fallout that happened after Jones’ private text messages from 2022 surfaced, which appeared to show him calling for violence against his political opponents.
The ad shows a reporter from The Hill, Robby Soave, and CNN Political Analyst Manu Raju, among others, explaining that Spanberger has not called on Jones to withdraw from the race.
Earle-Sears is then seen in a Fox News clip saying Spanberger “is trying to game out what’s best for her, not what’s best for Virginia, and this man Jay Jones, he cannot be Attorney General. I cannot believe that there is not one single Democrat who believes that that’s not the way to go.”
Jones reportedly sent messages to a colleague saying former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert should be shot.
Jones was also accused of saying during a call that Gilbert’s wife, Jennifer, “could watch her own child die in her arms, so that Gilbert might reconsider his political views,” according to a National Review report.
He further said both Gilbert and his wife were evil and “breeding little fascists.”
“Only when people feel pain personally, do they move on policy,” Jones added in the 2022 texts.
Jones also made comments regarding Gilbert, Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, and Cambodian dictator Pol Pot, with an accompanying text, “Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.”
“Put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know, and he receives both bullets every time,” Jones commented in those texts.
Jones has since confirmed the authenticity of the texts and has apologized.
Spanberger released a statement Friday condemning the text messages, but has yet to formally call for Jones to withdraw from the race.
“After learning these comments earlier today, I spoke frankly with Jay about my disgust with what he had said and texted,” Spanberger said. “I made clear to Jay that he must take responsibility for his words. What I have also made clear is that as a candidate — and as the next Governor of our Commonwealth, I will always condemn violent language in our politics.”
Despite the political scandal, Spanberger has remained focused on her campaign, which prioritizes lowering costs for Virginia families.
“Virginia, you deserve a Governor who will focus on the issues that matter most,” Spanberger wrote on X Wednesday. “Lowering costs for you and your family will be my top priority.”
The two candidates are set to meet Thursday at 7 p.m. for a debate hosted by Norfolk State University and WAVY-TV.
