The high-profile primary election between House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good (R-VA) and Virginia state Rep. John McGuire remained too close to call as primary election night drew to a close, with a recount possibly being in the cards as the margin remained razor thin throughout the night.
The two candidates were locked in a tight race throughout the night, with both Good and McGuire alternating places to take the lead. McGuire still held a narrow advantage late Tuesday night, garnering 50.3% of the vote compared to Good’s 49.7% with 98% of all ballots tallied as of 12:24 a.m. Wednesday morning.
But with the slight margin, it’s possible the race could head into a recount.
Under Virginia state law, the losing candidate could request a recount if the final tally comes within 1 percentage point. The challenge would need to be made within 10 days of the results being certified, and the results of the recount would not be subject to appeal.
It’s not clear whether either candidate would file for a recount.
Good released a statement late Tuesday night to thank voters for their support despite having many of his Republican colleagues publicly campaign against him — including former President Donald Trump.
“The entire DC Swamp was aligned against us with over $10 million in attack ads, but with your help we were able to make this race too close to call,” he said in a statement. “We are doing what we can to ensure all the votes are properly counted in the coming days.”
Meanwhile, McGuire was quick to declare victory even as the race remained too close to call, telling supporters at his campaign watch party it is “an honor to be your Republican nominee,” according to reports.
Good’s reelection bid became one of the most closely watched primaries of the 2024 cycle after Trump became involved by endorsing McGuire over the GOP incumbent.
Trump turned against Good because he endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to become the party’s presidential nominee last year, angering the former president.
Good later endorsed Trump once DeSantis dropped out of the presidential race but was still accused of being a “backstabber” and “MAGA traitor.”
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“[Good] was constantly attacking and fighting me until recently, when he gave a warm and ‘loving’ Endorsement — But really, it was too late,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday. Trump also held a tele-rally for McGuire ahead of the election.
The race has also served as a war between Good and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted from his top leadership position last October. Good was one of the eight House Republicans to join all Democrats in removing McCarthy, prompting the former speaker to target him in this year’s primary elections.
If Good loses, it would also serve to bolster Trump’s endorsement record in the 2024 cycle, something the former president is likely to tout on the campaign trail over the coming months.
