Del. David Owen (R-Henrico) is raising concerns about his Democratic opponent, May Nivar, for continuing to support Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones following the release of private text messages in which Jones referenced violence and made graphic statements about political opponents.
The controversy centers on messages from 2022 in which Jones referred to former House Speaker Todd Gilbert and members of Gilbert’s family using violent and inflammatory language.
“What Jay Jones said is indefensible. Calling for the execution of a political opponent and fantasizing about his children dying crosses every moral line,” Owen told the Henrico Times. “Virginia deserves leaders who value life, decency, and respect. Jay Jones should withdraw from this race immediately.”
In one message, Jones wrote, “Three people, two bullets Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head. Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time.”
In another, he added, “If those guys die before me I will go to their funerals to piss on their graves.”
When Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner, the recipient of the texts, responded that the messages bothered her, Jones replied, “Lol / Ok, ok,” but later said, “I’ve told you this before. Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.”
He also referred to Gilbert and his wife as “evil” and said they were “breeding little fascists.”
Additional remarks from Jones have also resurfaced, including a statement made during a 2020 policy discussion in which he allegedly said that if more police officers died, it could lead to policy change.
“Well, maybe if a few of them died, that they would move on, not shooting people, not killing people,” Jones allegedly said.
Coyner said she was shocked by the remark. Jones has denied making the statement.
In response, Virginia Republicans have called on Jones to withdraw from the race.
“There’s no place for that kind of language in Virginia politics,” Owen said. “Disagreement is healthy; debate is necessary. But when violence enters the conversation, something fundamental is lost. Words like these don’t just reflect poor judgment; they erode public trust and make our communities less safe.”
Owen, who has previously described Nivar as too extreme for the district, has pointed to her continued support for Jones as a key issue in the 57th District race ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
Immediately after the texts were reported, Owen called on Nivar to respond publicly.
“This is sick. Rhetoric advocating for violence is disqualifying. We must turn the temperature down in this country and it starts with who we elect,” Owen said on Facebook. “That’s why I am calling on my opponent, May Nivar, to join me in demanding Jay Jones drop out of the Attorney General’s race.”
Nivar has not issued a public statement regarding Jones or the messages. She appeared at a campaign event with Jones the day after the messages became public.
“Not even 24 hours after Jay Jones’ messages were leaked saying he would shoot Republican Todd Gilbert and wishing death on his children, and May Nivar is already back to campaigning for Jay Jones. Shameful,” Owen wrote in a separate post.
Speaking to the Henrico Times, Owen said Nivar’s decision not to speak out raises questions.
“Jay Jones’ comments were horrific, but what’s just as troubling is that May Nivar refuses to condemn or call for Jay Jones to drop out of the race,” he said. “Instead, she’s doubled down on her support. That tells voters everything they need to know about her judgment and her values.”
He continued, “If May Nivar and Jay Jones think it’s acceptable to talk about murdering children and watching them die in their mother’s arms simply because their parents hold different political beliefs, then how can anyone trust them to protect our children and neighborhoods?”
Owen said the situation reflects broader concerns about rhetoric and public safety.
“By standing with Jay Jones, May Nivar has shown she’s willing to excuse hate and violence when it serves her interests,” Owen said. “That’s disqualifying. Violence has no place in Virginia.”
In a response to a post by Attorney General Jason Miyares, who asked, “Do you trust Jay Jones to protect your children?” Owen replied:
“I don’t. But May Nivar sure does. This election is no longer left vs right; it’s right vs wrong. We cannot elect politicians like May and Jay who believe in violence and murder against legislators and their children.”
Jones has called the messages “a grave mistake,” and said he was “embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry.” He has said he reached out to the Gilbert family to apologize.
Republican officials have said the apology is not sufficient.
“There is no ‘Gosh, I’m sorry’ here. Jones doesn’t have the morality or character to drop out of this race,” said Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears said Jones is “consumed with hate” and accused him of promoting “rage politics.”
The messages have drawn additional attention due to other recent acts of political violence, including the September killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, attacks on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, and an attempt on the life of President Trump.
“There have been death threats made against Virginia delegates,” Owen said. “They shot the President. They killed Charlie Kirk. They threatened to kill Virginia Delegate Kim Taylor. They threatened to kill Virginia Delegate Geary Higgins. And now Jay Jones called for the death of Delegate Todd Gilbert and even went so far as to fantasize about Gilbert’s children dying in their mother’s arms — all to push his politics.”
“This election is no longer about left vs right. It’s about right vs wrong.”
President Donald Trump also responded to the texts, referencing Jones and others in a post on Truth Social.
“It has just come out that the Radical Left Lunatic, Jay Jones, who is running against Jason Miyares, the GREAT Attorney General in Virginia, made SICK and DEMENTED jokes,” Trump wrote.
Trump urged Jones to drop out and questioned gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger’s lack of response.
Miyares addressed the matter in an open letter.
“Jay Jones wished for the violent death of a political opponent and then fantasized about that opponent’s children dying in their mother’s arms,” Miyares said. “When confronted, he doubled down, saying that kind of grief and pain would be a good thing if it advanced his politics. And politics aside, one has to be coming from a dark place to advocate the murder of a colleague and their family. This conduct is disqualifying.”
Owen said the matter is not just about political parties.
“I’m calling on all Virginians — Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike — to stand together and reject this violence and hate in our politics,” he said. “This isn’t about party; it’s about principle. To my Democrat friends, even if that means splitting your ticket, we must send a clear message that threats, cruelty, and extremism have no place in Virginia.”
“The best way to stand against hate and political violence is to make your voice heard at the ballot box by rejecting May Nivar and Jay Jones. Make your plan to vote today.”
Goochland County GOP Chair Buddy Bishop also responded to the controversy, saying those seeking public office should be held to a high standard.
“When it comes to public discourse, even if you’re in a position where your words could be made public, you simply have to be held accountable,” Bishop told the Henrico Times. “You have to hold yourself accountable.”
He added, “When you reach out for higher office, you really have to be able to sustain a higher standard. And so, that needs to mean something, and it won’t mean anything if people hold it meaningless or look the other way for their own purposes.”
Bishop said the texts reflect a deeper problem in public life.
“Now we’re just seeing excuses or ignoring it, or it doesn’t matter to them, because the reality, the gravity of what is involved in representing people in a governmental capacity is not about anything to them as it is to us,” he said.
He warned of what he described as “giant moral cavities” and said a stronger response is needed.
“I think this tooth is going to have to be pulled or have a root canal,” Bishop said. “I don’t think you can fix it.”
Bishop also said that support for candidates like Jones is likely to remain strong among some voters, and that independent voters may ultimately decide the outcome.
“That 19%, whoever they are, whatever they’ve come to be, or whatever they’re thinking, that’s where the decision would be made,” he said.
