Former President Donald Trump endorsed the primary challenger facing House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, R-Va., saying the congressman “turned his back on our incredible movement.”
trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social on Tuesday morning that he is endorsing state Sen. John McGuire, who is challenging Good in the June 18 primary. Trump made a veiled reference to the fact that Good was one of the few members of Congress who supported Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the presidential primary, writing that Good “was constantly attacking me and fighting me until recently.”
Good supported Trump in January, but the former president wrote that it was “too late.”
“The damage was done!” Trump added. “I just want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and the person who can most help me do that is Navy Seal and highly respected state legislator, John McGuire, a true American hero.”
Good’s campaign website currently suggests that Trump is supporting him, with Trump included in a section titled “Who’s Supporting Bob” — but listing Trump’s endorsement as of 2022.
McGuire welcomed Trump’s endorsement, thanking the former president in a post on X and writing, “We can do better than good.”
Both McGuire and Good appeared to be seeking Trump’s support in recent days, with both men traveling to New York City earlier this month to support Trump amid his ongoing trial in a hush money case.
Trump’s endorsement is coveted in the GOP primaries, with the Republican base fiercely loyal to the former president. But some lawmakers have outperformed Trump opponents in the past, including Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington state, who is once again facing a Trump-backed opponent, and Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who has Trump’s support. this year. Good himself unseated former Republican Rep. Denver Riggleman in 2020, even though Riggleman had Trump’s support in the race.
Riggleman went on to work as counsel to the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and Trump’s role in the event.
The primary in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, a red seat that includes Charlottesville and stretches to the state’s southern border, drew a lot of outside spending. Republican groups spent nearly $10.7 million on ads during the race, according to ad tracking firm AdImpact. Good also drew the ire of other Republicans after voting to recall former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year.
In a statement to NBC News on Tuesday night, Good defended his record and attacked McGuire.
“I have never been the choice broker of political power in Washington,” Good said, adding that his voters “understand and appreciate that I fought for them during my 3 years in Washington.”
“My opponent does not have a trailblazing conservative record in America’s General Assembly. That’s why he is supported by the moderate wing of the Republican Party’s RINO establishment. And that’s why he is funded by allies of the former president who run the money shadow super PAC in support of his campaign,” Good added.
Isabelle Schmeler It is Alec Hernandez contributed.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
