RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Virginia Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares and Democratic challenger Jay Jones squabbled over a host of lawyerly issues on Thursday in their first and only debate: criminal prosecutions, consumer protection and unlawful discrimination. But one matter overshadowed it all: Jones' leaked text messages endorsing political violence toward a former colleague.

Miyares, the Republican incumbent running for reelection, pushed hard against Jones for suggesting to a Republican delegate in 2022 text messages that former Virginia Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert should get two bullets to the head.

Referencing a quote from President Abraham Lincoln, Miyares started the debate by saying: Character is what you do in the dark when no one is watching. But now we know what h

See Full Page