Overview

• Jones apologized for the 2022 messages and said he takes full responsibility, but he has not indicated he will leave the race.
• Republican leaders including President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Governor Glenn Youngkin and Speaker Mike Johnson urged Jones to withdraw, and MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough also said he should step aside.
• Democratic figures condemned the language but largely stopped short of pushing him off the ticket, as Abigail Spanberger voiced disgust without calling for his exit and the Virginia Beach Democratic Committee reaffirmed support.
• The controversy is already featured in campaign ads, with Attorney General Jason Miyares questioning Jones’s fitness for office and GOP messaging tying Jones to other Democrats as early voting continues toward Nov. 4.
• The texts were first reported by National Review and viewed by The Washington Post; Jones has not disputed their authenticity, which includes a message about giving Todd Gilbert “two bullets to the head” and remarks sent to GOP Delegate Carrie Coyner, who told him to stop.