Virginia Delegate Carrie Coyner Concedes Defeat After Text Scandal

RICHMOND, Va. — Delegate Carrie Coyner, a Republican in the Virginia House of Delegates, has conceded defeat in her reelection bid to Democrat Lindsey Dougherty. Coyner shared her concession on social media following an election marred by the fallout from inflammatory text messages she disclosed just weeks before the vote.

Coyner, who aimed for a third term, revealed texts between herself and Jay Jones, a former Democratic delegate who ran for attorney general. In the texts, Jones made disturbing comments about violence towards political rivals, including suggesting a Republican delegate deserved ‘two bullets to the head.’

The election, held on November 4, 2025, saw Dougherty secure 53% of the vote compared to Coyner’s 47%, according to early voting returns. The district was highly competitive, considered a key battleground in the ongoing political landscape of Virginia.

In her concession statement, Coyner reflected on her years of public service, describing it as ‘the greatest honor’ and indicating her desire to focus on family and her law practice moving forward. ‘I know God’s got new plans for me — and I can’t wait to see what’s ahead,’ she wrote.

The dramatic political narrative surrounding Jones’s texts influenced public perception and ultimately affected multiple Democratic campaigns in Virginia, as Coyner’s disclosures initially led many to believe they could disrupt Jones’s chances of winning attorney general. Nevertheless, Jones emerged victorious over incumbent Republican Jason Miyares by a margin of nearly six percentage points.

After the scandal, prominent political figures, including former President Donald Trump and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, called for Jones to step down, accusing him of endorsing violence in political discourse. Despite this backlash, Jones issued a public apology, expressing embarrassment and regret over the texts.

Throughout the campaign, Coyner maintained the stance that Jones’s messages disqualified him from running for public office, arguing they reflected poorly on any leader aspiring to represent the public. Her nuanced response to the scandal suggests an effort to distinguish herself from the controversial narratives surrounding her opponent.