Abigail Spanberger and Winsome Earle-Sears clash over Jay Jones' violent texts in lone Virginia governor's debate

Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears sparred frequently and bitterly Thursday during their only debate of this fall's Virginia governor’s race — and much of it wasn’t even about the two candidates onstage

Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears sparred frequently and bitterly Thursday during their only debate of this fall's Virginia governor’s race — and much of it wasn’t even about the two candidates onstage.

Rather, the hourlong showdown at Norfolk State University — in which the moderators repeatedly asked Earle-Sears to refrain from talking over her opponent — most prominently centered on Virginia’s Democratic nominee for attorney general, Jay Jones.

Last week, texts from 2022 surfaced in which the Jones suggested that one of the top legislative Republicans in the state be shot in the head, triggering bipartisan condemnation and calls from Republicans for Jones to exit the race.

Spanberger, a former congresswoman who has condemned the texts but stopped short of calling on Jones to drop out, repeatedly declined to say Thursday evening whether she still endorsed him.

The fireworks started almost immediately, when, during a response to a question about the state’s car tax, Earle-Sears, the state lieutenant governor, punted and tried to steer the conversation toward Jones.