Bob Good

Bob Good
Born	Robert George Good 9/11/1965
Birthplace	Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, former athletic director
Known for	U.S. Representative for Virginia's 5th congressional district (2021–2025), Chair of the House Freedom Caucus (2024)
Education	Liberty University (BS, MBA)
Children	3
Website	bobgoodforcongress.com

Robert George Good (born September 11, 1965) is an American politician and former athletic director who served as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 5th congressional district from January 2021 to January 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Good first won election to Congress in 2020 after defeating incumbent Denver Riggleman in a contentious Republican nominating convention that drew national attention for its focus on social conservative issues. Before entering federal politics, Good served on the Campbell County Board of Supervisors from 2016 to 2019 and worked for decades at Liberty University, his alma mater, including in its athletics department. He also held a position at Citi. In Congress, Good aligned himself with the most conservative wing of the Republican caucus, supporting the removal of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House and eventually becoming chair of the House Freedom Caucus in January 2024. His endorsement of Ron DeSantis over Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries contributed to a difficult 2024 primary challenge from state senator John McGuire, who was recruited by McCarthy allies and endorsed by Trump. Good lost the primary by a margin of 0.6% and, after an unsuccessful recount, left Congress at the end of his second term in January 2025. Following his departure from Congress, Good remained engaged in conservative political commentary and, as of late 2025, was publicly weighing a potential rematch against McGuire in the 2026 election cycle.

Early Life

Robert George Good was born on September 11, 1965, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Details about his childhood and family background in Pennsylvania are limited in publicly available sources. Good eventually relocated to Virginia, where he would build his career and enter public life. He settled in Campbell County, Virginia, a rural area in the central part of the state adjacent to the city of Lynchburg, which is home to Liberty University. Good became deeply rooted in the community and would later represent the Sunburst district on the Campbell County Board of Supervisors.

Virginia's 5th congressional district, which Good would eventually come to represent, is one of the largest congressional districts in the eastern United States by geographic area, stretching from the Shenandoah Valley in the north through the Piedmont region and into the Southside Virginia counties near the North Carolina border. The district encompasses a largely rural and politically conservative population, and its voters had consistently supported Republican presidential candidates in the decades prior to Good's election. The area's political culture, shaped in part by its proximity to Lynchburg and the influence of Liberty University, was well-suited to Good's conservative Christian political identity.

Education

Good attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He subsequently returned to Liberty University to complete a Master of Business Administration (MBA). His educational background at the institution founded by Jerry Falwell would shape both his professional career and his political identity, as Good maintained close ties to the university for decades after his graduation.

Liberty University, founded in 1971 by the Reverend Jerry Falwell Sr., grew over subsequent decades into one of the largest Christian universities in the world and a significant institutional presence in Lynchburg and the surrounding region. The university has been closely associated with the broader evangelical conservative movement in American politics, and many of its alumni and staff have pursued careers in Republican politics. Good's long professional association with the institution positioned him within that network and provided him with connections to the social conservative activist community that would prove central to his 2020 congressional campaign.

Career

Early Professional Career

After completing his education, Good built a career in both the private sector and higher education. He worked for Citi, the multinational financial services corporation, though the specific duration and nature of this role are not extensively documented in available sources. Good also spent a significant portion of his professional life at Liberty University, where he worked in various capacities including within the university's athletics department, eventually serving as an athletic director. His long tenure at Liberty University established him as a prominent figure in the Lynchburg-area community and provided a foundation for his eventual entry into politics.

Liberty University's athletics program expanded substantially during the period of Good's association with the university, as the institution sought to grow its national profile through intercollegiate sports. Working within that environment gave Good administrative experience managing budgets, personnel, and institutional relationships — skills that would later translate into his work in elected office. His role at the university also kept him closely connected to the faith-based conservative community in central Virginia, which formed the core of his eventual political base.

