Democrat Jay Jones has won the Virginia attorney general’s race, defeating Republican incumbent Jason Miyares, despite a late-campaign scandal over violent text messages that threatened to derail his candidacy. Jones’ victory marks a significant political comeback in a race that drew national attention due to the controversy surrounding his past remarks.
The election outcome was projected by major news outlets on November 4, 2025, with Jones securing the position in a typically low-profile race that gained prominence after text messages from 2022 surfaced last month. In those messages, Jones made graphic and violent statements about Republican figures, including suggesting that then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert deserved “bullets to the head” and musing about a hypothetical shooting scenario. The texts, first reported by the National Review and released by the Republican Attorneys General Association, prompted immediate bipartisan backlash and calls for Jones to withdraw from the race.
Jones, a former state lawmaker, apologized profusely for the messages, stating in a public apology that reading them back made him “sick to my stomach” and expressing embarrassment and shame. He directly apologized to Gilbert and his family, acknowledging the inappropriateness of his words. The scandal emerged amid a broader national conversation on political violence, following recent assassinations of public figures, which amplified the sensitivity of the issue and put Jones under intense scrutiny.
Republicans, including Miyares, seized on the controversy, running ads questioning Jones’ fitness for office and urging voters to reject his candidacy. Miyares emphasized his tough-on-crime record and tried to link Jones to the violent rhetoric, while Jones defended himself by highlighting Miyares’ connections to former President Donald Trump. Despite the backlash, most Democrats, including gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, condemned the texts but stopped short of demanding Jones drop out, with Spanberger stating she had spoken frankly with him about her disgust.
The text messages became a focal point in the sole debate between Jones and Miyares, where Jones repeatedly apologized but argued that Miyares’ unwillingness to hold Trump accountable was a greater concern. Exit polls indicated that 45% of Virginia voters believed the texts disqualified Jones for the attorney general role, yet he managed to maintain support, particularly in the blue-leaning state where anti-Trump sentiment played a role. Jones hammered a message that Miyares would not stand up to Trump, who had endorsed Miyares but not other Republican candidates in Virginia.
Jones’ victory was likely aided by the strong performance of Spanberger, who won the governor’s race by a comfortable margin, providing coattail effects that helped drag Jones across the finish line. With an estimated 95% of the vote counted, Jones led by 6 points, while Spanberger led by 15 points, and exit polls showed that 9% of Spanberger voters backed Miyares, indicating some crossover but not enough to overcome Jones’ support. The federal government shutdown and Trump’s policies may have also hurt Miyares in a state with many government workers.
In his victory speech, Jones thanked Miyares for his service and expressed a desire to work collaboratively, while Miyares, in his concession, wished Jones the best and emphasized the need for an attorney general focused on public safety. Jones, who previously served as an assistant attorney general in D.C. and a Virginia state representative, has vowed to prioritize civil rights and public safety, including a plan developed with law enforcement input. His win signals a continued Democratic shift in Virginia politics and sets the stage for his tenure, where he will face the challenge of uniting a state divided by the contentious race.