Earle-Sears comes out swinging as Spanberger dodges Jay Jones questions

Virginia Gov. Winsome Earl Sears came out swinging against what she described as former Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s evasions over calls by fellow Democrat Jay Jones to withdraw from the attorney general contest after texts surfaced that depicted the murder of a Republican leader.

Throughout the discussion, Spanberger mostly refused to make eye contact with Earl Sears and ignored her when she was interrupted.

Earl Sears repeatedly addressed Spanberger directly during both women’s answers but received no direct responses in return.

SPANBERGER DEFENDS CRITICISM OF Abortion Ad AFTER BERNIE WARNED GIVEN LIGHT ON ISSUE

Early on, Earl Sears interrupted Spanberger, asking her to give a straight answer. The Democrat told moderators she was “aware of these messages” and that they were “absolutely abhorrent.”

“I denounced them when I learned of them and I will denounce them every chance I get,” Spanberger said, as Earl Sears stepped in again to try to press for a straight answer.

“I didn’t hear an answer [the Jones] question,” co-curator Diana Albritain told Spanberger.

Since Earl Sears had already called on Jones to withdraw from the study, moderators instead asked her about president Donald Trump’s stated “hatred” of political opponents following the killing of Charlie Kirk.

Earl Sears later turned to Spanberger and chided her for refusing to give a yes or no answer to Jones, wondering if it would take Jones “pulling the trigger” to condemn what he said about then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah.

WINSOME EARLE-SEARS issues ‘two bullets’ ad in scathing opposition to failure to call for Jay Jones’ ouster

The Republican was later asked if she needed to endorse Trump, as he openly endorsed lieutenant governor candidate John Reed but made more muted comments to Earl Sears over the course of the race.

Earl Sears also criticized Spanberger for waiting several days before condemning the racist leftist protest sign at an anti-trans sports demonstration in Arlington headlined by the Republican candidate.

The sign says Earle Sears should not be able to share water fountains (as a Black woman) if transgender students cannot share bathrooms.

In that last regard, Supervisor Tom Schad Spanberger asked whether transgender girls born male should be able to use women’s bathrooms and join co-ed sports teams.

“Nothing is more important to me than their safety and their experience in schools,” Spanberger said, before giving a lengthy answer that also cited her experience as a former federal agent investigating crimes against children.

Top GOP group spends big on showdown in Virginia after DEM AG’s violent messages go viral

“This work has partly earned me the endorsement of the Police Benevolent Association,” she said.

Schad repeated the question, saying there was no direct answer, and later tried to ask whether Spanberger would rescind Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order basing bathroom policy on biological grounds.

Earl Sears later said: “My opponent will not answer the question because she voted for naked men in girls’ locker rooms.”

Later, both candidates were asked whether they would continue or roll back any specific policies from Yongkin — who moderators reported had high approval ratings as the final three months of his term came to an end.

Earl Sears said she would not disclose private conversations with Youngkin but would not back away from the progress she had made.

‘Consumed by hate’: Jason Miyares burns hate on Democrat Jay Jones over violent texts

Spanberger said she will continue Yongqin’s efforts to develop advanced nuclear energy in the commonwealth.

After the event, Virginia House Speaker Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, spoke to reporters as a stand-in for Spanberger.

Scott said there was a “double standard” in pressuring Spanberger to call on Jones to withdraw from the study, claiming that Earl Sears did not condemn the violent rhetoric from Trump.

The speaker, who represents the district just south of the debate site, claimed that Earl Sears did not loudly condemn Trump over a remark he made in 2024 when discussing neoconservatism and former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney’s endorsement of Kamala Harris.

“Let’s put her with a rifle standing there and nine barrels shooting at her. OK? Let’s see how she feels about it, you know, when guns are pointed at her face,” Trump said, responding to people in the political establishment who are war “hawks” or support forever wars.

WINSOME EARLE-SEARS launches ad linking Abigail Spanberger to Jay Jones after resurface of violent texts

The Trump campaign noted at the time that the president did not call for Cheney’s execution and that the press covered the statement “disgracefully,” while fact-checker PolitiFact viewed the comment as illustrative of a “combat zone” situation rather than a call for murder.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Earle-Sears campaign for comment on the debate, including how the candidates conducted themselves on stage.

“If you’re wondering who can lead Virginia, this is the debate to watch,” Peyton Vogel, spokesman for Earl Sears, told Fox News Digital.

Click here to download the FOX NEWS app

“Abigail Spanberger couldn’t even look Lt. Governor Earl Sears in the eye and affirmed that she would not stand up to Jay Jones’ murderous, threatening speech.”

“If she can’t lead her own ticket, she can’t lead the commonwealth,” Vogel said.