Jay Jones text scandal sparks donation surge as GOP group pours millions more into VA race

Republican Attorneys General Association doubles investment following Jay Jones' messages about political opponents' death, citing surge from the GOP group's donors.

Jay Jones, who is running to become Virginia's attorney general in 2025, has come under fire for a series of text messages calling for the death of political opponents and remarks about police officers.  (Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

Piper, the group's executive director, said the Republican Attorneys General Association has been "all in" on Miyares from the outset but that the text messages "completely changed the dynamics" of the race.

"Jason Miyares is surging in the polls and RAGA has been overwhelmed with millions in new donations, allowing us to double our investment in Virginia over the last week," Piper told Fox News Digital.

The group has outspent all other political committees up and down the gubernatorial race ticket, according to the most updated data from the Virginia Public Access Project. It also broke its prior record of $7 million, which it spent on their attorney general candidate in 2017.

WINSOME EARLE-SEARS RELEASES ‘TWO BULLETS’ AD SCATHING OPPONENT FOR FAILING TO DEMAND JAY JONES’ OUSTER

Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., speaks during an interview at her congressional offices in Washington, Feb. 8, 2023. Spanberger is running for Virginia governor. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard, File)

At the top of the ticket, recent polls have shown Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger leading Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears by roughly ten points while the attorney general race is slightly tighter.

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With early voting well underway, it is unclear how much, if it all, the texts from Jones will hurt him and other Democratic candidates' chances of winning in a blue-leaning state. Jones has apologized for the texts but continues to face fierce backlash over them.

In addition to the new fundraising headwinds, Jones has been hit with widespread calls by Republicans to drop out of the race amid a heightened national concern over political violence. Democrats, including Spanberger, have disavowed the texts but stopped short of asking Jones to bow out.

Ashley Oliver is a reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business, covering the Justice Department and legal affairs. Email story tips to ashley.oliver@fox.com.

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