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“If those guys die before me… I will go to their funerals to piss on their graves,” Jones wrote in one of the texts.
In another, he continued his disturbing fantasy, writing, “Three people, two bullets… Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot… Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.”
The conversation grew even darker when Jones directed his rage toward Gilbert’s family. “I mean do I think Todd and Jennifer are evil? And that they’re breeding little fascists? Yes,” he added.
The messages painted a picture of a man consumed by hatred, and for many Virginians, the scandal became the centerpiece of the campaign.
Political analysts initially believed Jones’ candidacy was doomed after the messages became public. Miyares surged in early polling, and conservative commentators widely predicted a GOP victory. But in the final days of the race, momentum shifted again — with several last-minute polls showing Jones pulling ahead or running neck and neck.
The results suggest that a large portion of voters either dismissed or ignored the severity of Jones’ comments. Fox News exit polls found that only 46% of voters thought the texts were disqualifying, while 25% said they were “concerning but not disqualifying.” Another 17% said they didn’t know enough about the controversy to form an opinion. Even more shockingly, 10% claimed the threats were “not concerning.”
Throughout the campaign, Jones tried to shift the conversation away from his own behavior, often deflecting blame and turning the focus toward former President Donald Trump. During the candidates’ only debate, when pressed on the issue, Jones responded:
“And I will also say this. I was held accountable by my party, and I deeply, deeply respect that. But what about when Donald Trump used incendiary language to incite a riot to try to overturn an election here in this country? What about when Winsome Sears used violent language about people who disagree with you and her and your extreme position on abortion?”
Critics blasted the response as tone-deaf and evasive, accusing Jones of moral deflection rather than taking responsibility for his own words.
Jones’ victory capped off a brutal night for Republicans in Virginia. Gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears lost by double digits, and multiple GOP-held seats in the House of Delegates flipped blue, signaling a significant political shift in the state.
Conservatives expressed outrage that voters could look past such disturbing revelations. Many are now questioning whether political tribalism has reached the point where even explicit threats of violence no longer carry consequences.
As one political observer put it, “If threatening to kill your opponents and their children isn’t disqualifying anymore, then what is?”
For Virginians who value integrity and accountability, Tuesday’s election results may mark a troubling turning point — not just for the Commonwealth, but for the moral compass of American politics itself.
