Countdown
The Virginia Department of Elections has certified primary election results, calling the 5th District in favor of challenger John McGuire on July 2. Incumbent Rep. Bob Good is expected to call for a recount in the coming days, with the deadline to file fast approaching.
While McGuire declared victory shortly after the June 18 primary, razor-thin margins left the race too close to call prior to certification. DOE counts show McGuire eked out a win over Good by just 374 votes.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin congratulated and endorsed McGuire shortly after results were certified. “John is a patriot and will be a great congressman,” shared Youngkin on X/Twitter. “I fully endorse him and look forward to his victory in November.”
Though the primary results have been certified, the Good campaign isn’t down for the count yet. The congressman and his team have publicly questioned the integrity of the election and indicated he will call for a recount.
With the final vote totals coming in at 49.7 and 50.3 percent for Good and McGuire respectively, the results are well within the one percent margin needed for a recount. The 0.6 percent margin is just shy of the cutoff for the state to pay for the recount, meaning Good’s campaign will have to foot the bill.
Good has until July 12—10 days after the election results were officially certified—to file for a recount.
“Republican voters across the 5th District deserve to know that all legal votes have been accurately counted,” shared Good on X/Twitter on July 2. “We will vigorously pursue that objective over the coming days and weeks, as permitted by Virginia law.”
If the tally comes out in McGuire’s favor, Good will be the first Republican incumbent to lose a primary this election cycle.
As of press time, Good’s Campaign Director Diana Shores has not responded to a request for comment.
Given the rightward lean of the district, whichever candidate is named the Republican nominee is expected to win the November general election. Both Good and McGuire are extremely conservative, though the latter does not have a formal policy or platform section on his campaign website.
The winner of the Republican primary will face Democratic nominee Gloria Witt on Election Day, November 5, 2024.
The name game
Three Charlottesville schools will have new names this upcoming school year. Venable and Clark elementary schools will be renamed to Trailblazer Elementary and Summit Elementary respectively. The Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center will retain its acronym, but with a slight change to Charlottesville Area Technical Education Center. New permanent signage is expected this August.
Higher hires
Graduate Student Workers at the University of Virginia have reached an agreement with administration following a months-long Cut the Checks campaign by the United Campus Workers of Virginia. According to the UVA branch of UCW, university leadership has agreed to hire nine to 10 new financial and administrative staff for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. “We will continue to keep a watchful eye on UVA’s executive administration’s actions, particularly on increases in department staff compensation, any further late or delayed payments, and the completion of these new hires before the end of the academic year,” shared @UCWVAUVA on X/Twitter on July 3.
Sad news
Local activist Brenda “Bee” Lambert died in an apparent suicide pact she entered with her husband James Shea Jr., who is being treated at UVA Hospital and is now in stable condition. Charlottesville Police discovered the elderly couple when conducting a welfare check at their home on Monte Vista Avenue on July 4. While Lambert was pronounced dead at the scene, Shea was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. CPD is still investigating the incident and has indicated no further details will be released at this time.