New polling data reveals a dramatic shift in Virginia’s attorney general race, with Republican candidate Jason Miyares surging ahead of Democrat Jay Jones after controversial text messages surfaced last year. The findings, released by Quantus Insights and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), show Miyares now leading Jones by 45% to 42%, marking a stark reversal from earlier polls where Jones held a 47% to 41% advantage.

The polling comes amid heightened scrutiny of Jones’ past remarks, including messages from 2022 in which he fantasized about murdering political rivals and law enforcement officials. In one exchange, Jones described imagining “firing two bullets” into the head of then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert, whom he compared to dictators Adolf Hitler and Pol Pot. He also referred to Gilbert’s children as “fascists,” prompting widespread outrage.

Despite the backlash, prominent Virginia Democrats, including gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, have refused to withdraw their support for Jones. The controversy has not deterred voters, however, with Miyares’ campaign celebrating a decisive rise in momentum. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Miyares following the revelations, calling Jones “an animal” and urging him to resign.

The latest VCU poll also highlights narrowing gaps in other statewide races, including the gubernatorial contest between Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, which remains closely contested. Meanwhile, the lieutenant governor race sees a 43% to 44% split between Republican John Reid and Democrat Ghazala Hashmi, with both candidates within the margin of error.

With less than two weeks until Election Day, the attorney general race has become a focal point for voters concerned about rhetoric deemed dangerous and inflammatory. The results underscore a growing willingness among Virginians to hold candidates accountable for past statements, even as Democratic leaders continue to defend Jones.