Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good Loses to Trump-Backed Challenger John McGuire

A recount is anticipated in Virginia GOP major.

Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), chair of the staunchly conservative Home Freedom Caucus, misplaced his major to Trump-backed Virginia state Sen. John McGuire, the Virginia Division of Elections introduced on July 2 two weeks after the closely-watched major election.

Mr. McGuire pulled off the upset by 374 votes within the June 18 GOP major in Virginia’s fifth Congressional District.

Mr. Good is the primary Republican Home incumbent, and second Home member total, to go all the way down to a non-incumbent major challenger this yr.

A recount is probably going, nonetheless. A candidate might request a recount if the distinction between candidates is 1 % or much less, based on Virginia regulation. Mr. Good has mentioned he’ll ask for one.

“We’re going to have a full recount. We’re going to have a full investigation,” he mentioned on Steve Bannon’s “Struggle Room” podcast on June 20, noting he has a authorized workforce able to act as observers.

Mr. McGuire, a former Navy SEAL, declared victory at his watch celebration in Lynchburg, Virginia, shortly earlier than midnight on June 18 regardless of the election being too near name.

The contentious major battle had been largely outlined by loyalty to former President Donald Trump. Mr. Good had initially endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis within the presidential race, earlier than flipping to the previous president after the governor dropped out.

Former President Trump and Mr. McGuire have solid Mr. Good as disloyal to the presumptive Republican nominee. In a earlier Fact Social put up, the previous president mentioned that regardless of the Home Freedom Caucus chair’s subsequent endorsement, “the harm had been achieved.”

When requested on June 7 if he regretted endorsing Mr. DeSantis, Mr. Good informed The Epoch Instances, “The time for speaking about earlier endorsements is over” and the time had come to unite behind the previous president.

In interviews with The Epoch Instances exterior major polling locations on June 18, voters, who declined to offer their final names, defined why they voted for both Mr. McGuire or Mr. Good.

Jimmy, who was carrying a Make America Nice Once more hat and a shirt with former President Trump’s face, mentioned he supported Mr. McGuire just because “Trump endorsed him” although Mr. Good “did an alright job.”

James mentioned he pulled the lever for Mr. McGuire although he didn’t like both candidate however ultimately needed to choose one. He mentioned there must be a change within the U.S. authorities. He additionally cited former President Trump’s endorsement of Mr. McGuire.

David voted for Mr. Good merely “as a result of he’s a conservative.”

Whereas Mr. Good, who has been in Congress since January 2021, acquired endorsements from a dozen or so members of the Home Freedom Caucus, Mr. McGuire boasted backing from some outstanding Republicans, together with Home Armed Providers Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).

One Freedom Caucus member, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), supported Mr. McGuire, calling him “conservative and efficient.”

Mr. Good was one among eight Republicans to hitch with all of the Democrats in ousting former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as Home Speaker final October.

An excellent PAC affiliated with Republican Predominant Avenue Partnership, a gaggle that helps average Republicans, spent greater than $450,000 to defeat the GOP incumbent, based on Open Secrets and techniques.

The seat appears more likely to keep in GOP palms as Mr. Good gained reelection in 2022 with 57.6 % of the vote.

Terri Wu and The Related Press contributed to this report.