Former President Donald Trump endorsed Republican Representative Bob Good's primary opponent in a critical Virginia race on Tuesday, just weeks after Good showed up in support of Trump outside his hush money trial in New York City.
"Bob Good is BAD FOR VIRGINIA, AND BAD FOR THE USA," Trump posted to his Truth Social account on Tuesday morning, adding that Good's endorsement of him came "too late."
The former president instead endorsed Virginia state Senator John McGuire, a former Navy SEAL and small business owner. McGuire, 55, has represented Virginia's 10th Senate District since January. Prior to that, he served as a representative in the Virginia House of Delegates for six years. McGuire's campaign website describes him as "Pro-life. Pro-gun. Pro-Trump."
While McGuire has positioned himself as the pro-Trump candidate, Good is also a backer of the former president. The congressman is one of several Republican House members to have appeared outside Trump's hush money trial in support of the former President. He stood alongside Reps. Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Mike Waltz (Fla.), Eli Crane (Ariz.), Andy Ogles (Tenn.), Anna Paulina Luna (Fla.) and Ralph Norman (S.C.).
"I was 'too conservative' and now I'm 'not conservative enough,'" Good told supporters during an early May campaign stop, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He also described Trump as "the best president of my lifetime."
Good was elected chairman of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus in December, two months after he played a crucial role in ousting former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. His Trump bonafides, however, were called into question when he endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for president in May 2023.
After DeSantis dropped out Good endorsed Trump, but McGuire continued to seize on the initial endorsement - calling Good a never-Trumper and a RINO (Republican in Name Only.)
"By definition, you can't be a 'never something' that you have documented evidence that you currently are [a supporter of]," said Good, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
The congressman maintains that he chose to endorse DeSantis over Trump because the Florida governor was still eligible for two terms, while the former president can only serve one. He also cited concerns about Trump's ongoing legal battles.
"I was concerned about the political prosecution of President Trump," said Good, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He blamed the former president's litany of felony charges on "these egregious prosecutors who are simply after him for political reasons."
