Rasmussen: Jay Jones Scandal Worse Than Young Republicans Scandal?

Voters Draw a Sharp Line Between Two Text Message Scandals

A new Rasmussen Reports survey reveals that most voters view the scandal surrounding Virginia Democratic Attorney General candidate Jay Jones as far more serious than the controversy involving leaked messages from members of the Young Republicans organization.

Eighty-two percent of likely U.S. voters say the Jay Jones texts—where Jones allegedly suggested murdering political opponents—represent a serious scandal, including 60% who say it’s very serious. By contrast, 69% of voters see the racist and anti-Semitic messages from the Young Republicans’ private group chat as a serious scandal, with only 44% calling it very serious.

Seriousness Spans Party Lines

Majorities of every political group—59% of Democrats, 65% of Republicans, and 56% of independents—agree that Jones’s comments cross a line. However, 64% of Democrats consider the Young Republicans’ remarks a very serious issue, compared to just 28% of Republicans and 39% of independents.

Gender, Race, and Income Differences Emerge

Women are more likely than men to consider both scandals very serious. Among racial groups, 63% of Black voters and 61% of White voters say the Jones scandal is very serious, while Black voters are the most likely to view the Young Republicans’ texts as deeply troubling. Lower-income voters—earning less than $30,000 per year—were also most likely to see both as serious offenses.

The survey of 1,220 likely voters was conducted October 15–19, 2025, with a ±3% margin of error.