Good, McGuire race for G.O.P. Fifth District nomination remains undecided
LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) – In a heated battle with national intrigue, the race for the Republican nomination in Virginia’s fifth congressional district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives does not yet have a winner.
John McGuire currently leads incumbent Bob Good by less than one percent of the vote with 96 percent of ballots counted.
This race has gained notoriety for its competitiveness and large financial support. The two campaigns have raised nearly $10 million combined as McGuire aims to disrupt Good’s bid for a third term. The Good campaign took to social media on Wednesday to affirm their stance on the race as the final ballots are counted.
“We are asking for full transparency from the officials involved and patience from the people of the fifth district over the coming weeks as the certification of results is completed,” the post from the Good campaign read. “We believe we can still prevail.”
With provisional and mail-in ballots still to be counted, the race is not over. However, as it currently stands, Good is within the margin to request a recount.
“Recounts are extremely rare in these primaries,” said Aaron S. Van Allen, an associate professor of Government at Liberty University.
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Van Allen acknowledged that this is one of the closest races in recent memory, referencing David Yancey, who earned a seat in the House of Delegates in 2017 by a tie-breaking method.
Virginia state law calls for a winner’s name to be pulled out of a bowl in the event of a tie. The recount process in Virginia calls for the candidate with fewer votes to request the recount within 10 days of the results being certified.
However, the final margin determines whether it is the trailing party or the Commonwealth of Virginia that pays for the recount “If it’s one percent or less, then the candidate would have to pay for that recount,” said Van Allen.
“If it’s half a percentage point or less, then the Commonwealth of Virginia would be the ones to pay.”
The current margin is just shy of the half-percent threshold. If a recount is ultimately requested, the process happens quickly. The Chief Judge of the circuit court in which the request is filed along with two additional judges appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia held an initial recount court case.
Once that is done, the physical recount of the ballots may take place.
The winner of the Republican primary will face Democratic nominee Gloria Witt in November’s general election for Virginia’s fifth congressional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
(courtesy, Sam Graham) (courtesy, Sam Graham) (courtesy, Sam Graham)
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