Bob Good files for recount after falling behind in GOP primary

Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) filed for a recount in the GOP primary for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District after the GOP incumbent lost by just 374 votes last month.

Good’s campaign filed for the recount on Thursday, just one week after the state certified state Sen. John McGuire’s victory over the incumbent. McGuire won after receiving 50.3% of the vote, just 0.6 points above Good.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for the campaign to move ahead with the recount process,” the Good campaign said in a statement. “In the meantime, Congressman Good will continue serving his constituents and fighting for reduced spending, secure borders, and our constitutional freedoms.”

Because the margin of victory is above 0.5 points, Good is responsible for paying for the recount himself. However, if updated results show Good as the winner, he will be refunded.

If the recount confirms Good’s loss, there is no challenge that can be made by either campaign, putting Good in a unique position as the first House Republican to lose his primary this year and the first House Freedom Caucus chairman to lose reelection.

Good’s loss would mean he is booted from Congress before his term as the group’s chairman expires. Good has said he would resign early from his top leadership position in the group so that Freedom Caucus members can elect a new leader before his term ends.

Good has only been the leader of the Freedom Caucus since January, but for some House Republicans, his possible exit from Congress is a welcome development.

Good upset GOP colleagues for encouraging other hard-line conservatives to vote against legislation, even bills introduced by his own party. He was also one of eight Republicans who voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year.

“I used to be a really proud Freedom Caucus member. But ever since Bob Good and a few others have basically infected the Freedom Caucus — their principles are so misguided, they’re not being conservative,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), a former Freedom Caucus member before being removed last year, said. “They’re not really fighting for America First or for even constitutional principles. They’re mostly just fighting against leadership to fight against leadership. Because that’s their identity: fighting against leadership.”

Good upset many of his colleagues outside of the Freedom Caucus as well, who view his possible departure from Congress as a welcome development.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“They have eyes to see and ears to hear. And what some of these people are going to hear is the door hitting Bob Good in the ass. It’s time for him to go,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), who campaigned alongside McGuire during the primary cycle, said. “The reason being is this: If you have someone on your team who is cutting the laces on your combat boots before you went on a mission, you get rid of them.”

The winner of the recount will face Democratic candidate Gloria Witt. The race is expected to favor Republicans.