{"id":2497252,"date":"2025-10-09T21:10:02","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T01:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/earle-sears-turns-the-heat-on-spanberger-in-fiery-virginia-debate\/"},"modified":"2025-10-09T21:11:38","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T01:11:38","slug":"earle-sears-turns-the-heat-on-spanberger-in-fiery-virginia-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/earle-sears-turns-the-heat-on-spanberger-in-fiery-virginia-debate\/","title":{"rendered":"Earle-Sears turns the heat on Spanberger in fiery Virginia debate"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fearle-sears-turns-the-heat-on-spanberger-in-fiery-virginia-debate%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2497252&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports on a heated debate between the Democratic and Republican candidates for Virginia governor,Abigail Spanberger and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. The debate quickly focused on the controversy surrounding Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, who was revealed to have sent violent text messages threatening a former Republican House speaker and his family. Earle-Sears criticized Spanberger for staying silent and not calling for Jones to drop out of the race,accusing her of lacking political courage. spanberger condemned Jones&#8217;s messages but repeatedly avoided stating whether he should remain on the ticket, rather accusing Earle-Sears of selective outrage toward political violence. Throughout the debate, Earle-Sears was aggressive, frequently interrupting Spanberger and pushing her to denounce Jones&#8217;s candidacy. the scandal has drawn critically important Republican backlash and increased campaign spending, occurring amid early voting for the Virginia elections. <br \/> <!DOCTYPE html><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Spanberger silent on Jay Jones endorsement under heat from Earle-Sears in fiery Virginia debate<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2366628\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The sole debate between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Virginia<\/a> gubernatorial candidates, Democratic candidate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abigail-spanberger\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Abigail Spanberger<\/a> and Lt. Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/winsome-earle-sears\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Winsome Earle-Sears<\/a> (R-VA), quickly devolved into disagreements and personal barbs over the brewing scandal surrounding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Democrat<\/a> Jay Jones.<\/p>\n<p>Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general,&nbsp;previously sent violent text messages suggesting he would put two bullets into former Virginia Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert. <\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3844638\/cuomo-poll-nyc-mayoral-race-adams-drops-out\/\">Cuomo picks up new support in NYC mayoral race after Eric Adams drops out: Poll<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3844655\/cuomo-rival-blast-rikers-island-plan\/\">Cuomo&#8217;s rivals blast shifting plans on Rikers Island<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3844065\/andy-beshear-question-jay-jones-virginia-attorney-general-race-violent-texts\/\">Beshear becomes first major Democrat to question Jay Jones after violent texts revealed<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3841387\/rga-pours-1-5-million-va-governor-race-jay-jones-scandal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION POURS $1.5 MILLION IN VIRGINIA GUBERNATORIAL RACE AFTER JAY JONES SCANDAL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The revelation has roiled the Virginia race, with Republicans, including President Donald Trump, calling for Jones to exit the race. Earle-Sears, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee&nbsp;have all released ads attacking Democrats over the Jones scandal. <\/p>\n<p>Democrats have condemned the messages but stopped short of calling for Jones to exit the race. Earle-Sears lambasted Spanberger over her silence on whether Jones should end his campaign.<\/p>\n<p>In her response to the first question of the debate about the commonwealth&rsquo;s car tax, Earle-Sears quickly sought to make the debate about Jones and continued to attack in the one-hour discussion.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m wondering why my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hogan-and-alsobrooks-debate-over-when-to-debate-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Hogan and Alsobrooks ... over when to ... ... Washington Examiner\">opponent won&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t say beyond its abhorrent and disgusting &hellip; that he must leave the race because Jay Jones advocated the murder, Abigail, the murder of a man, a former speaker, as well as his children, who were two years two- and five-years old,&rdquo; Earle-Sears said during the Thursday night debate.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I was born in Jamaica, and when I was 10 years old, I saw that kind of political violence, which is why I&rsquo;m asking my opponent to please ask him to get out of the race. Have some political courage,&rdquo; she added. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"FIsN211ZYxE\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jay Jones in His Own Words\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FIsN211ZYxE?