All Republicans and even some Democrats are surprised by how Trump catapulted a little-known Republican challenger past the entrenched, powerful incumbent Rep. Bob Good. No incumbent this year had yet lost in his own primary, but Trump-endorsed John McGuire declared victory this past June in the biggest upset of the year. Rep. Good, who chairs the conservative Freedom Caucus in the House, crossed Trump by endorsing Ron DeSantis for president. More recently, Rep. Good was publicly critical of the motion by Trump enthusiast Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to vacate the chair of Speaker Mike Johnson.
First elected in 2020, Rep. Good had previously worked for 15 years at Liberty University, which employs thousands in his congressional district, and seemed unbeatable in his own primary, but his challenger’s lead has increased as ballot counting continues. McGuire campaigned that if Rep. Good “can change his mind on Trump, then we the people can change their mind on Bob Good,” and voters did just that.
Every other Republican in Congress heard the message of this stunning upset loud and clear: fully support Trump or start looking for a new job outside of politics. This development signifies the growing influence of Trump within the party and the importance of his endorsement. It sends a clear message to other Republicans about the necessity of aligning with Trump’s vision and policies if they wish to retain their positions.
Trump’s impact on the Republican primaries underscores his dominant influence within the party. The upset victory of John McGuire over Rep. Bob Good serves as a stark reminder to all Republicans of the power of Trump’s endorsement and the necessity of loyalty to his agenda. This signals that Congress will be strongly behind Trump should he be re-elected in November.
