Rep. Bob Good believes he can ‘still prevail’ in tight race against John McGuire

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good still hopes to beat state Sen. John McGuire in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District GOP primary that was too close to call as late as Wednesday.

No decisive victor emerged from the contest between Mr. Good and Mr. McGuire, but the state legislator did lead by more than 300 votes. Their race spilled into the day after polls closed in Virginia and could go on for the next few weeks as the results are certified by election officials.

Mr. Good said on X that it has become a waiting game as officials evaluate the accuracy of the vote totals and count provisional and mail-in ballots.

“We are asking for full transparency from the officials involved and patience from the people of the 5th District over the coming weeks as the certification of results is completed,” he said. “We believe we can still prevail.”

Virginia law doesn’t provide for an automatic recount, but a candidate can ask for one if the Election Day margin is less than 1%. No major media outlets have officially called the race. 

Mr. McGuire’s lead is less than half a percentage point, according to Decision Desk HQ, but he claimed victory Tuesday night. 

“There are still a few votes left to count, but it’s clear that all paths end with a victory,” he said in a statement. “Folks in the 5th District can rest assured that should they elect me in November, they will have an effective fighter in Congress who will get the job done for them.”

Indeed, the victor will likely easily cruise to Washington after the Nov. 5 general election in the historically deep-red district. 

Though a two-term incumbent, Mr. Good has faced an uphill struggle against Mr. McGuire, who received a coveted endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Mr. Trump spurned Mr. Good because of his previous support of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Republican presidential primaries, claiming the lawmaker would “stab Virginia in the back” if reelected. 

Despite all the venom from Mr. Trump on the campaign trail, he has not pointed to specific policy issues he has with Mr. Good, nor does he appear to have any personal problems with the lawmaker. But the former president did note how other House Republicans don’t like Mr. Good’s disruptive activity in Congress. 

Mr. McGuire also has the financial backing of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who has spent his retirement from Congress plotting revenge against the eight lawmakers who ousted him — a clique that Mr. Good belonged to. 

If Mr. McGuire wins, it will be Mr. McCarthy’s best shot at getting a sliver of vengeance against Mr. Good and his co-conspirators after failing to topple Rep. Nancy Mace, South Carolina Republican, in her primary and facing a hard-to-beat Rep. Matt Gaetz, Florida Republican, in his primary in August. 

Even though the Virginia race isn’t over, congressional supporters of Mr. McGuire sounded the victory bell for him Wednesday. 

Rep. Ryan Zinke, Montana Republican, said on X that Virginia agreed “that we can do better than Good.” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Republican, said Mr. McGuire’s victory showed “just how toxic” Mr. Good has been to the GOP. 

“John McGuire WINS,” Ms. Greene said on X. “I was the first member of Congress to endorse [Mr. McGuire] because of his conservative record, his loyalty to President Trump and his service to our country.”