Virginia congresswoman and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger faced renewed criticism Thursday after refusing to withdraw her endorsement of fellow Democrat Jay Jones, whose campaign for attorney general has been rocked by the release of text messages showing him wishing death upon Republican lawmakers and their families.
The controversy erupted earlier this month when messages allegedly sent by Jones surfaced, revealing disturbing language targeting members of Virginia’s GOP-led legislature.
In one message, Jones reportedly expressed hope that the children of then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert would die of gunshot wounds to force a change in gun control policy.
Voted for the guy who doesn’t want me and my children murdered… pic.twitter.com/q1W4ItxPKd
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) October 10, 2025
The revelation has caused widespread backlash across the state, including from within Jones’s own party.
Spanberger, who is running for governor against Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, was asked about Jones’s comments during a televised debate on Thursday.
This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year
Instead of directly answering whether she would continue to endorse him, Spanberger avoided the question, offering only general remarks condemning political violence.
“Thank you, I didn’t hear an answer there on the endorsement issue so I just want to make sure, will you continue to endorse Jay Jones to be the next attorney general of Virginia and were you aware of these text messages before their release?” the debate moderator asked.
“In fact, it appears that it was the, uh, those who released the text messages and held them for years so the public was unaware who had knowledge of these text messages…” Spanberger said, reiterating that she denounced Jones’s violent comments once they became public.
“And importantly, um, at this point as we move forward, the voters now have this information, information that was withheld for them, presumably for political reasons. But the voters now have the information and it is up to voters to make an individual choice based on this information.”
The moderator followed up, pressing Spanberger to clarify her position.
“Whether voters continue to support Jones is a separate issue,” the moderator said.
“Do you continue to endorse him?”
Spanberger again declined to give a direct answer.
“We are all running our individual races. I believe my opponent has said that about her lieutenant governor nominee,” she replied.
“It’s up to every person to make their own decision. I am running my race to serve Virginia, and that is what I intend to do.”
Her refusal to clearly disavow Jones drew immediate criticism from political observers and from her opponent.
During the same debate, Winsome Earle-Sears accused Spanberger of failing to show leadership by refusing to condemn her party’s nominee outright.
Sears later released a campaign ad highlighting Spanberger’s vague response and questioning her judgment.
This is devastating for Abigail Spanberger. It’s never a good sign when a full minute ad is just your opponent frozen without showing she has any soul at all. Spanberger looks like a robot: pic.twitter.com/4gULEl97ii
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 10, 2025
The incident adds to a growing list of challenges for Spanberger, whose campaign has struggled to navigate divisive cultural and political issues in recent weeks.
Earlier in the campaign, Spanberger faced backlash over her unclear stance on gender policies involving locker rooms and bathrooms.
This is embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/gOGEWjJuez
— Winsome Earle-Sears (@winwithwinsome) September 20, 2025
Republican officials have accused her of avoiding straightforward answers on issues of public concern, while Democratic strategists have reportedly expressed frustration over her handling of controversial topics.
The fallout from the Jones controversy has further complicated Spanberger’s campaign, as both candidates face scrutiny over their handling of questions about political violence.
Jones, who remains in the race, has not denied sending the messages but has apologized for his remarks, calling them “regrettable.”
While the Democratic Party of Virginia has not officially rescinded its support for Jones, several lawmakers have distanced themselves from him publicly.
Republican officials have called for Spanberger to clearly revoke her endorsement, saying that continued silence from top Democrats signals a tolerance of violent rhetoric in politics.
