Virginia Democrats Stand by Candidate Despite Concerning Remarks
Top Democrats are sticking with their pick for Virginia Attorney General, Jay Jones, even after reports surfaced about troubling comments he made about a Republican colleague.
The messages, which came to light recently, included violent language. Despite the serious nature of these statements, prominent Democrats who previously endorsed Jones are not withdrawing their support.
Senator Cory Booker, who endorsed Jones in June, has not changed his position. Representatives Eugene Vindman, Robert Scott, and Suhas Subramanyam, all Democrats who endorsed Jones, have also remained silent on whether they still support him.
Tara Durant, Vindman’s Republican opponent, criticized his silence, saying that leaders should condemn dangerous language, especially now. Vindman has reaffirmed his support for Jones.
Virginia’s Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both Democrats, have not officially endorsed Jones but haven’t asked him to drop out of the race either. Warner called the texts “appalling” but said they were not consistent with the man he knows. Kaine said it is up to the voters to decide Jones’s future.
Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat running for governor, called Jones’s messages wrong but did not ask him to leave the race.
The Virginia Beach Democratic Committee declared its full support for Jones.
Republicans are calling for Jones to withdraw from the race. They say that violent words can lead to real-world violence.
Former President Trump said that Jones should drop out and endorsed current Attorney General Jason Miyares.
Attorney General Miyares and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears have both said that Jones’s messages raise questions about whether he is fit for office.
Jones has apologized for the messages, calling them “embarrassing and shameful.” He said he has spoken to the Republican colleague and his family.
