Conservative U.S. Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., is urging constituents in the 5th District to remain patient as the final ballot count from Tuesday's primary will determine whether he can hold off a challenger endorsed by former president Donald Trump. Good, who leads the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, currently trails state Sen. John McGuire by a little over 300 votes as election officials finalize their counts and await the arrival of mail-in ballots.
The Associated Press has refrained from declaring a winner in the race between Good and McGuire. If Good is unsuccessful, he would become the first House incumbent to lose a primary challenge this year, with the exception of a race involving two incumbents due to redistricting.
Despite being one of the most conservative congressmen in the nation, Good faces a tough challenge due to his endorsement of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president, which drew the ire of Trump. After DeSantis withdrew, Good realigned with Trump, but the former president endorsed McGuire and labeled Good a traitor.
McGuire's slim lead of approximately 300 votes represents a margin of about half a percentage point out of over 62,000 ballots cast. Virginia law permits a recount if the winning margin is less than one percentage point, with the state covering the costs if the margin is within half a percentage point.
In a social media update, Good emphasized that the race is still too close to call, with provisional and mail-in ballots yet to be tallied. He is advocating for complete transparency from the involved officials.
Both Good and McGuire have expressed concerns about election integrity following Trump's baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Good was part of the group of over 100 GOP House members who objected to the Electoral College count from states contested by Trump in January 2021.
During a pre-election phone rally with Trump, McGuire urged his supporters to secure a victory margin that would be 'too big to rig.'
