Yesterday, in a drive-through convention held at Bob Good’s church, 58% of Republican convention delegates voted to nominate Good as Virginia’s 5th Congressional District GOP nominee, ousting incumbent Congressman Denver Riggleman.
With their decision, VA-05 Republicans have chosen to forfeit their incumbent advantage and nominate someone who’s raised a total of $186,000 so far in this election and who missed the deadline to file proper paperwork.
Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball both announced they would shift this district from Likely R to Lean R with Good’s victory last night.
GOP operatives in the state agree that Good’s victory makes this seat more competitive, one telling Politico: “national Republicans are going to have to spend money to retain the seat…And they shouldn’t have to.”
DCCC Spokesperson Sarah Guggenheimer released the following statement:
“Let’s be very clear: GOP insiders in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District just ousted their popularly-elected sitting Congressman to nominate a man with $34,482.17 cash on hand.
“After paying off members of the Party committee, Bob Good is facing serious criticism for how out of touch he is with the district he’s running to represent. Good has stumbled his way into a general election he’s not remotely ready for, while voters are eager to cast their ballots for a representative who will unite this vast, diverse district, not divide it further. In November that will be the Democratic nominee, not Bob Good.”
###