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>As the lieutenant governor grilled Spanberger, she remained silent, refusing to answer her questions about Jones&rsquo;s role on the Democratic ticket. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You have little girls. What would it take &ndash; him pulling the trigger? Is that what would do it? And then you would say, he needs to get out of the race. Abigail, you have nothing to say? Abigail?&rdquo; Earle-Sears taunted her.<\/p>\n<p>Spanberger stood facing forward and didn&rsquo;t engage each time Earle-Sears turned to her to ask questions.<\/p>\n<p>Spanberger told the audience at Norfolk State University that she abhors Jones&rsquo;s messages, but she repeatedly dodged questions about whether he should remain on the ticket. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The comments that Jay Jones made are absolutely abhorrent. I denounce them when I learned of them, and I will denounce them every opportunity I get,&rdquo; Spanberger said at first. &ldquo;As a mother, as a public servant, as a candidate for governor, I denounce them.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>She then attacked Earle-Sears for having selective outrage on political violence at the expense of Democrats. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;My opponent, unfortunately, only denounces violence when her side is the target,&rdquo; said Spanberger. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t lie like that, Abigail,&rdquo; Earle-Sears interjected.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I hope that in the future, she will endeavor to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >denounce violent rhetoric<\/a> and violence, no matter who the victim,&rdquo; Spanberger continued. &ldquo;You routinely refer to me as your enemy. I&rsquo;m not your enemy. You are not my enemy. We are political opponents.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Democratic gubernatorial candidate was again asked about the future of Jones&rsquo;s campaign, where she dodged the question.  <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are all running our individual races. I believe my opponent has said that about her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-grand-jurys-report-is-garbage-because-fulton-county-d-a-fed-them-garbage-to-get-trump\/\" title=\"Georgia Grand Jury\u2019s Report Is Garbage Because Fu...on County D.A. Fed Them Garbage To \u2018Get Trump\u2019\">lieutenant governor nominee<\/a>,&rdquo; Spanberger said as Earle-Sears interrupted her. &ldquo;And it is up to every person to make their own decision. I am running my race to serve Virginia, and that is what I intend to do.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m saying as of now, it&rsquo;s up to every voter to make their own individual decision. I am running for governor. I am accountable for the words that I say, for the acts that I take, for the policies that I have put out,&rdquo; she added when asked again.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3841889\/spanberger-deflects-questions-jones-texts-republicans-momentum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SPANBERGER TRIES TO REDIRECT ATTENTION AS REPUBLICANS POUNCE ON MOMENTUM AFTER JONES&rsquo;S TEXTS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Throughout the debate, Earle-Sears was on offense, interrupting Spanberger&rsquo;s responses and pivoting her answers repeatedly to questions for her opponent. Moderators dinged her multiple times for talking over her Spanberger.<\/p>\n<p>Earle-Sears said Spanberger&rsquo;s refusal to pull her endorsement of Jones is a sign of poor leadership. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You have to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tech-giants-are-releasing-poor-news-daily-cutting-expectations\/\" title=\"Tech Giants Are Releasing Poor News Daily, Cutting Expectations\">make hard choices<\/a>, and that means telling Jay Jones to leave the race,&rdquo; Earle-Sears said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Abigail needs to say something,&rdquo; she repeated.<\/p>\n<p>Early voting has already begun in Virginia and ends Nov. 1 before Election Day on Nov. 4. The Jones scandal broke last week after early voting had started on Sept. 20. <\/p>\n<p><em>Marisa Schultz contributed to this report. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spanberger silent on Jay Jones amid heated Earle-Sears debate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2658,"featured_media":2497253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/sears-spanberger-image-collage-x2th4ha4u-1759343478509-e1759347845316.jpg?1759333563&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[40299,34059,37043,32249,64925],"class_list":["post-2497252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-earle-sears","tag-election-2024","tag-political-debate","tag-spanberger","tag-virginia-debate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/sears-spanberger-image-collage-x2th4ha4u-1759343478509-e1759347845316.jpg?1759333563&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2497252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2658"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2497252"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2497252\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2497256,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2497252\/revisions\/2497256"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2497253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2497252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2497252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2497252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}