BURSTThe campaign for Democratic Virginia attorney general nominee Jay Jones announced he raised $500,000 in less than 24 hours after the attorney general debate Thursday, during which Jones’s texting scandal took center stage.
“In last night’s debate, [incumbent] Jason Miyares couldn’t defend the 50 times he’s failed to protect Virginians as Donald Trump has fired workers, raised costs, attacked abortion rights, and defunded our healthcare, schools, and law enforcement,” Jones’s campaign manager Rachel Rothman said in a press release.
“With just 18 days left, our campaign is energized and focused. The enthusiasm we’re seeing across Virginia makes it clear: voters are ready to elect an Attorney General who will finally put them first,” Rothman said.
The haul comes as Jones has been under fire over recently surfaced texts that he sent in 2022 in which he jokes about wanting to shoot former state House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R).
The texts have roiled the state’s off-year elections, with Republicans insisting Democrats call on Jones to end his campaign.
Jones apologized for the texts after they were published earlier this month and did so again on stage at Thursday's debate.
“Let me be very clear: I am ashamed, I am embarrassed, and I am sorry. I am sorry to Speaker Gilbert, I am sorry to his family, and I am sorry to every single Virginian,” Jones said.
Jones went on to tie incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) to President Trump, calling his opponent “a willing cheerleader” for the president.
“Jason is going to make this race about my mistakes, but this race has always been about more,” he said.
But Miyares used the debate as an opportunity to hammer Jones over the texts, calling the Democrat unqualified to serve as attorney general.
The latest polling average from The Hill’s partners at Decision Desk HQ show Jones and Miyares tied at 46.4 percent. In the fundraising race, Miyares has maintained a decent lead over Jones throughout the campaign.