Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears speaks at a podium on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, after texts from Democrat attorney general candidate Jay Jones surfaced in which he wished death on a Republican rival’s children. (Pool)
"The enemy is among us, devouring us in Virginia and in America today," Sears said in a fiery speech. "Jay Jones fantasizes about murdered little children lying lifeless in their mother’s arms. And yet he runs for attorney general, our chief law enforcement officer."
The uproar followed the publication of private 2022 text messages in which Jones, then a rising Democrat star, said he hoped former Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert’s children would die. When challenged, Jones doubled down, saying that such grief might be "a good thing" if it advanced his politics.
Jones has since apologized, calling the remarks "embarrassing and shameful," and said he had reached out personally to Gilbert and his family.
VIRGINIA AG CANDIDATE ONCE REFERENCED PUTTING ‘TWO BULLETS TO THE HEAD’ OF GOP LEADER, TEXTS SHOW
Virginia attorney general candidate Jerrauld "Jay" Jones speaks at an event in Norfolk, Virginia. (Trevor Metcalfe/The Virginian-Pilot/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
"The leadership of the Democrat Party is inciting violence as a strategy to win power," Sears said. She noted that gubernatorial candidate Rep. Abigail Spanberger urged her supporters to "let your rage fill you."
"Well, words have meaning," Sears continued. "Rage is defined as violent, uncontrolled anger." She warned Virginians to take notice, citing past threats and attacks on Republicans nationwide, from the 2022 attempt on Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s life to school shootings targeting Christians.
"The unstable pull the triggers," Sears added, "but they are inspired by the hate tolerated and encouraged by the leadership of the Democrat Party."
Both Republicans framed the controversy as a turning point in the 2025 election.
"Prior to this week, this race was about competing views on public safety," Miyares wrote. "Now it’s about basic fitness for public office."
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Sears closed her speech with a plea for unity and faith: "As an immigrant, I have seen what happens when leftists destroy the foundations of freedom."
"Let each of us act to protect our beloved Commonwealth of Virginia and the gift from God that is the United States of America," Sears concluded.
Fox News Digital did not receive responses on requests for comment from Sears, Miyares or Jones at the time of publication.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman, Danielle Wallace and Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/consumed-hate-winsome-sears-jason-miyares-unload-democrat-jay-jones-over-violent-texts