The new member: Rep.-elect John McGuire (R-Va.)
How they got here: McGuire easily dispatched Democrat Gloria Witt 58 percent to 42 percent after narrowly beating incumbent Rep. Bob Good (R) in the GOP primary. A write-in campaign by Good allies didn’t end up manifesting in the general election.
Inside the campaign: McGuire, a state senator, got a big boost in his primary challenge against the sitting Freedom Caucus chair: the endorsement of President-elect Donald Trump, a huge boost in this red-leaning district. He used the slogan of “Pro-Life. Pro-Gun. Pro-Trump” throughout his successful campaign.
“It really is amazing what you can do when you put your differences aside, treat each other with respect, and work as a team,” he said at his election night party.
Good’s record of making enemies throughout the Republican conference proved to be a drag on his candidacy during the primary, as he’s proven to be a regular thorn in the side of GOP leaders throughout his tenure in Congress. He became the first sitting chair of the House Freedom Caucus to lose renomination to their seat.
The issues he’ll focus on: The cost of living and economic prosperity were key issues throughout the campaign.
Background: McGuire served for years as a United States Navy SEAL. He served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 2018 until 2024, when he became a state senator.
Shortly after that, he announced his bid for Congress.
Campaign ad that caught our eye: This ad of former Bob Good voters saying they wouldn’t vote for him again.“I wouldn’t ever vote for him if he was the last man on Earth,” one woman said.
Of note: McGuire revealed that he attended Trump’s Jan. 6 rally, but maintains he did not enter the Capitol grounds along with other protestors seeking to overturn Joe Biden’s presidential election victory.
We’re spotlighting new members during the transition. Want more? Meet Rep.-elect Kelly Morrison.
