There must be something in the water for Virginia Democrats, as the last several weeks have seen an alarming rise in extremist rhetoric and alleged death threats directed at Republican state lawmakers, including Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running for governor.
The latest one involves a text message that Republican Del. Geary Higgins, who is up for reelection in November, allegedly received and which contained a message indicating that the sender was going to shoot Higgins while also noting that “I know where your f***in kids are too.”
ABC 7’s Nick Minock revealed that the suspect was said to be motivated by Higgins pushing back on the racist sign that was displayed during a speech Earle-Sears gave in August, so presumably the text was sent a short time after the sign’s message went viral:
🚨 New: A man is charged in Loudoun County with threatening to shoot Virginia lawmaker Republican Del. Geary Higgins. After Higgins sent a message informing the public about a sign a woman held at an Arlington School Board rally targeting Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears,… pic.twitter.com/lAV1GdaV1n
— Nick Minock (@NickMinock) September 29, 2025
RELATED –>> Sick, Sick, Sick: Liberal White Woman Waves Appallingly Racist Sign at Winsome Sears
The man, who has been identified as Patrick Murphy, has been arrested and faces felony charges, according to Higgins, who shared this statement on social media, the key part of which is below:
Unfortunately, this is the direct result of the nasty lies and constant demonization from the radical left that we’ve seen over the last few years. Abigail Spanberger is telling her supporters to “let their rage fuel them”, and my opponent is up on TV right now calling me a crook and a treasonist, and blatantly lying about my record. The last two sessions in Richmond we’ve been called every name under the sun. It should be shocking to no one that continuing to your call political opponents names like “Nazis” will ultimately lead to violence.
Let me be clear: threats of violence have no place in our political discourse. I will not be intimidated, silenced, or deterred from doing the job I was elected to do—fighting for my constituents in Western Loudoun and Fauquier, and standing up for common sense.
I am incredibly… pic.twitter.com/304vGvjIBU
— Delegate Geary Higgins (@DelegateHiggins) September 29, 2025
SEE ALSO –>> ‘Let the Rage Fuel You!’: Days After Charlie Kirk’s Murder, Spanberger Stokes Left-Wing Anger in Virginia
News of the threat against Higgins comes on the heels of another Virginia GOP Delegate also allegedly receiving a death threat by text:
The Dinwiddie County Sheriff’s Office swiftly arrested a suspect accused of texting a campaign official with threats to kill Del. Kim Taylor, R-Petersburg.
A Dinwiddie officer told the Virginia Mercury that suspect Michael Ray Strawmyer, 33, of DeWitt, Virginia, was in custody by Thursday evening. He is currently being held at the Meherrin River correctional facility near South Hill.
[…]
A source familiar with the situation told Fox News Digital the suspect claimed Taylor was “ruining the country” while also appearing to reference Republicans writ-large.
Like Higgins, Taylor also pointed the finger at Spanberger, saying in a Daily Signal interview that:
“Just recently, a candidate for statewide office encouraged supporters to ‘let your rage fuel you’ when talking about Republicans,” Taylor said. “Words like these have consequences, and my family felt them firsthand.”
Spanberger, who has claimed her “let the rage fuel you” comments were taken out of context, is locked in a fierce battle with Earle-Sears, who has narrowed the gap in some polls. Also, as RedState has reported, there’s reason for cautious optimism in the early voting numbers, which possibly could be attributed in part to the “Charlie Kirk effect.”
We’ll keep track of developments in this race, of course. Buckle up, because things are bound to get bumpier down the homestretch.
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