Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger repeatedly refused to withdraw her endorsement of state attorney general candidate Jay Jones during Thursday’s gubernatorial debate, despite pressed questioning about violent text messages he sent in 2022.
Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears used her time during the debate’s opening question to confront Spanberger directly.
Earle-Sears asked whether the Democratic candidate would withdraw her endorsement of Jones following the revelation of text messages containing violent rhetoric.
Spanberger avoided addressing the endorsement question initially.
She did not speak on the matter until the second question of the debate, when moderators specifically pressed her on whether she would pull her support and if she had prior knowledge of the messages before they became public.
The controversial text messages came to light last week when various outlets published a report detailing the exchange.
The messages have since sparked widespread debate about political violence and appropriate conduct for public officials, Resist the Mainstream has outlined.
When finally addressing the issue, Spanberger called the texts “abhorrent” but declined to answer the direct questions posed to her.
Instead, she pivoted to criticize Earle-Sears, claiming her opponent “only denounces violence when her side is the target.”
The criticism appeared to reference recent comments made by President Donald Trump at a memorial event in Phoenix organized by Charlie Kirk.
Spanberger suggested Earle-Sears had failed to condemn violence directed at those outside her political party.
Moderator Deanna Allbrittin of WRIC-TV attempted to pin down Spanberger on the endorsement question.
Allbrittin noted she had not heard a clear answer and asked directly if Spanberger would continue supporting Jones for attorney general and whether she knew about the messages beforehand.
Spanberger confirmed she learned about the text messages on the day they were publicly released.
She stated she denounced them immediately upon learning of their existence. However, on the question of her endorsement, Spanberger deflected to Virginia voters.
She stated that voters now have information that was previously withheld from them and should make their own decisions based on that information.
Allbrittin pressed again, asking specifically whether Spanberger herself would continue her endorsement of Jones.
Spanberger responded that all candidates are running individual races and that every person must make their own decision.
When the moderator attempted a third time to confirm Spanberger’s endorsement status, the Democratic candidate maintained her position.
She said she is responsible for her own actions, policies and words.
Earle-Sears seized the opportunity to challenge Spanberger further.
The Republican candidate questioned why her opponent refused to give a straight answer about the endorsement.
“I’m wondering why my opponent won’t say beyond it’s ‘abhorrent’ and ‘disgusting,’ why she won’t say it is not okay and that he must leave the race because Jay Jones advocated for murder, Abigail, the murder of a man, a former speaker, as well as his children, who were two and five years old. You have little girls, what would it take, him pulling the trigger?” Earle-Sears said.
Spanberger maintained her refusal to directly address the endorsement question despite the continued pressure.
She did not deviate from her position that voters must make their own determinations.
WATCH:
The text messages at the center of the controversy were sent by Jones in 2022, shortly after he resigned from the state house.
The messages were sent to former colleague Republican House Delegate Carrie Coyner and contained graphic statements about Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert.
In the messages, Jones expressed extreme hostility toward his Republican colleagues.
He wrote about going to “their funerals to piss on their graves” and made disturbing comments about hypothetical violence involving Gilbert.
Jones also stated in the messages that if he had two bullets and faced a choice between Gilbert and two dictators, he would use both bullets on Gilbert.
The messages have raised serious questions about political discourse and threats.
The controversy has expanded beyond Virginia state politics.
National Review reported that President Trump recently weighed in on the matter, calling for Jones to immediately withdraw from the attorney general race.
