Key Highlights
- RAGA distributed five different stickers targeting Democratic candidate Jay Jones during the Virginia gubernatorial election.
- The stickers highlighted various scandals involving Jones, including community service investigations and controversial texts.
- Jay Jones criticized President Donald Trump’s policies as “destructive” to Virginia outside a polling place on Election Day.
- A sticker read: “I didn’t vote for the ‘get out of jail free’ guy,” referencing an investigation into his community service hours.
Political Stakes in Virginia’s 2025 Governor Race
The 2025 Virginia gubernatorial race took center stage on Election Day, with candidates and their supporters engaging in a fierce battle for voter attention. One candidate, Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, found himself under scrutiny from his Republican opponents.
Stickers Targeting Jay Jones
The Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) took a unique approach to swaying voters by handing out stickers at polling places. These stickers, designed to poke fun at Jones’ past controversies and scandals, were strategically placed on voter’s foreheads as they exited the polling booth.
Five different stickers were distributed, each with a tagline that read: “I didn’t vote for….” The first sticker highlighted an ongoing investigation into Jones’ community service hours. It depicted him in a stovepipe hat resembling Uncle Pennybags from Monopoly and read, “I didn’t vote for the ‘get out of jail free’ guy.”
Community Service Scandal
The sticker’s reference to Jones is rooted in an investigation that began when he admitted to 1,000 community service hours. However, only 500 hours were recorded with his own political action committee and another 500 to the state NAACP chapter. While officials from both organizations vouched for the accuracy of the service time, no documents supporting this claim have been made public.
Controversial Texts and Allegations
The other stickers focused on Jones’ alleged texts that sparked controversy. One sticker read: “I didn’t vote for the political violence guy,” while another stated: “I didn’t vote for the two-bullets guy.” These references were made after Jones sent messages to then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, expressing his dismay at Gilbert’s relationship with the late Del. Joe Johnson, D-Bristol.
According to Jones’ texts, he expressed concerns about Johnson’s closeness with Gilbert and shared Democratic caucus chatter that led him to imagine a scenario where Gilbert would be shot twice in the head.
He then went further by envisioning the deaths of Gilbert’s children and wishing for his wife Jennifer Gilbert to breed “little fascists.” This remark was the focus of RAGA’s fifth sticker, featuring a depiction of Calvin from Calvin & Hobbes urinating with a mischievous grin.
The final sticker read: “Disagree with Jay Jones? He’ll piss on your grave,” using the same Calvin character in an unlicensed manner. This tactic was described as a reprise of a 1990s bumper sticker that comic strip artist Bill Watterson considered unauthorized and unlicensed at the time.
Political Climate and Voter Reaction
Virginia’s gubernatorial election is significant, given its political landscape. The state has seen a shift in voter preferences over recent years, with both parties vying for control. Jay Jones, who criticized President Trump’s policies as “destructive” to the state during his campaign, found himself on the receiving end of these Republican tactics.
The use of stickers was part of a broader strategy by RAGA to remind voters about Jones’ past controversies and scandals. This approach reflects the intense competition in Virginia’s 2025 gubernatorial race, where every vote counts in determining the state’s future direction.
