NORFOLK, Va. — Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) faced off in the first and only gubernatorial debate following a headline-grabbing controversy involving violent texts sent by the Democratic nominee for attorney general.

Jay Jones, who’s running to be the commonwealth’s top prosecutor, sent the texts back in 2022 after he left the state House. In the messages, which he sent to a Republican state lawmaker, he talks about shooting former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R).

The scandal, which erupted over the weekend after the texts were reported on by the National Review, has threatened to upend the governor’s race, which until now has been fairly low-key. Spanberger, who has held a strong lead over Earle-Sears in polling, quickly con

See Full Page