The Virginia Education Association, the influential teachers union that claims to represent educators across the commonwealth, has revealed its true colors, and they are anything but educational.
Despite explosive revelations about Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for Virginia attorney general, fantasizing about violent acts against a Republican lawmaker, the VEA stubbornly clings to its endorsement of him. If the VEA won’t do the right thing and pull its support, Virginia voters, and teachers themselves, must force accountability at the ballot box and beyond.
The scandal erupted when Jones’s past statements surfaced, exposing a chilling disregard for civility and human decency. Leaked text messages reveal Jones went beyond disagreeing with former Republican Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Todd Gilbert to indulging in grotesque fantasies of violence.
He “wished Gilbert’s wife could watch her own child die in her arms so that Gilbert might reconsider his political views,” according to the report. He went further, declaring that “Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.” And in a final display of venom, Jones proclaimed, “I will go to their funerals to piss on their graves.”
These words belong to someone unfit for any public office, let alone the role of attorney general, where impartial enforcement of the law is paramount.
When confronted by local media about whether such rhetoric was disqualifying, Jones offered a tepid apology. He acknowledged that “the rhetoric has no place in our landscape” and claimed to be “deeply sorry.” But words are cheap, especially when they come from someone who has shown such callous indifference to the humanity of his opponents. If Jones is truly remorseful, he should prove it by dropping out of the race.
As the Fraternal Order of Police said in a Monday statement, Jones is “unfit for the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia” and “should withdraw from the Attorney General race immediately.”
The VEA cannot plead ignorance here. The news has been widely reported, and the backlash on social media has been swift and severe. In response, the union didn’t reconsider its position. Instead, it resorted to censorship. It deleted an X post that had garnered hundreds of negative comments criticizing its endorsement. On two other posts, it turned off replies altogether, silencing dissent. When I personally questioned the union on its official Facebook account about continuing to back Jones, it blocked me. And despite my four emails to the VEA since Sunday, seeking a statement on the matter, I’ve received no response.
As the state affiliate of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers union, the VEA is part of a broader apparatus that prioritizes partisan loyalty over principle. Last year, over 98% of the NEA’s political contributions went to Democrats, turning what should be an advocate for teachers into little more than a money-laundering operation for the Democratic Party.
All of the VEA’s endorsements this year went to Democrats. The VEA’s refusal to withdraw its endorsement of Jones is proof positive: These unions operate as arms of the Democratic machine, willing to overlook even the most egregious rhetoric if it comes from “their side.”
The VEA and NEA position themselves as guardians of children, yet they continue to endorse a man who wished death upon a political opponent’s children. Jones didn’t back away from this mindset when pressed. He stated, “Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.”
How can conservative parents, or any parents who value safety and civility, feel confident sending their children to public schools run by educators aligned with such views? The teachers union, made up of supposed role models for children, is still endorsing someone who would weaponize personal tragedy against Republicans.
The endorsement sends a dangerous message: Violent rhetoric is acceptable as long as it’s directed at conservatives. In an era of heightened political tensions, Virginia deserves better from its aspiring top law enforcer. Voters must make their voices heard in next month’s election, rejecting Jones and sending a clear signal that such toxicity has no place among the state’s elected officials. A defeat for Jones would be a rebuke not just to him but to the union bosses who propped him up.
But voters aren’t the only ones with power. Teachers who are appalled by the VEA’s stance, and I know many are, should take decisive action and leave the union. They should stop funneling their hard-earned dues to radical extremists such as Jones. By opting out, they’ll send an unmistakable message that violent rhetoric won’t be tolerated. The loss of funding would give union leaders a real incentive to do the right thing, rather than hiding behind deleted posts and blocked accounts.
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Opting out offers practical benefits. Teachers who leave can secure free personal liability insurance through organizations such as the Teacher Freedom Alliance, all while keeping more of their money in their pockets instead of funding partisan agendas. It’s time for educators to reclaim their profession from the grip of these political operatives.
The VEA’s handling of this scandal is a disgrace, exposing the rot at the heart of government unions. Virginia’s families and teachers deserve better — and we all should demand it.
Corey DeAngelis is a senior fellow at the American Culture Project and a visiting fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research.
, 2025-10-10 16:32:00, 
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