U.S. Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., one of Congress’ most conservative members, filed a petition Thursday for a recount after state election officials say he narrowly lost a primary last month to a challenger backed by former President Donald Trump. The Good campaign filed the recount petition in Goochland County outside of Richmond.
Quick Read
- Recount Petition: U.S. Rep. Bob Good, a conservative Republican from Virginia, filed a recount petition in Goochland County after narrowly losing a primary to Trump-backed challenger John McGuire.
- Close Margin: Good lost the primary by 374 votes out of nearly 63,000 ballots, a margin of six-tenths of a percentage point, which entitles him to request a recount under state law.
- Campaign’s Statement: Good’s campaign expressed gratitude for the support and confirmed the continuation of Good’s congressional duties during the recount process.
- Election Results: The Associated Press has not declared a winner, citing the close margin and Good’s recount plans.
- Political Tensions: Good’s endorsement of Ron DeSantis and efforts against House Speaker Kevin McCarthy drew backlash from Trump supporters and the Republican establishment.
- McGuire’s Position: McGuire’s campaign dismissed the recount as a delay tactic, asserting that the primary outcome will not change.
- Upcoming Hearing: A Goochland County judge will schedule a preliminary hearing within the next seven days to establish recount procedures.
- November Election: The Republican primary winner will face Democrat Gloria Witt in a predominantly conservative district in November.
The Associated Press has the story:
Rep. Bob Good files for recount in Virginia GOP congressional primary
Newslooks- VIRGINIA- (AP)
U.S. Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., one of Congress’ most conservative members, filed a petition Thursday for a recount after state election officials say he narrowly lost a primary last month to a challenger backed by former President Donald Trump. The Good campaign filed the recount petition in Goochland County outside of Richmond.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for the campaign to move ahead with the recount process. In the meantime, Congressman Good will continue serving his constituents and fighting for reduced spending, secure borders, and our constitutional freedoms,” the campaign said in an emailed statement.
Earlier this month, the state board of elections declared state Sen. John McGuire the winner over Good in the 5th Congressional District primary. McGuire’s margin of victory was 374 votes out of nearly 63,000 ballots cast, or six-tenths of a percentage point. Because the margin of victory was less than a percentage point, though, Good was entitled to seek a recount under state law.
Good’s campaign will be required to pay for the recount, though, because the margin is greater than half a percentage point. The campaign will get a refund if the recount results in Good’s victory. The Associated Press said the race is too close to call and failed to declare a winner, citing Good’s plans to seek a recount.
Good, who has served in Congress since 2021, had signaled for weeks that he would seek a recount. He has claimed that there were voting irregularities in Lynchburg and elsewhere, but elections officials have said the count is accurate and they are confident in the results.
If Good loses, he would be the first House incumbent nationally to lose a primary challenge this year, with the exception of one race in which two incumbents faced off due to redistricting. Good, who chairs the hard-right House Freedom Caucus and has a staunchly conservative voting record, might have been immune to a primary challenge under normal political dynamics.
But Good drew the ire of Trump voters after he endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the GOP presidential contest. Trump endorsed McGuire, a state senator and former Navy SEAL, and called Good a backstabber. Good also alienated the Republican establishment for his efforts to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. A Republican political action committee, Defending Main Street, which almost always spends money to support GOP incumbents, launched a $450,000 ad campaign against Good.
In an emailed statement, McGuire campaign consultant Sean Brown said “(r)ecounting the ballots and delaying the inevitable may make Bob feel better, but it won’t make him congressman again. More people voted for John McGuire than voted for Bob Good, no matter how many times he counts it.” The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Gloria Witt in November in a district that tilts conservative. Under state law, a Goochland County judge is expected to schedule a preliminary hearing in the next seven days to establish procedures for a recount.
