Virginia’s attorney general race has shifted since scandal struck Democrat nominee Jay Jones earlier this month. Polling released on Saturday shows likely voters are no longer standing with Jones following the release of his violent text messages regarding a Republican politician.
In the Trafalgar Group poll, incumbent GOP Attorney General Jason Miyares now stands nearly six points ahead, reversing a six-point lead Jones held in a September poll. Miyares has support from close to 49% of likely Virginia voters compared to Jones’ 43%.
On Oct. 3, National Review published leaked text messages in which Jones fantasized to another member of the Virginia House of Delegates about killing a Republican political adversary, former House Speaker Todd Gilbert, and Gilbert’s family. Jones has apologized to Gilbert and his family but calls for him to withdraw from the race continue.
The poll was conducted Oct. 8-10 of 1,066 likely general election voters and has a margin of error of less than 3%.
A previous Christopher Newport University poll conducted Sept. 29-Oct. 1 showed Jones at 49% and Miyares at 43% among likely voters, almost the exact opposite of the Trafalgar poll after the leak of the texts.
According to RealClearPolling, Jones had maintained a lead in the race since June.
Democrat gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger, Jones’ running mate, condemned the messages but has remained silent and avoided questions during a recent debate with her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, about whether she still endorsed him.
Jones and Miyares are scheduled to debate Thursday evening at 6 p.m. at the University of Richmond Law School. As with the gubernatorial debate, Jones’ leaked messages and references to political violence are expected to be key topics.
Virginia is almost four weeks into early voting with just 20 days remaining until Election Day.
