Controversy erupted in Virginia this past week after it emerged that the Democratic candidate for attorney general once joked about murdering a former state House speaker and his children in a series of text messages.

That revelation sparked outrage, leading Vice President J.D. Vance to go on the attack and call for the candidate to end his campaign. 

Vance: "This very deranged person" should "drop out of the race"

According to Breitbart, Vance made his thoughts clear in a social media post on Saturday which directed condemnation towards former Democratic State Rep. Jay Jones.

"The Democrat candidate for AG in Virginia has been fantasizing about murdering his political opponents in private messages," Vance noted.

The Democrat candidate for AG in Virginia has been fantasizing about murdering his political opponents in private messages. I'm sure the people hyperventilating about sombrero memes will join me in calling for this very deranged person to drop out of the race. https://t.co/ZapsWc9VFG

— JD Vance (@JDVance) October 4, 2025

"I'm sure the people hyperventilating about sombrero memes will join me in calling for this very deranged person to drop out of the race," he added.

Mike Johnson says Jones' comments "are plainly disqualifying"

Breitbart noted how Vance's "sombrero" comment was made in reference to an image President Donald Trump released showing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wearing the traditional Mexican hat.

Vance was not alone in condemning Jones, as House Speaker Mike Johnson was quick to speak up in a social media post of his own.

"These text messages are plainly disqualifying for anyone who aspires to public office. There is no conceivable justification for wishing violence against a political opponent and their children," the Louisiana Republican declared.

"Mr. Jay Jones should immediately withdraw his candidacy, save himself and his party from further embarrassment, and take some time to reflect," Johnson asserted. 

Jones calls his words "a grave mistake"

Yet more criticism came from Virginia Republican Gov. Glen Youngkin, with Fox News quoting him as saying, "This violent, disgusting rhetoric targeted at an elected official and his children is beyond disqualifying."

"There is no ‘Gosh, I’m sorry’ here. Jones doesn’t have the morality or character to drop out of this race, and his running mates, Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi and every elected Democrat in Virginia don’t have the courage to call on him to step away from this campaign in disgrace," Youngkin maintained.

Fox News reported that for his part, Jones has issued an apology, stating, "Virginians deserve honest leaders who admit when they are wrong and own up to their mistakes."

"This was a grave mistake, and I will work every day to prove to the people of Virginia that I will fight for them as Attorney General," he said.