Top Dem candidate criticized as ‘pathetic’ for not revoking support for Jay Jones

Virginia’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, was called “pathetic” and a “coward” online after she refused to revoke her support for fellow Democrat Jay Jones — who sent text messages wishing for the death of a political opponent and his children — during a debate Thursday.

Conservative commentator Steve Guest wrote that Spanberger “has been repeatedly asked about her unhinged running mate, AG candidate Jay Jones, following his publicized murder threats. Spanberger wouldn’t say she’s denouncing him. Really pathetic.”

Prominent school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis commented, “She needs to drop out. Now.”

“The Democratic candidate for governor of Virginia repeatedly REFUSED to withdraw her support for the man who fantasized about killing her political opponent. He wanted the CHILDREN dead,” DeAngelis added.

SPANBERGER REFUSES TO URGE JAY JONES TO LEAVE RACE, AVOID QUESTIONS AFTER ‘TWO BULLETS’ TEXTS

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger has come under fire online for refusing to withdraw her support for fellow Democrat Jay Jones. (Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post/Getty Images; Getty Images)

The Virginia GOP also released a statement on its

Conservative figure Eric Daugherty called the exchange in which Spanberger refused to revoke his support “brutal.”

“This is bad,” he wrote.

RNC Research simply posted “Abigail Spanberger stands with Jay Jones. She’s a weak COWARD!”

Meghan McCain also weighed in, posting: “I’m watching my next governor Winsome Sears absolutely bring Abigail Spanberger into the debate. There is no competition, Spanberger will not answer basic questions and portray himself as a total radical extremist.”

Virginia’s current governor, Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, also spoke out, expressing disgust that Spanberger “continues to support his running mate who wanted to see a man and his children murdered.”

WINSOME EARLE-SEARS PUBLISHES AD LINKING ABIGAIL SPANBERGER TO JAY JONES AFTER VIOLENT TEXTS RESURFACE

Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears speaks to the crowd during a rally to announce that she will seek her party’s nomination for governor of Virginia in 2025 at Chick’s Oyster Bar in Virginia Beach, Virginia, September 5, 2024. (Kristen Zeis/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

“Abigail, you had an opportunity to demonstrate courage and moral clarity and you failed,” Youngkin wrote.

Spanberger was asked repeatedly during Thursday’s debate about her continued support for Attorney General candidate Jay Jones after text messages surfaced in which he fantasized about putting “two bullets” in the head of then-Republican Speaker of the Virginia House of Representatives Todd Gilbert.

In text messages with another lawmaker, Jones wrote: “Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets shot twice in the head.”

Jones wrote in a later text: “Spoiler: put Gilbert on the crew with the two worst people you know and he gets both bullets every time.”

Jones also wrote that he hoped Gilbert’s children would die. He doubled down on his efforts in a series of messages, saying such heartbreak could be “a good thing” if he moved his policies forward.

Debate moderators and her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, repeatedly asked Spanberger whether she still supported Jones, but Spanberger did not say outright that she no longer supported him.

LIBERAL MEDIA DECREASES DEM VIRGINIA AG SCANDAL JAY JONES’ TEXTS OF HOPE FANTASYING MURDER OF GOP LEGISLATOR

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin answers questions from the media July 9, 2024, in Chesapeake, Virginia. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Spanberger also would not say when she became aware of the inflammatory text messages, which also included violent rhetoric about Gilbert’s children.

“Jay Jones advocated the murder of Abigail, the murder of a man, a former speaker, and his children aged 2 and 5. You have little girls. Would he have to pull the trigger? Is that what would do that?” asked Earle-Sears. “Please ask him to withdraw from the race. Have courage.”

Spanberger responded to questions by saying, “From now on, it’s up to each voter to make their own individual decision. I’m running for governor. I’m responsible for the words I say, the actions I take, the policies I’ve implemented.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Spanberger has repeatedly emphasized that she condemned the rhetoric as soon as she became aware of it and would denounce violent rhetoric at every opportunity.

Meanwhile, Spanberger accused Earle-Sears of condemning violent rhetoric only when it targets her political party, but not when it targets her opponent’s. She cited an example from Kirk’s memorial service last month, during which Trump reportedly said: “I hate my opponent and I don’t want the best for him.” »

Alec Schemmel of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.