Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) faces one of the most contentious primaries on Tuesday, with several prominent GOP figures pushing for his ouster for various reasons.
While Good, the House Freedom Caucus chairman, has support from several Republican colleagues, his opponent, state Sen. John McGuire, has backing from key GOP power players, including former President Donald Trump, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). Here’s why these Republicans are working to unseat Good.
Donald Trump
Trump previously endorsed Good in 2020 and 2022, but for the 2024 GOP presidential primary, Good initially backed Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) over Trump. When DeSantis exited the race in January, Good switched his endorsement to Trump. However, Trump later endorsed McGuire, criticizing Good for his lack of loyalty.
“Bob Good is BAD FOR VIRGINIA, AND BAD FOR THE USA. 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. The damage had been done!” Trump said in his Truth Social post endorsing McGuire.
Kevin McCarthy
Good’s primary has become part of former House Speaker McCarthy’s “revenge tour” after his ousting in October 2023. Good was one of eight Republicans who joined Democrats to remove McCarthy, making him the first and only speaker successfully ousted via a motion to vacate.
Good opposed McCarthy’s speakership bid in January 2023 and was a key vote in McCarthy’s removal nine months later. McCarthy has sought to oust other Republicans who voted against him, but his endorsement of Rep. Nancy Mace’s (R-SC) opponent in last week’s South Carolina primary did not succeed.
Current House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has not endorsed anyone in Good’s primary, despite generally supporting incumbents facing challenges. Johnson urged his colleagues not to endorse against incumbents, a call Good ignored by endorsing against Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX).
Marjorie Taylor Greene
Greene, a staunch ally of McCarthy and Trump, endorsed against Good in January, calling him a “MAGA traitor” due to his perceived disloyalty to Trump. Good leads the House Freedom Caucus, from which Greene was expelled last year, though her ouster occurred before Good became chairman.
While campaigning with McGuire, Greene criticized Good’s late endorsement of Trump and questioned his integrity.
“This is important to me because I’ve served with Bob Good for several years now, and I have found him to be untrustworthy, and I have found him to be a liar,” Greene told WSET while campaigning for McGuire.
