Freedom Caucus Chair Loses GOP Primary Recount

The Associated Press reports:

Virginia state Sen. John McGuire, a former Navy SEAL who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, on Thursday defeated conservative U.S. Rep. Bob Good in a recount of the Republican primary results in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District.

McGuire narrowly defeated Good, one of the most conservative members of Congress and chair of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus.

Election officials previously certified a narrow McGuire win in the June 18 primary, by 374 votes out of nearly 63,000 cast. But with the margin of victory at just six-tenths of a percentage point, Good was entitled to a recount.

Politico reports:

Rep. Bob Good is notorious for the scorched-earth tactics he has repeatedly used as the leader of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus. He just got burned by them.

His determination to block part of the GOP’s legislative agenda by any means necessary made him unpopular with his colleagues. He endorsed Ron DeSantis’ presidential bid even before the Florida governor had entered the race against Trump.

“Bob Good is universally recognized to be an asshole,” said Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), who endorsed McGuire.

Trump has celebrated on Truth Social. You may recall that Good’s campaign against his moderate GOP predecessor focused on attacking him for having officiated the same-sex wedding of a staffer.

Trump-backed Virginia state Sen. John McGuire defeats US Rep. Bob Good in recount of 5th Congressional District primary. https://t.co/Kt9cC2wJyX

— 29News – Charlottesville (@29NewsWVIR) August 2, 2024