Democratic Virginia Rep. Eugene Vindman is doubling down on his support for Jay Jones, Virginia’s Democratic nominee for attorney general, who is facing calls to drop out over revelations he sent text messages fantasizing about murdering a Republican opponent and the deaths of his two children.
Vindman, a freshman lawmaker who skipped a vote condemning political violence in September, reiterated his support for Jones during a post on the social media platform X on Sunday. Unlike some fellow Virginia Democrats, Vindman has neither denounced the candidate’s violent text messages nor called for him to withdraw from the race.
“It’s time for our Commonwealth to send a message that we’re tired of Republican chaos,” Vindman wrote on Sunday. “VA, make a plan to vote — early if you can — for @SpanbergerForVA, @SenatorHashmi, @jonesjay, and Democrats up and down the ballot.”
“Your voice couldn’t be more important this year,” Vindman added.
Jones, a former state delegate, sent a series of messages to Republican Virginia Del. Carrie Coyner in August 2022 musing about putting two bullets in then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert’s head. The former state delegate also reportedly wished Gilbert’s wife could see her children “die in her arms” in an effort to change Gilbert’s political views.
The text messages and the phone call were first reported by The National Review on Friday and Jones has not disputed their accuracy.
Former Biden administration adviser Meghan Hays torched elected Democrats on Monday for not condemning Jones’ violent messages.
“It’s abhorrent language. It’s disgusting,” Hays told Fox News on Monday. “He should not be in the race. It makes the Democratic Party look bad by not condemning this.”
Vindman participated in a campaign event with Jones in August and is listed on Jones’ endorsement webpage. A spokesperson for Vindman did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
Vindman was among 22 House Democrats who skipped a vote on a resolution celebrating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s life and denouncing political violence in September. More House Democrats voted “no” or “present” on the measure than supported it.
Vindman has not provided a reason for missing the vote. He voted against a bipartisan spending bill to fund the government minutes earlier.
The National Republican Congressional Committee, House Republicans’ campaign arm, torched Vindman for embracing Jones after reports surfaced that the attorney general candidate fantasized about the deaths of his political opponents.
“A Virginia Democrat candidate wants children to die from gun violence and Eugene Vindman’s response is to double down on his support,” NRCC Spokesman Reilly Richardson said in a statement. “Like Jones, Vindman is wholly unfit to serve Virginians in office.”
Vindman voted against the Laken Riley Act — legislation seeking to crack down on criminal illegal migrants — and a GOP-authored measure that would bar biological males from participating in girls and women’s sports.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates his reelection contest as “lean Democrat” heading into 2026.
He is the twin brother of Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman, who played a central role during Trump’s first impeachment in 2019. Eugene Vindman reportedly played a supportive role in helping his brother make his case to impeach the president over a phone call with Ukraine.
Republican Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is facing Jones in the general election, is arguing that his opponent’s violent fantasies show Jones is unfit to serve as Virginia’s top prosecutor.
“My job as the attorney general, as the top prosecutor in the state of Virginia, your job is to stop violence,” Republican Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is running for a second term, told Fox News on Monday. “I can’t imagine somebody running for this office that has actually advocated for violence.”
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