In a highly anticipated recount of the Republican primary results in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, Virginia state Sen. John McGuire emerged victorious over incumbent U.S. Rep. Bob Good. McGuire, a former Navy SEAL who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, narrowly defeated Good, who is known for his conservative views and role as chair of the House Freedom Caucus. The initial margin of victory for McGuire was just 374 votes out of nearly 63,000 cast, leading to Good’s request for a recount. Following the recount, McGuire’s victory margin narrowed slightly to 370 votes, solidifying his win in the primary election.
The recount process took nearly 14 hours, with the final votes arriving at the courthouse in the evening. McGuire himself arrived at the courthouse around the same time, expressing confidence in his victory despite the recount. Chief Judge Claude Worrell II officially declared McGuire the winner of the election, confirming that he had received more votes than Good. Good, in a statement on Facebook, thanked his supporters and expressed disappointment in the outcome, but also expressed pride in serving as the congressional representative for Virginia’s 5th District for the past 3.5 years.
Good’s tenure in Congress has been marked by his conservative stance, including being one of eight Republicans who voted to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker in October. Following Good’s endorsement of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the GOP presidential race, former President Trump labeled him a backstabber and threw his support behind McGuire. The recount was overseen by a three-judge panel, with Judge Worrell estimating the cost at $96,500, to be covered by Good’s campaign since McGuire’s victory margin was greater than half a percentage point. McGuire is now set to face Democrat Gloria Witt in the upcoming November general election, with the 5th District known for its conservative leanings.
Olivia Diaz, a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative, reported on the recount and election results. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to cover undercovered issues and events. McGuire’s victory in the Republican primary marks a significant political shift in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, with a former Navy SEAL endorsed by Trump defeating a conservative incumbent in a closely watched race. The upcoming general election between McGuire and Witt will likely continue to draw attention from both local and national audiences.
