The Virginia Republican politician who changed several state elections by revealing text messages with a character who received “two bullets in his own bid”
Carrie Coyner is seeking a third four-year term in the Virginia house of delegates when she publicly shared the text messages she ran for the State House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Some expect the controversy raging surrounding the texts to derail Jones’ campaign while also complicating fellow Democrat Abigail Spanberger.
But Spanberger and Jones won the Republican-held offices they targeted while Coyner lost over Democratic challenger Lindsey Doughery by a margin of 52.5% to 47.3%, according to sales returns.
The district from which Coyner was ousted is considered competitive. it broken Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election that the Democratic Vice-President lost to his Republican counterpart, Donald Trump.
Coyner’s loss came as the President registered low public approval ratings, and his Party suffered several decisive losses on Tuesday in the US election.
Afterward, he issued a statement on social media following his loss saying he would spend “much-needed time” with his family and was appalled by his behavior. Calling it “the greatest honor” to serve in the Virginia legislature and previously on a local school board, the statement added to my plans for me – and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. “
Text messages blasting Jones’ campaign were sent to him by Coyner in 2022 while they were together in the Virginia State House House of Delegates. In them, Jones considered what he would do if he had a pair of bullets and faced Nazi Dictator Adolf Hitler and South Republican House of Delegate Todd Gilbert.
“Gilbert took two bullets to the head,” Jones wrote, as first reported by the National Review. “Spoiler: Put Gilbert in a crew with two of the worst people you know and he’s getting bullets every time.”
In a follow-up text to Coyner, Jones said Gilbert and his wife, Jennifer, were “evil” and “breeding little fascists”.
Texts show Coyner replying: “Jay. Please stop.” After the revelation of the texts in October, he issued a statement arguing that “what [Jones] It is said to be not only dangerous but unknowable for anyone who wants to seek public office.
“This is disgusting and unheard of by any public official.”
Jones published a statement in which he said his texts left him “embarrassed, embarrassed and remorseful”.
“I can’t take back what I said,” Jones said As. “I can only take full responsibility and offer my sincere apologies.”
However, Republicans — including Trump and his vice-president, JD Vace — have theirs covered. Trump dismissed Jones as “a radical leftist lunatic”, and Spanberger’s staff – Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears – sought to engage him in texts while demanding that he step down.
Spanberger condemned Jones’ texts but said voters should know the fate of his candidacy.
Republicans were especially engrossed in Jones’ victory on Tuesday, including representative Brandon Gill of Texas in Powery Centery’s “real demon”.
Others, however, experienced Schadenfreude at the loss of Coyner and the hand he had in the Jones campaign. For example, one social media user posted an image of Joe Biden raising his arms with the words: “Carrie Coyner is dead and Jay Jones is alive!”
Political violence dominates public discourse in the US after Trump survived two assassination attempts while running for a Second Presidency in 2024.
Other cases include the April firebombing of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s Home; The June murders of Minnesota State House Speaker Melissa Horteman and her husband, Marcos; And the shooting death in September of stalwart Trump Ally Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA.