Bob Good unseated by a competitor supported by Trump in Virginia

Virginia – According to Decision Desk HQ, House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R) has been defeated by challenger John McGuire, who is supported by Trump, in the primary election in Virginia. This result gives the former president a victory in one of the most contentious nomination races of the cycle.

After a campaign that stretched on for days due to the narrow margin that separated the two candidates, McGuire, a state senator, emerged victorious in the Republican primary election for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District. Good, a two-term member of the House of Representatives, was defeated by McGuire.

Following his statement from the previous month that “we are going to have a full recount” even before the results had been confirmed, it is almost inevitable that Good will make a request for a recount.

In accordance with the laws of Virginia, recounts may be initiated in the event that the candidate who was defeated was defeated by a margin of up to one percent. If the margin of victory is less than half a percentage point, the state will pay for the expenditures associated with the recount; otherwise, the candidate who is being challenged will be responsible for paying for the recount.

Given that the margin of victory between the two candidates was 0.6 percent, it is reasonable to assume that Good will be responsible for paying the costs associated with the recount in those jurisdictions from whom he specifically seeks it.

Good gained a reputation for himself as a rabble-rouser within the House Republican caucus by going against the grain of his own party at crucial junctures. A number of his actions, including his vote to remove former Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-California) from his position as Speaker of the House, his vote to reject the agreement over the debt ceiling that President Biden and McCarthy had struck the previous year, and his vote to reject a foreign aid package that included aid to Israel and Ukraine, did not sit well with some members of his party.

The most significant turning point, however, occurred during the Republican primary for president, when Good chose to support Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over Donald Trump in the election. This decision drew the ire of the former president. Following DeSantis’ withdrawal from the race, Good finally sided with Trump.

In a post that he made on his Truth Social platform at the end of May, Trump expressed his support for McGuire by stating, “Bob Good is BAD FOR VIRGINIA, AND BAD FOR THE USA.” Until recently, he provided a warm and ‘loving’ endorsement, but in reality, it was too late. He turned his back on our amazing movement and was continuously assaulting and fighting me. He did this until recently.

It was also observed by Good that non-partisan organizations such as the Republican Main Street Partnership and the Republican Jewish Coalition came together in support of McGuire. Additionally, one of his fellow Freedom Caucus members, Representative Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), endorsed the candidate who is challenging Good.

Despite this, Good made an effort to link himself with the former president. In fact, the Trump team issued Good a letter requesting that he cease and desist after seeing yard signs that gave the impression that the congressman had obtained Trump’s endorsement.

Within the midst of the upheaval, Good took action to support primary challengers to a select group of Republicans, including Representatives Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.), both of whom were able to survive their primaries. In turn, Bacon threw his support behind the one who was challenging Good.

Good contended that the incumbent-on-incumbent primary races did not begin until some members of his party attended a fundraiser for McGuire. This debate took place in May and was conducted in an interview with The Hill.

The fact that Good had a relatively respectable showing despite the fact that he was defeated highlights the tensions that are currently brewing within the House Republican Conference. The victory of McGuire versus Good was praised by a few Republican coalitions.

“Let there be no doubt that the Republican Jewish Coalition means it when we say: If you stand against the Jewish community if you stand against America’s strategic ally Israel, the RJC will work to defeat you,” Republican Jewish Coalition National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman and CEO Matt Brooks said in a statement following McGuire’s win.

“We are proud and gratified to have played a significant role in helping to defeat extremist Bob Good, and we look forward to working with John McGuire in the next Congress,” they added.