Democrat candidate for Virginia attorney general Jay Jones is leaning into his Catholic faith on the campaign trail as recent polls show him slipping behind Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in a tightening race for the office.
A Virginia Commonwealth University survey released this week captured the shift, with Miyares holding a 45%-42% edge among likely voters, a reversal from September when Jones led 47%-41%.
The poll, conducted October 6-14 among 842 adults, carried a margin of error of plus or minus 3.95 percentage points.
The son of longtime Democratic Rep. Chappie Jones, the 45-year-old Jones has emphasized his personal faith amid the scrutiny. In recent appearances, he has described himself as “guided by” Christian values, telling supporters that his Catholicism informs his approach to public service and justice issues.
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Campaign aides said Jones, a former state senator and Henrico County prosecutor, attends Mass regularly and draws on teachings of compassion and redemption in his platform.
Yet that claim has been overshadowed by a 2022 scandal involving leaked text messages in which Jones fantasized about committing political violence, including shooting a political rival and his children. The messages, exchanged during a heated legislative session, referenced former House Speaker Todd Gilbert and included musings about putting “2 bullets” in his head, as well as inflammatory remarks toward Gilbert’s family.
Jones acknowledged sending the texts and has apologized repeatedly, calling them a low point born of frustration.
Republicans have seized on the episode to question Jones’ fitness for the state’s top law enforcement role.
Miyares, the sitting attorney general, posted on X this month: “How can we trust Jay Jones to prosecute an MS-13 gang member after he said he wanted to put 2 bullets in an opponents head? How can we trust Jay Jones to console a grieving parent after he said he wanted to see a mother hold her dying children or stand with law enforcement after he said cops needed to die to advance his political agenda? We can’t — Jay Jones has disqualified himself from ever serving as Attorney General.”
Pro-life advocates, who view the attorney general’s office as a bulwark against abortion expansion in Virginia, have echoed those concerns, arguing that Jones’ violent rhetoric clashes with pro-life principles.
“True Christian guidance rejects violence in all forms, especially against the innocent — whether in the womb or in the halls of power,” said a statement from a coalition of faith-based groups supporting Miyares.
Jones’ campaign has countered that the texts were private venting from years ago and do not reflect his prosecutorial record, which includes cracking down on violent crime.
The race remains fluid with three weeks until Election Day, as both sides court undecided voters in a state where abortion has emerged as a flashpoint.
Miyares, a Catholic convert himself, has touted his efforts to defend parental rights and oppose late-term abortions, aligning with social conservative priorities. Jones, meanwhile, supports abortion on demand, a stance that has drawn fire from pro-life leaders.
