Since defeating Dr. Cameron Webb in 2020, 5th District Representative Bob Good has stayed true to his Trump-loving, Bible-thumping platform. In addition to introducing bills attacking abortion rights, criminal justice reform, gun control, and refugees, the Republican has rejected the 2020 presidential election results, voted against investigating the Capitol insurrection, and supported fellow far-right conservatives, like QAnon conspiracy theorist Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.
At an in-person forum last week, two Democratic candidates hoping to challenge Good—Andy Parker and Josh Throneburg—introduced themselves and shared their priorities for the district. The third announced Democratic candidate, Warren McLellan, did not attend the event, which was hosted by the Goochland, Louisa, Powhatan, and Albemarle Democratic committees.
Parker is a former member of the Henry County Board of Supervisors, and has been an outspoken advocate for stricter gun control since the 2015 murder of his daughter, 24-year-old journalist Alison Parker. While conducting a live television interview in Moneta, Virginia, Parker and her cameraman, Adam Ward, were shot and killed by a former employee of their news station, Roanoke’s WDBJ.
Parker also wants to hold online platforms accountable for showing graphic violence, specifically by repealing section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects websites from being held liable for illegal posts. Since Parker’s death, footage of the shooting—which her murderer uploaded to Twitter and Facebook—has circulated across the internet, despite her father’s efforts to get it removed.
To prevent and reduce gun violence, Throneburg—an ordained minister and small business owner—suggested Democrats “work together” with Republicans “who care about safety.” However, Parker claimed that electing more Democrats was the only way to get critical gun control measures—like universal background checks and assault weapons bans—passed by Congress.
“There is no cooperation,” said Parker. “If you can’t change their minds, you change their seats.”
Throneburg announced his candidacy in the summer of 2021, and had raised $207,000 by the end of the year, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. McLellan has raised $11,000, and fundraising reports are not yet available for Parker, who announced his campaign in February.
Last year, the 5th District, which has voted Republican in four consecutive congressional elections, was redrawn to include Fluvanna, Louisa, Goochland, and part of Henrico, and exclude Fauquier, Rappahannock, and Madison counties. According to election data from FiveThirtyEight and The Washington Post, the new district has a nearly identical partisan composition as the old one.
Raised by a Republican family in a rural community, Throneburg claimed he is well-equipped to reach out to Republican voters and discuss bipartisan issues, like health care and broadband. “If there’s anybody who can actually access space in those communities and have them consider a Democrat as their potential representative, I think it’s me,” he said.
Parker argued he could also find common ground with Republicans with his platform. “[Social media has] created this underbelly where you’ve got all this misinformation, video of my daughter’s murder, illegal drugs…this is what I found resonates across both sides of the aisle.”
Rural communities across the district continue to lack access to high-speed internet. To support broadband expansion, Parker proposed governments work directly with phone carriers, while Throneburg suggested treating broadband like a utility.
Parker promised to prioritize challenging big pharma, and bringing prescription drug prices down. Throneburg stressed the need to fight against climate change, and invest in green energy and jobs.
“We need more solar. We need more wind. Those things have to happen immediately,” said Throneburg. “We also have to do it strategically and with some thought and care.”
Throughout the forum, both candidates expressed support for implementing Medicare for all, overturning Citizens United, protecting abortion rights, stopping voter suppression, and passing the Equal Rights Amendment. They also vowed to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in education, as Republicans like Governor Glenn Youngkin try to ban “critical race theory” and censor books in schools.
“Kids should be taught factual history…the good, the bad, everything that happened,” said Parker.
In their closing statements, the candidates encouraged voters to show up to the polls, and rally together to flip the district to blue in November.
Over on the Republican side, Bob Good is facing a primary fight of his own. Challenger Dan Moy, who spent 27 years in the Air Force, will face off against Good during a Republican congressional convention in May.
“You deserve a congressman that actually knows how the economy should work, how our communities work, and our country,” said Parker at the forum. “Right now you don’t have that—you deserve better.”
Democratic congressional hopefuls have until April 7 to file to run, and the Democratic primary will be held on June 21.