A prominent Democrat has publicly called for Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for Virginia’s attorney general, to withdraw from the race. This comes after it was revealed that Jones sent alarming text messages suggesting violence against a political opponent.
Rep. Ro Khanna from California spoke out during an interview with Hugh Hewitt, addressing the text messages Jones sent to then-Delegate Carrie Coyner. In these messages, Jones reportedly suggested that Todd Gilbert, the then-state House Speaker, should be shot and expressed a desire to desecrate the graves of Republican leaders. Khanna stated, “It’s horrific. There’s no excuse for it,” and made it clear that he would not support Jones if the claims were true.
While Khanna’s condemnation is strong, many other Democrats have been more cautious. They have criticized Jones but have not explicitly called for him to step down. Some party members argue that, despite his troubling remarks, Jones is still a preferable candidate compared to the Republican incumbent, Jason Miyares.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also weighed in on the situation. During an interview, she suggested that the decision about Jones’s candidacy should be left to Virginia leaders. She acknowledged that Jones had apologized for his comments and noted that some believe he is still the better choice for attorney general.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact Jones’s campaign and the upcoming election in Virginia.
