Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears made an emotional appeal for Abigail Spanberger to call for Jay Jones to drop out of the race — which she refused to do so.

Virginia Democrats are defending gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger’s handling of a text scandal that has rocked the commonwealth less than a month out from the elections. Over the weekend, the governor’s race was roiled by news that Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones had sent text messages expressing violence toward former Virginia House Speaker

The voters now have this information, and it is up to the voters to make an individual choice based on that information,’ she said.

Democratic Virginia gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger was repeatedly pressed during Thursday's debate about her ongoing support for attorney general candidate Jay Jones, following the emergence of text messages in which Jones fantasized about shooting then-Republican Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert.