The two candidates showed up, but at the start of Virginia’s only gubernatorial debate Thursday night at Norfolk State University , a man who wasn’t there — Democratic hopeful for Attorney General Jay Jones — took center stage.

A series of Jones texts from 2022 in which he fantasized about shooting then-speaker of the House of Delegates Todd Gilbert and about harm to his children sparked the first clashes between Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.

Spanberger again denounced Jones’ comments and did not reiterate her endorsement of her running mate, but also did not call on him to withdraw from the contest.

The fractious one-hour confrontation televised statewide, featured two candidates who hope to make history in the Nov. 4 election as

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