Republican Representative Bob Good and his 5th District Democratic challenger Josh Throneburg met for their first and only forum on October 26 at Hampden-Sydney College—after Good refused or ignored multiple debate requests from Throneburg. The two candidates shared their starkly different positions on a string of hot-button national and international issues, including student loan debt, border security, Russia’s war against Ukraine, and climate change. However, the forum’s questions—provided to moderator Mark Spain of WSET by students at the college—did not cover local issues, like broadband expansion and affordable housing.
Throneburg, an ordained minister and small business owner, kicked off the one-hour event by delving into his Republican past. He identified as a conservative until his late 20s, when he “found that oftentimes the things in [his] faith [were] being played out in the Democratic Party.”
Good, a self-proclaimed biblical conservative, railed against the Democratic Party and President Joe Biden during his opening statement—and throughout the entirety of the forum. He claimed the party has not improved anything in the country under Biden and his congressional majority, citing a national increase in crime, gas prices, and inflation. He accused Democrats of “declaring war on America [and] the Constitution.”
Throneburg argued that Good defied the Constitution when he voted against certifying the 2020 election results. “I think faithfulness to our Constitution means that when the voters elect someone, that we listen to the voters,” he said.
To bring down college costs, Good advocated for cutting subsidies—“the federal government ought to get out of education,” he said. He also denounced Biden’s student loan forgiveness program, “a transfer scheme” that only benefits “the wealthy elite.” Throneburg admitted he wished Biden had addressed the student loan crisis with a systemic solution, such as by lowering all loan interest rates. He also expressed support for expanding Pell Grants and making community college free.
Good has sponsored 37 pieces of legislation so far during his first term, focusing largely on national issues like border security. (None of his bills have made it out of committee.) Last week, the Republican reiterated his support for finishing the border wall, increasing border patrol funding, and implementing E-verify everywhere, among other Trump immigration policies. He accused Biden of allowing “an invasion” of undocumented immigrants—5 million have entered the country since the president took office, Good claimed. According to a report by factcheck.org, apprehensions of people trying to enter the country illegally through the Southwest border increased by 336 percent from July 2021 to 2022, compared with former president Donald Trump’s last year in office—however, apprehensions cannot be used to adequately determine the number of undocumented immigrants in the country, and many people who are apprehended are turned around, or later deported.
“We have a very real immigration problem,” agreed Throneburg, vowing to support immigration reforms, like expanding guest worker visa programs.
Addressing the $31 trillion national debt, Good lambasted Democrats for spending government funds “recklessly” during the pandemic, which he referred to as the “China virus situation.” He vowed to vote against any spending that does not “secure the border,” “return us to American energy,” and “limit COVID vaccine mandates.” Throneburg argued that both parties have a “spending problem”—Trump added an equal amount to the national deficit as former president Barack Obama did, but in only four years.
As Russia’s war against Ukraine rages on, Throneburg, who believes the U.S. has a “responsibility” to “stand up for democracy,” said he would vote in favor of additional aid to Ukraine. If China takes military action against Taiwan, he would support “a coordinated response” with U.S. allies.
Good has voted against most of the $66 billion that Congress has given Ukraine since the war began in February. The U.S. should not spend more money on Ukraine, or give aid to Taiwan if it’s invaded, he said, citing the growing national debt.
Stressing the urgency of the climate crisis, Throneburg pushed for investments in renewable energy and green jobs. “This dishonest demonization of fossil fuels and petroleum energy needs to stop,” said Good.
During the final 20 minutes of the forum, when the candidates could ask each other questions, Throneburg questioned the congressman’s vote against awarding Congressional Gold Medals to the police officers who protected lawmakers during the January 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection. Good called the medal a Democratic “political stunt,” and said he voted for a different bill, “without a political agenda,” that honored the officers.
When asked about gender-affirming care for transgender children, Throneburg pledged to look to medical professionals—and not politicians—for guidance on the issue. And in regard to vaccine mandates, he expressed his support for “personal freedom,” but criticized Good for encouraging students to defy mask mandates.
Closing out the event, Good touted his voting record’s alignment with his conservative platform, and the work he’s done for constituents. “[My office] resolved over 3,000 cases … and recovered over $14 million that was owed to citizens of the 5th District by the federal government,” he said.
Throneburg pointed out that abortion rights were not discussed during a forum at an all-men’s college—“we can do better than that,” he said. If elected, he promised to work on everyone’s behalf.
“If you want someone who’s going to fight about culture wars, I think this is your candidate,” said Throneburg, motioning to Good. “If you want someone who is just going to fight for you, I would love to have your vote on November 8.”