House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good asserted Wednesday that he can still win his tough primary against Virginia Sen. John Maguire, despite being down more than 300 votes.
After the majority of votes were counted on Tuesday night, Maguire, who won former President Donald Trump’s coveted endorsement last month, declared victory and told supporters: “I’m your Republican nominee.”
But Goode, 58, has refused to concede defeat and has campaigned Post to X“This election is too close to predict the outcome, and it is time for us to legislate a process to evaluate the accuracy of all vote totals from Election Day onwards so that everyone can have full confidence in the certified results.”
As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, Maguire was leading Good by 0.6 percentage points, with an estimated 98% of the vote count, within the 1% margin needed if the incumbent were to request and pay for a recount.
“Provisional and mail-in ballots are still being counted,” Good’s campaign said. “We ask for full transparency from officials and patience from the people of the 5th District for the next few weeks while we complete the certification of the results. We still believe we can win.”
The Republican primary for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District was widely seen as a chance for revenge for both Trump, 78, and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
Goode, who angered President Trump by supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, was one of eight Republican firebrands who conspired with 208 Democrats to oust McCarthy from his position as speaker on October 3rd of this year.
Far-right Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who led the revolt against McCarthy, has endorsed Goode, in a rare move by him to contradict Trump.
“We need to come together now because there’s still a lot of work to be done,” Maguire declared on Tuesday night.
“I’m the Republican candidate, and I don’t take that lightly. We have to win in November.”
During the primary, outside groups poured an estimated $10.7 million into the race, with more than half of that going to Good. According to OpenSecrets analysis:.
The 5th District, which covers much of the central part of the state south of the James River, is widely considered a solid Republican stronghold, and Republicans are likely to keep the seat in November no matter who wins the primary.
The news that Good was trailing McGuire sparked swift jubilation from several prominent Republicans.
“This victory shows how harmful Bob Good has been to the Republican Party, the America First movement, and perhaps most importantly, President Trump’s reelection,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) posted on X.
Greene was expelled from the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus last year after a spat with Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., whom she called a “little devil.”
Moderate Republican lawmakers also welcomed the results of the primary.
“Bob Good has done more to weaken and divide the Republican Party than any Democrat,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) posted on X late Tuesday. “Congratulations to John Maguire on a big Republican win. Farewell, Bob Good.”
