Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones is under fire after private text messages surfaced in which he fantasized about shooting Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert and wishing death upon Gilbert’s children. Yet despite widespread condemnation, no Democratic leader has called for Jones to withdraw from the race — and none of his endorsements have been rescinded, even from prominent gun control groups.

The August 2022 messages, revealed by National Review, show Jones — a former Norfolk delegate and assistant attorney general — telling GOP Delegate Carrie Coyner that Gilbert “gets two bullets to the head,” followed by a wish that his children “die in their mother’s arms.” Coyner confirmed the exchange, calling it “disgusting and unbecoming of any public official.”

Jones acknowledged sending the messages, apologized to Gilbert and his family, and vowed to “work to regain Virginians’ trust.” But while top Democrats expressed outrage, their responses have stopped short of demanding accountability beyond words. (RELATED: 116 MPH Joyride: Dem AG Hopeful Jones Worked Off Sentence by Helping His Political Machine)

Top Democrats quickly condemned Jones’ remarks — but none have urged him to drop out. U.S. Sen. Mark Warner called the comments “appalling.” Gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger said she was “disgusted.” Despite the sharp criticism, Spanberger — whose campaign speeches frequently urge supporters to “let your rage fuel you” — did not call on Jones to end his campaign.

Still, Jones’ campaign site continues to list endorsements from Giffords PAC, Moms Demand Action, and Brady PAC — three national gun control organizations known for their zero-tolerance stance on political violence. None of the groups have issued statements revoking support.

Virginia House Speaker Don Scott even campaigned over the weekend in Coyner’s district, urging voters to “stay focused.”

“We can’t get distracted by the text message here or something else,” Scott told churchgoers in Hopewell. “Stay focused.”

For now, the scandal has left Democrats trying to balance public condemnation with political preservation — and Jones’ candidacy remains untouched. (RELATED: Spanberger Words, Votes, Come Back to Haunt Her on Trans Issues)