Washington Wednesday: Trump’s influence

LINDSAY MAST, HOST: It’s Wednesday the 26th of June, 2024.

Glad to have you along for today’s edition of The World and Everything in It. Good morning, I’m Lindsay Mast.

NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher.

Time now for Washington Wednesday.

With an election calendar packed with state and federal races this year, a congressional primary doesn’t often get national attention - given that there are 435 seats around the country. But a recent Republican contest in Virginia is one of those rarities—and it’s sparking conversations about where the GOP is headed in November.

WORLD’s Washington Bureau Reporter Leo Briceno has the story.

AUDIO: Ladies and gentlemen, the votes are in. and the people have spoken. [cheers]

LEO BRICENO, REPORTER: That’s Virginia State Senator John McGuire last Tuesday.

MCGUIRE: It is an honor to be your Republican nominee…

McGuire isn’t running to keep his seat in the State Senate. Instead, he’s running to replace Incumbent Congressman Bob Good as the Republican in Virginia’s fifth district.

One week later, and the race isn’t over. McGuire has a razor-thin, 300 vote lead over Congressman Good. On Friday, Good demanded a recount, and that could take weeks to sort out.

Here’s Eric Routon, a 5th district voter in Virginia who supports Good.

ROUTON: Being within a couple hundred votes it’s, it’s almost distressing—like wow, there is a very 50/50 rift in the Republican party and in people’s logic.

This story isn’t merely about a tight race. Bob Good’s struggle to stay in congress is also a months-long story about Republican infighting and the influence of former President Donald Trump.

Good is the chairman of the most conservative coalition in the House—the House Freedom Caucus—and that makes him a tonesetter for the GOP.

But last year, Good went against the vast majority of his party when he endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for president. Here’s Good talking about that endorsement on the Wyatt Sharpe Show.

BOB GOOD: I’ve endorsed Ron DeSantis, I’m a big fan of president Trump. I think DeSantis gives us the best chance to win and there’s a number of reasons why I’ve endorsed him.

Congressman Good was just one of eight House Republicans to endorse someone other than Trump. In that same interview, Good was asked if Republicans would be able to unite back under one banner after the primaries.

BOB GOOD: I think what will unify the Republican party will be Joe Biden and Joe Biden’s policies. It will be intense and there will be undoubtedly some hurt feelings but we will have six to eight months for the party to come together, as the nation suffers and continues to suffer on Biden doubling down on his policies …

The former president hasn’t forgotten Good’s endorsement of DeSantis. And John McGuire made that part of his campaign.

MCGUIRE: The problem with politicians is they never shoot you straight.

In this video from April, McGuire touts his record as a Navy Seal and businessman.

NARRATOR: …Now he's running because Trump doesn't need another backstabber in Congress. He needs John Maguire, a straight shooter who always has his six.

MCGUIRE: I'm John McGuire and I approve this message.

Donors approved of McGuire as well. Within just 24 hours of receiving Trump’s endorsement on May 28, McGuire raised $189,000—more than double what he raised in April. His total fundraising came to 1.2 million according to FEC filings at the end of May. Good’s fundraising raised a little more than 1.1 million.

But even before McGuire received Trump’s endorsement, polling earlier in the Spring suggested the sharpshooter had an edge over Good. Between December and May, support for McGuire jumped about 20 points...while support for Good dropped 15 points.

Routon is concerned that voters who are ready to move on from Good over his presidential endorsements are overlooking his conservative track record.

ROUTON: I think in losing Good we’re going to lose a good stockgap against wasteful spending, and I want to say soft-hearted legislation. I think unfortunately, McGuire is going to be able to be influenced in whichever direction is gonna lead him to the next political position. Now, I’m not saying he’s a bad guy, but I’m just saying he’s a little more flexible. Bob Good was not flexible.

‘Not flexible’ might be an understatement. Good has demanded Republicans jam Democrats with take-it-or-leave it funding bills that could force a government shutdown. He’s opposed any further funding overseas without first addressing border security. And last October, he even voted to remove U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for failing to follow through with promises to deliver conservative wins. And now, he may be on his way out.

So what about the other Republicans who endorsed Trump’s rivals? Well, most of them, like Georgia Rep. Rich McCormick, didn’t face primary challengers. McCormick also endorsed DeSantis for president, but he doesn’t think Trump holds that against him

MCCORMICK: I think president Trump is very much into loyalty. He appreciates loyalty. That’s why I’m glad he gave me grace also, but, at the same time, I never said a bad word about Trump.

Meanwhile, North Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman was the only House Republican to back former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley’s campaign. When asked if the heat of primaries would prevent Republicans from working together down the road, he said it depends.

NORMAN: It’s never personal with me. And I don’t think it is with president Trump. The manner that you do it I think is important and how you do it. You tell everyone up front what you’re going to do and some may take it personal but, you know, the country is in trouble. The number one priority is getting the country back on track.

Norman also did not face a primary challenger.

Congressman Good, for his part, says accusations that he backstabbed the former president are silly. And when asked before the primary if he was disappointed not to receive Trump’s endorsement, Good responded this way:

GOOD: I think that’s the stupidest question I’ve ever been asked. Everyone wants the support of everyone and everyone to endorse them.

He went on to talk about the bigger election issue at stake for Donald Trump.

GOOD: I do support President Trump, as I did in ‘16 and ‘20. I’m going to do everything I can to help him win Virginia. I know that I can be a much greater help to him in winning Virginia than my opponent can. My opponent brings nothing to the table to help him win Virginia…

If the recount confirms McGuire’s win, then Good will likely be the only Congressional Republican pushed out after endorsing one of Trump’s rivals. But voters like Routon are concerned that the threat of Trump’s displeasure will continue to hover over Republicans if the former President wins a second term. For now, Routon is doing his part to remind fellow Virginians where the power of the state ultimately rests. He recounted a recent conversation where a coworker told him Good was paying the price for going against “the boss”…Donald Trump.

ROUTON: And I said, “Now wait a minute, Bob Good runs for the 5th district—the 5th district is the boss, not Trump.” And he paused for a moment, I actually got a little light of revelation in his eyes. He’s like “Well, that’s not the way it works out though, is it?” And I’m like, “Well, it’s not. But the fact is, the people of the 5th District are boss. Not whoever’s president.”

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Leo Briceno in Washington, D.C.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.