Democratic nominee for Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones has slid in a new poll and is now behind Republican incumbent Jason Miyares following explosive reporting on leaked text messages that showed Jones suggesting political violence against former House Speaker Todd Gilbert.
Why It Matters
The 2025 Virginia attorney general contest has shifted notably in the final weeks before Election Day, as a series of offensive text messages from Jones surfaced.
The disclosure has altered the dynamics of a race that many viewed as a barometer of the political climate in the aftermath of the 2024 presidential cycle. Virginia’s statewide races are also closely watched, given the state’s status as a potential bellwether for national trends.
What To Know
Jones had initially led in several polls against incumbent Miyares. However, a succession of polls throughout October 2025 now shows Jones losing ground and, ultimately, falling behind his opponent after news broke of the disturbing text messages.
In the 2022 messages, Jones mused about shooting Gilbert and directed further inflammatory comments toward Gilbert’s family. Jones admitted to sending the messages and issued multiple apologies. Subsequently, pressure mounted from Republicans for Jones to exit the race—a move which, at this late stage, would effectively cede the election.
In the Virginia Commonwealth University poll released on Tuesday, Miyares has 45 percent of the vote compared to Jones’ 42 percent. The poll surveyed 842 adults living in Virginia from October 6 to October 14 and has a 3.95 percent margin of error.
In a survey released in September by the pollster, Jones led Miyares with 47 percent of the vote compared to 41 percent. That poll surveyed 804 adults living in Virginia from August 18 to August 28 and had a 4.1 percent margin of error.
What People Are Saying
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares said on X last week: “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.”
Jay Jones wrote Tuesday on X: “If re-elected, @JasonMiyaresVA will only continue enabling Trump’s agenda – and Virginians deserve better. As Attorney General, I’ll push back against federal overreach and put you first.”
What Happens Next
The Virginia attorney general election is scheduled for November 4, 2025.
