Jay Jones scandal dominates Virginia political debate scheduled Thursday

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Former Virginia state Del. Jay Jones’ escalating scandal — over messages envisioning the homicide of a Republican lawmaker and his younger "fascist" kids — is anticipated to dominate Thursday’s legal professional normal debate on the College of Richmond.

The tentacles of the scandal have already reached far past the house of the Spiders, as President Donald Trump and Republican leaders throughout the nation have latched onto the messaging from Jones, D-Norfolk, and the muted response from fellow Democrats.

The latest Fox Information-approved ballot, carried out by Christopher Newport College on Oct. 3 earlier than the scandal broke, confirmed Jones main Republican Lawyer Common Jason Miyares by six factors, with different Democrats on the statewide ticket having fun with related margins.

However anecdotal proof factors to a tightening race, as Miyares has largely put the three-seat Republican ticket on his shoulders whereas Jones’ marketing campaign falters.

JOE SCARBOROUGH TELLS DEM CANDIDATE JAY JONES TO LEAVE RACE OVER VIOLENT COMMENTS AGAINST GOP LAWMAKER

Virginia legal professional normal candidates Jay Jones and Jason Miyares (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Pictures; Maxine Wallace/The Washington Submit/Getty Pictures)

Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears hammered Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger on the problem at their very own debate final week in Norfolk, repeatedly asking whether or not Jones ought to withdraw from the race.

Spanberger declined to name for his resignation, saying voters ought to determine, however a number of voters within the Shenandoah Valley instructed Fox Information Digital they have been disillusioned she didn’t take a stronger stand.

Jones’ fellow Democrats have both been silent or vaguely supportive of the embattled former Biden administration Justice Division staffer persevering with his bid, whilst polling and public sentiment recommend his troubles might convey down the remainder of the Democratic ticket.

High Democrats again Jones regardless of backlash Present Virginia House Speaker Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, was defiant when he addressed the media following the gubernatorial debate, evaluating and contrasting the state of affairs with Trump’s personal phrases about Wyoming Republican Liz Cheney going through gun barrels in one of many conflict zones her neoconservative stances advocated for.

Senate President L. Louise Lucas, D-Norfolk, and caucus marketing campaign chief Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, later issued a joint assertion backing Jones and warning that protecting Miyares in workplace can be worse.

In the meantime, Earle-Sears has an analogous grip on the Republican base as Youngkin did, however continues to path Spanberger in current polling. Miyares, nevertheless, has now both closed the hole or barely surpassed Jones – which pundits have stated might assist blunt Democratic turnout for your complete ticket.

LIBERAL MEDIA DOWNPLAYS SCANDAL OF DEM VIRGINIA AG HOPEFUL JAY JONES' TEXTS FANTASIZING MURDER OF GOP LAWMAKER

Republican lieutenant gubernatorial candidate John Reid just lately posted on social media that he has reportedly pulled to inside a degree or two of challenger Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, though the rubric of the surveys he was referring to weren't instantly verifiable.

Collectively, these indicators recommend a tightening statewide contest in an more and more blue-leaning commonwealth.

Virginia's political upset shifting once more In 2021, Republican Glenn Youngkin rode an upset victory on parental-rights outrage over transgender athletes in class sports activities. Earle-Sears has since championed that very same subject whereas additionally hammering Democrats for his or her silence or ambivalence over Jones remaining within the race.

Youngkin’s upset over Terry McAuliffe was an outlier versus different current Virginia races – notably Republican navy veteran Hung Cao’s 20-point defeat to Sen. Tim Kaine within the intervening 2024 election. Kamala Harris additionally defeated Trump that 12 months.

A decade in the past, Republicans nonetheless had considerably of a presence in heavily-populated northern Virginia. Then-Prince William County chairman Corey Stewart, seen as a staunch conservative, unsuccessfully sought statewide workplace however remained within the suburban county’s management for a few years.

Whereas at present against Trump’s model of Republicanism, then-Rep. Barbara Comstock, was a preferred officeholder within the now-progressive Loudoun County space. Del. Geary Higgins, R-Lovettsville, stays the one Republican delegate within the once-red county west of Washington. Although he, too, faces a tricky highway towards Warrenton innkeeper John McAuliff in November’s contest.

YOUNGKIN SAYS DEMOCRAT AG CANDIDATE JAY JONES MUST 'STEP AWAY IN DISGRACE’ OVER TEXTS ABOUT FORMER GOP LEADER

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin addresses the group throughout an early voting rally on Sept. 21, 2023, in Petersburg, Va. (AP Picture/Steve Helber, File)

Throughout his marketing campaign, Youngkin made repeated journeys to southwest Virginia to run up margins in Republican strongholds and increase turnout — a method that, mixed with help from involved mother and father throughout northern Virginia’s Democratic-leaning suburbs, helped safe his victory.

Jones’ texts revealed In messages first reported earlier this month, Jones texted Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Hopewell, in 2022, imagining a state of affairs the place he would select to "fireplace two bullets" into then-Home Speaker Todd Gilbert’s head, describing Gilbert as worse than dictators Pol Pot or Adolf Hitler.

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Jones additionally referred to Gilbert’s younger kids as "fascists" within the trade.

The revelations have prompted bipartisan condemnation, although Democratic leaders have up to now resisted calls — together with from Youngkin — for Jones to bow out of the race.

Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox Information Digital.

He joined Fox Information in 2013 as a author and manufacturing assistant.

Charles covers media , politics and tradition for Fox Information Digital.

Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple College with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story ideas could be despatched to charles.creitz@fox.com.