Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears has released a new political advertisement titled ‘Two Bullets’ that targets her gubernatorial opponent, Abigail Spanberger, accusing her of failing to call for the withdrawal of Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones from his race amid a scandal involving his controversial texts. The ad, which is set to air during the upcoming gubernatorial election, highlights the growing controversy surrounding Jones, who has been the subject of intense scrutiny over his past comments, including remarks that have been interpreted as threatening to an opponent’s children.
The ad features Earle-Sears appearing on-screen before a narrator describes the ongoing scandal, which has forced Jones to address allegations of inflammatory rhetoric. The ad uses a widely circulated clip of Spanberger, a former Virginia congresswoman, saying, ‘Let your rage fuel you,’ which has been used to imply that she supports Jones’ controversial comments. However, Spanberger has repeatedly denied any association with the inflammatory remarks, asserting that she has no connection to Jones’ alleged misconduct.
Despite the accusations, Spanberger has maintained her support for Jones, claiming that the phrase about rage was taken out of context and attributed to her mother, a liberal activist who encouraged her to become politically engaged. She has also emphasized her commitment to bipartisan governance, saying she has a long record of working with Republicans and Democrats to achieve common goals. Spanberger’s campaign has consistently denied that the candidate has called for political violence, and she has reiterated her opposition to any form of violence, stating, ‘Abigail has and will continue to condemn comments that attempt to make light of or justify violence of any kind — full stop.’
Meanwhile, Spanberger has released her own ad targeting Earle-Sears, in which she criticizes the lieutenant governor for her support of Trump’s policies, including his tax cuts and opposition to abortion rights. The ad, which is part of her campaign strategy to counter Earle-Sears’ accusations, aims to shift the focus of the race back to the broader issues facing Virginia voters. Spanberger’s campaign has also highlighted her experience in legislative and political affairs, positioning her as the more qualified candidate for the governorship.
The ongoing attack on Spanberger has intensified the already heated race, with both candidates using aggressive advertising tactics to gain an edge over their opponents. As the election approaches, the race remains one of the most closely watched in the country, with both sides vying for the support of voters on key issues such as policy, governance, and economic stability.