A contentious Republican congressional primary in Virginia's 5th Congressional District is on the verge of a recount as House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good filed a petition for a recount in Goochland Circuit Court. The certified results by the Virginia Board of Elections show Good trailing state Sen. John McGuire by 374 votes.
Good's campaign expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support received to proceed with the recount process, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that all legal votes have been accurately counted in a race with nearly 63,000 votes and a narrow 0.6% margin.
The primary race in the 5th District, which covers Charlottesville and parts of south-central Virginia, has been marked by divisions within the Republican Party. Good, a key figure in the move to oust Kevin McCarthy as House speaker, faced significant opposition from McCarthy's allies and lost support from former President Donald Trump after endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
The primary also highlighted contrasting trends in Republican primaries this cycle, with a pushback against GOP extremism and a growing embrace of the former president. Despite facing substantial odds, Good and McGuire engaged in a high-stakes battle, with both candidates and outside groups pouring millions of dollars into ad spending.
Trump's involvement added another layer of complexity to the race, with the former president holding a tele-rally for McGuire and criticizing Good for not being sufficiently supportive. Good's attempts to regain Trump's favor were met with mixed results, as Trump publicly denounced him and sent a cease-and-desist letter over signage implying false endorsement.
As the recount process unfolds in Virginia, another House Republican incumbent, Rep. Celeste Maloy in Utah's 2nd District, faces a similarly close primary result that may lead to a recount. With just 214 votes separating Maloy from challenger Colby Jenkins, the outcome remains uncertain pending the state's canvass on July 22.
