Democrat Jay Jones, left, and Republican incumbent Jason Miyares shake hands at the start of the Virginia attorney general debate in Richmond, Virginia, on Thursday. Mike Kropf/Richmond Times-Dispatch/AP

Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for Virginia attorney general, expressed his regret for the graphic and violent language directed at a colleague in text messages in his opening statement in Thursday night’s debate with Republican incumbent Jason Miyares.

“Let me be very clear: I am ashamed. I am embarrassed. And I am sorry,” Jones said. “I am sorry to Speaker Gilbert. I am sorry to his family. I am sorry to my family. And I am sorry to every single Virginian. I cannot take back what I said, but you have my word that I will always be accountable for my mistakes. And you also have my

See Full Page