Ghazala Hashmi, the Democratic candidate for Virginia lieutenant governor, has expressed that political violence is unacceptable. She urged Jay Jones, the Democratic attorney general candidate, to take responsibility for his threatening messages toward a GOP lawmaker. This statement was released in a press release.
“I have been very clear that political violence has no place in our country,” said Hashmi. “I condemn it at every turn. Jay must take accountability for the pain that his words have caused. We must demand better of our leaders and of each other.”
Democratic candidate Jay Jones encountered criticism in October 2025 after reports from Virginia Mercury and The Washington Post revealed that he had sent text messages in 2022 referencing “two bullets to the head” for then–House Speaker Todd Gilbert. Delegate Carrie Coyner confirmed receiving these messages, leading to condemnation from leaders of both parties and prompting Jones’s public apology and calls for his withdrawal.
According to WTVR’s report on October 3, 2025, screenshots initially published by National Review showed Jones texting that Todd Gilbert “gets two bullets to the head,” followed by subsequent apologies from Jones. WTVR verified the authenticity of these messages through recipients and highlighted the bipartisan outrage from Virginia leaders following the story’s emergence.
WRIC/8News reported on October 3, 2025, that Jones admitted feeling “sick to my stomach” after the texts resurfaced and labeled them as “inexcusable.” The station noted that Delegate Carrie Coyner confirmed Jones’s remarks were made jokingly about “shooting” Gilbert. Both Republican and Democratic figures swiftly condemned this rhetoric and called for accountability.
According to the official Virginia Senate website, Senator Ghazala Hashmi chairs the Education and Health Committee and serves on Finance, Agriculture, Transportation, and Rules committees. Her legislative focus includes equity, ethics, and gun-violence prevention. Since her election in 2019, she has consistently advocated for transparency and accountability within Virginia’s Democratic leadership.
The role of lieutenant governor in Virginia involves presiding over the Senate, casting tie-breaking votes, and being first in line to succeed the governor. As outlined by the Virginia Constitution and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, this position carries ethical expectations rooted in impartiality and procedural integrity during legislative deliberations.
