Democratic House candidate Sarah Cartwright, HD-48, is doubling down on her support for Jay Jones, even as the Virginia Attorney General nominee faces widespread backlash for his violent and threatening remarks toward Republican officials.
Cartwright reaffirmed her support to Jay Jones in a recent X post, saying “I stand with @jayjones. Period. End of Statement.”
Jones has come under national scrutiny after a series of texts from 2022 were released about his fantasizing over the death of his colleague Virginia’s then-Speaker of the House Delegate Todd Gilbert. When confronted about the texts Jones called it a “grave mistake” and claimed that he had personally contacted Gilbert and his wife to apologize.
Jones in the text exchange said, “Gilbert, Hitler, and Pol Pot,” Jones continued “Gilbert gets two bullets to the head,” adding, “only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy,” referring to the death of Gilbert’s children.
Cartwright is the Democratic Nominee for the 48th House of Delegates District in Virginia. Cartwright is challenging Delegate Eric Phillips for a second time with the first time being a 2024 special election.
When reached for comment Delegate Phillips said, “It’s disturbing and disgraceful for my opponent to defend Jay Jones’ vile comments. Standing with someone who talks about shooting colleagues in the head, harming their children, and desecrating graves is indefensible. It’s beyond ‘politics,’ its moral depravity.”
He continued, “Just days after two of my colleagues and their families received death threats, my opponent chose to side with someone promoting that very violence. This is a failure of character – and it’s certainly not the Virginia Way. Anyone who excuses or embraces that kind of hate has no business asking to serve in the Virginia House of Delegates.”
Other top Democrats in Virginia condemned the violent rhetoric from Jones but stopped short of calling for his withdrawal from the ballot. Leaving many wondering if they still support Jones despite his rhetoric.
The majority of Democrat single-interest groups who endorsed Jones – Clean Virginia, Sierra Club, Prevent Gun Tragedies PAC, and Reproductive Freedom For All –have chosen to remain silent rather than revoke their endorsements or issue statements following Jones’ statements. (RELATED: Virginia Law Enforcement Groups Demand Jay Jones Withdraw Over “Vile” Threats Against Republicans)