Bob Good faces reckoning in Virginia
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The Big Story
Bob Good faces reckoning in Virginia
Virginia Republican Rep. Bob Good, chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, finds himself the latest GOP incumbent in former President Trump’s crosshairs, with Trump’s endorsement of his challenger in Tuesday’s primary putting Good’s political fate at stake.
© AP
Former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social just hours before Virginia voters headed to the polls: “Bob Good is BAD FOR VIRGINIA, AND BAD FOR THE USA!”
Good, who crossed Trump when he endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s run this year for the GOP presidential primary, faces state Sen. John McGuire (R). The winner will face Tuesday’s Democratic primary winner in November.
Good has announced his support for Trump since DeSantis dropped out of the race, but the former president has proven he’s not past holding a grudge.
The bitter battle for the ultra-conservative House seat has illustrated what GOP credentials will fly in the incoming Congress.
Trump endorsed McGuire in late May, while slamming Good for turning “his back on our incredible Movement” in a social media post.
“He turned his back on our incredible Movement, and was constantly attacking and fighting me until recently, when he gave me a warm and ‘loving’ Endorsement — But really, it was too late! The damage had been done,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“I just want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and the person that can most help me do that is Navy Seal and highly respected State Legislator, John McGuire, a true American Hero,” Trump’s post continued.
“I get told sometimes I’m not on the team up there,” Good told supporters in a rally last week, stressing his support for Trump in this year’s presidential race. “I didn’t go to Washington to join the D.C. team.”
Good still has supporters in the Trump camp, and some members of the Freedom Caucus.
Florida Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz and Byron Donalds, both staunch defenders of Trump in Congress, have backed Good.
Freedom Caucus members Reps. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and Chip Roy (R-Texas) have all given Good their backing, as well.
Good also created a hurdle for his reelection bid when he became one of eight Republican House members to vote for the ouster of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in October.
McCarthy’s Majority Committee PAC has also lent McGuire its support, in the form of $10,000 toward the state lawmaker’s campaign.
“With so many knives out for Good, it seems possible he could become the first lawmaker to lose to a nonincumbent this cycle,” The Hill’s Julia Mueller reports of the future of one of the country’s most conservative congressmen.
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