GOP Targets Jay Jones with Stickers at Virginia Polls

The Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) made a notable impact on Election Day by distributing stickers targeting Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones. The stickers are designed to highlight various scandals associated with Jones as voters went to the polls in Virginia.

Focus on Jay Jones’ Scandals

Five types of stickers were handed out, four featuring a red circle with the phrase “I didn’t vote for…” followed by specific allegations against Jones. One sticker portrayed Jones dressed like Uncle Pennybags from Monopoly, captioned, “I didn’t vote for the ‘get out of jail free’ guy.” This referenced an ongoing investigation into a reckless driving incident linked to Jones.

• Investigation Details: In the past, Jones affirmed completing 1,000 community service hours to address his violation. Half of these hours were attributed to his political action committee, while the other half was recorded with the Virginia NAACP.
• Lack of Transparency: Despite affirmations from both organizations on the accuracy of the community service, no time sheets were publicly released. An FOIA request in relation to New Kent County yielded no documents, citing an ongoing investigation.

Other Controversial Stickers

Additional stickers specifically referenced other contentious remarks made by Jones. One sticker stated, “I didn’t vote for the political violence guy,” while another said, “I didn’t vote for the two-bullets guy.” These references stemmed from text messages Jones sent, expressing violent sentiments regarding Republican lawmakers.

• Context of Messages: In messages to Del. Carrie Coyner, Jones expressed anger over the relationship between Todd Gilbert and the late Del. Joe Johnson, envisioning Gilbert being shot.
• Further Remarks: Jones later made offensive comments about Gilbert’s family, wishing harm upon them, which RAGA aimed to spotlight with their stickers.

Final Sticker and Its Implications

The last sticker in the series illustrated a character from Calvin & Hobbes urinating on a gravestone labeled “GOP” with the phrase, “Disagree with Jay Jones? He’ll piss on your grave.” This specific design has historical significance, originally surfacing as a bumper sticker in the 1990s, which was deemed unauthorized by the original comic artist Bill Watterson.

The distribution of these stickers underscores a strategic effort by Republicans to remind Virginia voters of the controversies surrounding Jay Jones as they headed to the polls. As the election progressed, all eyes were on the implications of such tactics on voter sentiment.