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Despite Scandal, Democrat Triumphs In Virginia Attorney General Race

Despite a scandal surrounding text messages he sent fantasizing about committing violence against a political opponent, Democrat Jay Jones is projected to win the Virginia attorney general race on Tuesday night, cementing a Democratic sweep of the state and showing animus against President Donald Trump can lift even highly damaged candidates.

Jones defeated Republican Jason Miyares, who won office four years ago as part of an election showing backlash against then-President Joe Biden. Miyares spent four years running the attorney general’s office as a staunchly conservative operation loyal to Trump, giving him little room to maneuver as the country’s political mood shifted.

Still, it was clear Miyares’ attacks on Jones left a mark. The former state delegate was running about 5 percentage points behind former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the party’s nominee for governor.

The scandal, the details of which were first reported by National Review, involved Jones sending text messages to a Republican lawmaker where he joked about shooting then-GOP state House Speaker Todd Gilbert in the head. They became the centerpiece of the Republican ad campaign against Jones, with even GOP gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears airing ads on the scandal.

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Jones apologized for the texts, but his fundraising suffered, and Spanberger and other Democrats in the state largely avoided appearances with him until a rally with former President Barack Obama in Jones’ hometown of Norfolk on Sunday.

Jones’ victory means Democrats now control the attorney general’s office in 22 states. In his campaign, Jones promised to use the office to stand up to Trump’s administration and protect abortion rights. His attacks on Miyares largely focused on the incumbent’s support for the president.

“Jason Miyares is Trump’s attorney, not ours,” a female narrator said in one of Jones’ closing ads of the campaign.