House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good files recount petition

RICHMOND, Va. (CN) — House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good on Thursday filed a petition for a recount after the hardline Republican congressman narrowly lost his primary last month in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District.

“Virginia law provides, and the need for accuracy and public confidence in the outcome of the primary election requires, that a recount be held,” Bradley Marrs, an attorney with Richmond-based Marrs & Henry who is representing Good, wrote in the petition.

The petition, filed in Goochland County, comes after the State Board of Elections certified state senator and fellow hardline conservative John McGuire as the Republican nominee on July 2. McGuire holds a 374-vote margin in a race, with over 62,000 ballots cast onJune 18.

“While this was not the election night outcome we had worked for, my team and I are doing everything we can to finalize a very tight race that sadly included months of unprecedented swamp dollars spending on dishonest ads and messaging,” Good wrote in an email to supporters.

The state would have paid for the recount had the margin of victory been 0.5% or lower.

Because there is instead around a 0.6% margin between the candidates, Good must pay for the recount. In an email to supporters, Good estimated the recount, which would require tallying votes in 22 counties and two cities, could cost up to $100,000.

On Wednesday, Good’s campaign treasurer asked the Federal Election Commission whether the campaign could use general funds from Good’s war chest towards his recount against McGuire. As of Thursday, Good has only paid a $3,720 bond required to file the petition as the campaign waits for a final cost determination.

“Recounting the ballots and delaying the inevitable may make Bob feel better, but it won’t make him congressman again,” Sean Brown, a consultant for the rival McGuire campaign, said in an email to Courthouse News.

“More people voted for John McGuire than voted for Bob Good, no matter how many times he counts it,” Brown said. “It is hard to imagine there are donors out there willing to invest in what is certainly another losing effort by Bob.”

According to state recount procedure, Goochland County Circuit Court Chief Judge Claude V. Worrell II will first notify the Supreme Court of Virginia Chief Justice Bernard Goodwyn of the recount. Goodwyn will then appoint two other judges to preside over the recount proceedings along with Worrell. The Goochland County judge has until July 18 to conduct a preliminary hearing.

“The court shall review all security measures taken for all ballots and voting devices and direct, as it deems necessary, all appropriate measures to ensure proper security to conduct the recount,” Marrs wrote in his petition.

Good raised questions about election integrity following news that three separate fire alarms went off on Election Day. Appearing on the podcast of former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, Good also said that one precinct had begun allowing votes two hours before a representative from Good’s campaign was present.

The Republican primary in the 5th, which encompasses Central Virginia, pitted two Trump loyalists against one another. But what should have been a slam dunk for incumbent Good flipped on its head when Trump endorsed his challenger, state Senator McGuire.

Since winning election in 2020, Good has consistently voted alongside hardline conservatives in the U.S. House. He chairs Congress’ farthest-right bloc, the Freedom Caucus, and was instrumental in supporting the ousting of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October 2023.

“It’s the swamp versus the Freedom Caucus,” Good said on Bannon’s War Room podcast on June 20. “Are we going to let this seat be bought by the McCarthy revenge tour?”

But Good created issues for himself when, in a miscalculation, he endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for the party’s presidential nomination.

Good flipped his endorsement back to Trump in January — but damage was done. In May, Trump endorsed McGuire.

“Bob Good is BAD FOR VIRGINIA, AND BAD FOR THE USA,” Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social. “He turned his back on our incredible movement, and was constantly attacking and fighting me until recently, when he gave a warm and ’loving’ Endorsement - But really, it was too late.”

McGuire is a former Navy Seal who has served as a state delegate and senator. He is a loyal Trump supporter, even appearing at during the Jan 6. Capitol riots, where he took a selfie from the west gate of the U.S. Capitol. (McGuire claims he did not enter the Capitol building.)

Virginia’s 5th is home to the cities Charlottesville and Lynchburg. McGuire and Good each raised over $1 million in donations, far outpacing the district’s leading Democrat, Gloria Tinsley Witt, who raised $20,000.