Between a top campaign adviser to former President Donald Trump, an angry House GOP Conference and now Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-Va.) has made a lot of enemies.
But Good’s far-right allies in the HFC are lining up to help him beat back a primary challenge from state Sen. John McGuire. Several HFC members said they’d host fundraisers or send maximum donations to Good’s campaign to keep him in Congress.
“If there’s anyone that knows how to win in difficult circumstances, it’ll be Bob Good,” said Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), who preceded Good as HFC chair. “He’s a good member and his votes are great. Why wouldn’t we help him?”
In fact, there’s little evidence Good knows how to win a tough race. In 2020, the Congressional Leadership Fund spent $1.8 million and the NRCC spent nearly $1.3 million to help Good beat Democrat Cameron Webb, a physician who ran against him.
But now Republicans in leadership believe Good is in real danger of losing his seat.
Trump World turned its ire on Good after the Virginia Republican endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over the former president. Once DeSantis dropped out of the presidential race over the weekend, Good quickly endorsed Trump.
That hasn’t stopped McGuire’s camp from painting Good as an anti-Trumper. McGuire is also slamming Good as a fake conservative who votes more with Democrats than Republicans. This is a pretty big stretch given Good is one of the most conservative members of the House.
“Bob will stab Trump in the back again the first chance he gets. Never Trumper Bob Good is only good for Joe Biden, not for the patriots of Virginia’s 5th Congressional District,” McGuire told us in a statement.
McGuire has also attacked Good for helping to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Good dismissed McGuire’s challenge, adding that his Freedom Caucus allies will be “100%” behind him.
“The people in the 5th District of Virginia like what I’m doing. I’ve kept my word. I’ve been the kind of consistent conservative that they elected me to be,” Good said in an interview.
Good’s confidence, however, hasn’t stopped him from asking for some early help behind the scenes.
Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) said Good reached out to him a few weeks ago to host a fundraiser. The two held a campaign event in Jetersville, Va., on Jan. 13.
Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) said they’d also go to Good’s district if he asked them. Norman also contributed to Good’s campaign.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to help Bob Good,” Norman told us. “Any fundraiser, we’ll step up.”
The flip side: McGuire is gaining support from members of the GOP conference who are angry at Good for ousting McCarthy and continuing to obstruct the legislative process.
Greene endorsed McGuire on Monday, after going on a tirade that Good is an “angry, disloyal, MAGA traitor.” The Georgia Republican was booted out of HFC last year.
Republican Reps. Morgan Luttrell (Texas), Derrick Van Orden (Wis.) and Ryan Zinke (Mont.) have also endorsed McGuire. All four men were Navy SEALs. Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) has not formally endorsed McGuire but has donated to his campaign.
Van Orden said he is backing McGuire because Good’s tactics have helped lead to chaos within the House Republican Conference.
“In order to fix something, you can’t just burn it down,” Van Orden told us. “This guy has been throwing bombs around, and look at what we’ve accomplished. The answer is nothing.”
– Mica Soellner
