Donald Trump has exacted his revenge against Bob Good, the chair of the House Freedom Caucus, in a primary that underscores his enduring influence within the Republican Party. The race in Virginia’s 5th district concluded with John McGuire, a retired Navy SEAL and state senator, narrowly defeating Good by just 374 votes. Virginia’s Department of Elections reported McGuire received 31,209 votes compared to Good’s 31,583. The tight margin has prompted Good to request a recount.
McGuire celebrated his victory and expressed gratitude to Trump for his endorsement. “Number one, I want to thank God,” McGuire said in a statement on X/Twitter. “We could not have done this without my wife Tracy, our incredible team, and of course President Trump! This is the honor of a lifetime.”
Good, who has chaired the House’s most conservative caucus since January, became a target of Trump’s ire after endorsing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in May 2023. At the time, DeSantis appeared to be a strong contender in the Republican primary, especially as Trump faced mounting legal challenges. However, DeSantis eventually dropped out of the race after failing to gain significant traction, leaving Trump as the dominant figure in the GOP primary.
Trump swiftly endorsed McGuire, criticizing Good on Truth Social. “John is running against Bob Good, who is not good,” Trump posted. “Despite his name, he’s very bad for Virginia.” Good acknowledged that Trump’s endorsement of McGuire impacted the race, stating it was based on inaccurate information. “Obviously I haven’t fought against President Trump,” Good told The Independent. “I haven’t been bad for Virginia.”
Good also faced opposition from former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, whom Good had voted to oust. McCarthy’s political action committee contributed $10,000 to the campaign against Good. Despite Good’s efforts to reaffirm his loyalty to Trump, including attending Trump’s court proceedings in New York, it was McGuire who secured Trump’s endorsement.
Trump’s endorsement of McGuire was a significant factor in the race. “After I won the primary he became a big fan — that’s not good enough,” Trump said during a tele-rally for McGuire. Virginia’s 5th district is solidly Republican, making McGuire’s path to Washington in January almost certain.
The primary race highlighted divisions within the GOP’s conservative ranks. Good’s decision to endorse several primary challenges to his House colleagues sparked backlash, with some Republicans actively campaigning against him. Firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rep. Warren Davidson, a prominent member of the House Freedom Caucus, supported McGuire. Meanwhile, Good had the backing of high-profile Trump allies, including Rep. Matt Gaetz and Sens. Mike Lee and Rand Paul.
The race also saw significant financial contributions from outside groups. McGuire narrowly outraised Good, with $1.2 million compared to Good’s $1.1 million, according to federal election documents. McCarthy’s political infrastructure played a crucial role in targeting Good, who was one of the eight Republican lawmakers who voted to oust McCarthy from his speakership role.
Good’s loss will inevitably create a power vacuum within the Freedom Caucus. The red-leaning district is expected to remain in GOP hands in November, but the primary result underscores the influence Trump continues to wield over congressional races.
Good’s initial endorsement of DeSantis, which came shortly after Trump was indicted in the Manhattan hush money case, was seen as a significant act of disloyalty by Trump and his allies. Despite Good’s subsequent endorsement of Trump after DeSantis dropped out, Trump’s decision to back McGuire was already made.
McGuire emphasized his loyalty to Trump throughout the campaign, contrasting himself with Good. “Thank you to President Donald J. Trump for endorsing my campaign for Congress!” McGuire said. “I’ve been with Trump since he came down the escalator and when I’m in Congress, I’ll back his agenda and put America First!”
Good remained confident in his campaign’s ground game, citing support from various lawmakers and Republican groups. “They all know I am the true conservative in this race who is committed to reversing the Biden agenda and putting America back on track to be great again as it was in President Trump’s first term,” Good said.
Despite Trump’s endorsement of McGuire, Good’s campaign website continued to feature Trump’s praise from the 2022 election. “President Trump has not endorsed in this election cycle but Congressman Good is proud to have endorsed President Trump for Re-Election in 2024,” the website read.
The Virginia race saw significant spending, with about $7.5 million spent on campaign ads as of Tuesday, according to AdImpact. This large sum reflects the high stakes of the primary, even though the district is not considered a pickup opportunity for Democrats.
In the end, Trump’s endorsement proved decisive, demonstrating his continued power as a kingmaker within the Republican Party. McGuire’s victory over Good serves as a reminder of the consequences of perceived disloyalty in Trump’s political world.
Source: The Independent, CBS News, Associated Press
