By now, you’ve probably heard about the texting troubles of Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones. The former member of the House of Delegates has apologized after violent text messages he sent in 2022 to a fellow lawmaker resurfaced. The messages, directed at then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert, were described by Jones as “inexcusable” and “shameful.” 

We agree, and we hope this can be a learning experience for him and Virginia voters, as there’s more than one lesson to be learned here. 

Since Jones’ private remarks have become public, we’ve seen a predictable level of outrage from his political opponents. The current attorney general, Jason Miyares, said his words are “the kind of darkness that disqualifies anyone from holding public office.” The current governor, Glenn A. Youngkin, called for his resignation. The current president called him an “animal” and suggested that his comments were grounds for imprisonment. Conservative political commentators have challenged and questioned supporters of Jones — How can they vote for him, considering the things he’s said? 

That’s a question supporters of the president likely know the answer to, as they’ve probably been asked it before. They shrug, roll their eyes and focus on the bigger picture: He advances their agenda, fights for what they want, and the “missteps,” no matter how outrageous, don’t outweigh the outcomes they care about. In other words, political allies often weigh deeds over words when it suits them. 

Democrats could take a hint here with Jones. Yes, the texts were awful. Yes, they were inexcusable. But Jones has owned them, apologized and made it clear they don’t reflect the way he does the work of a public official. 

Politics is messy. People say dumb, hurtful and shocking things. What counts is whether they own it, whether they learn from it and whether they serve responsibly once they’re in office. Let Jones’ mistake be a warning, not an expulsion. 

In the end, it’s about perspective. If Republicans can look past the worst of Trump’s rhetoric because he gets things done, Democrats can do the same with Jones. The question isn’t whether he’s perfect — no one is. The question is whether he’s capable, accountable and ready to serve Virginians.