The Republican primary race in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District between House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good and state Sen. John McGuire was too close to call Tuesday night.
By 11 p.m., 92% of the votes had been called, with McGuire winning only 300 votes.
The race will now move to a Republican primary recount in the reliably red 5th Congressional District in the southern part of the Commonwealth.
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U.S. Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, speaks alongside colleagues during a news conference on the government funding bill, at the U.S. Capitol on March 22, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
In a statement on X, Good thanked his followers for their volunteer efforts and criticized the “DC Swamp.”
“The entire DC Swamp lined up against us with over $10 million in attack ads, but with your help we were able to make this race too close,” Good wrote, in part.
“No matter the outcome, you have shown DC Swamp that you will not back down from standing up for what is right. Keep the faith and don’t stop fighting now,” he said.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and former President Donald Trump meet ahead of the 2024 election. (Trump campaign)
The primary battle within the party came after former President Donald Trump unleashed his anger on Good for previously endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president.
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Although the two-term congressman avoided criticizing Turmp and quickly endorsed the former president after DeSantis ended his White House bid in January, Trump wrote on this Truth Social platform that “the damage has already been done!”
Last month, the former president endorsed McGuire, who also had the backing of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a conservative firebrand and top Trump ally who is an outspoken critic of Good, who broke with the Caucus last year. the Freedom of the House of Representatives. The group is considered the most right-wing organization of lawmakers in the chamber.
Then-Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, as he was ousted as speaker of the House of Representatives. (Nathan Howard/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also took aim at Good, who last fall was one of eight Republicans who joined Democrats in voting to oust McCarthy from his leadership position.
However, Good had the support of Reps. Matt Gaetz and Byron Donalds of Florida, two conservatives who also strongly support Trump.
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Additionally, other members of the House Freedom Caucus, Reps. Chip Roy of Texas and Andy Biggs of Arizona, joined Good in Virginia for a rally on Friday.
Although Trump pursued him, Good highlighted his support for the former president as he ran for re-election.
“Happy birthday to the best and next president of the United States, President Trump!” Good wrote on social media on Friday, the former president’s 78th birthday.
Good also appeared earlier this spring at Trump’s criminal trial in New York City, to show his support for the former president.
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Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