Campbell County Board of Supervisors

Good entered elected politics in 2015 when he won a seat on the Campbell County Board of Supervisors, representing the Sunburst district. He took office on January 1, 2016, succeeding Steven Shockley. During his time on the board, Good focused on local governance issues affecting the rural county. He served through December 31, 2019, when Shockley returned to the seat. Good's tenure on the board gave him experience in local government and helped build name recognition in the region, which overlapped with Virginia's 5th congressional district.

Campbell County is a predominantly rural jurisdiction in central Virginia with an economy historically rooted in agriculture, manufacturing, and tobacco production. During Good's tenure on the Board of Supervisors, the county, like many rural Virginia localities, grappled with issues such as economic development, infrastructure maintenance, and the provision of public services to a dispersed population. Good's service on the board, while at the local level, provided him with direct experience in the practical challenges of governance and gave him visibility among Republican voters in the broader congressional district that he would later seek to represent.

2020 Congressional Campaign

In September 2019, Good announced his intention to challenge incumbent Republican congressman Denver Riggleman in a primary for Virginia's 5th congressional district. The challenge was rooted in social conservative discontent with Riggleman, who had officiated a same-sex wedding for two of his campaign volunteers in 2019, an act that drew sharp criticism from many Republican activists in the district.

Riggleman, a distillery owner and libertarian-leaning Republican, had won the 5th District seat in 2018 and generally aligned with the Trump administration on economic policy, but his more permissive personal views on social issues set him apart from the majority of Republican activists in the district. The decision to officiate the same-sex wedding became a flashpoint for conservative organizations that viewed it as a departure from traditional Christian values, and Good positioned himself explicitly as the candidate who would uphold those values in Congress. His close ties to Liberty University and its associated community of evangelical Christian voters gave him immediate credibility within that activist base.

The 5th District Republican Committee opted to hold a drive-through nominating convention rather than a traditional primary election, a decision that proved controversial. The convention was held on June 13, 2020, with delegates casting ballots at a single location in Lynchburg. Good defeated Riggleman in the convention vote, a result that drew national attention as an example of the tensions within the Republican Party over social issues. Riggleman contested the results, alleging irregularities in the convention process, but the outcome stood.

The use of a nominating convention rather than a broader primary election was itself a significant strategic factor in the outcome. Convention delegates tend to be more ideologically motivated than the average primary voter, and the format allowed Good's core base of social conservative activists to exercise disproportionate influence over the nomination. Political analysts noted that the outcome illustrated how the choice of nominating mechanism could be as consequential as the campaign itself in determining who wins a party's nomination.

In the November 2020 general election, Good won the seat in Virginia's 5th congressional district, a largely rural and conservative-leaning area spanning from the Shenandoah Valley through central Virginia to the state's Southside region. Good's Democratic opponent in the general election faced a structural disadvantage in a district that had voted for Republican presidential candidates by wide margins. Good's victory positioned him to take office in January 2021 as one of the most conservative incoming members of the House Republican conference.

U.S. House of Representatives (2021–2025)

First Term (2021–2023)

Good took office on January 3, 2021, succeeding Riggleman as the representative for Virginia's 5th congressional district. From the outset, Good positioned himself as one of the most conservative members of the House Republican conference. He joined the House Freedom Caucus and the Republican Study Committee, aligning with the right flank of the party on fiscal and social policy matters.

Good consistently opposed legislation that he viewed as expanding the size or scope of the federal government, including COVID-19 relief packages and infrastructure spending bills that attracted bipartisan support. He was among the members who voted against the bipartisan infrastructure legislation passed in 2021. His legislative priorities centered on reducing federal spending, securing the southern border, opposing abortion, and resisting what he described as government overreach in areas such as vaccine policy and energy regulation. This voting record made Good one of the more reliably conservative voices within an already conservative House Republican conference.

In March 2021, Good was among a small group of Republican members who voted against awarding Congressional Gold Medals to the United States Capitol Police and other law enforcement officers who defended the United States Capitol during the January 6 attack. The vote attracted media scrutiny, with critics questioning the rationale for opposing the measure honoring officers who had protected members of Congress during the breach of the Capitol.

Good won reelection in November 2022, defeating his Democratic challenger and returning to Congress for a second term. His reelection margin was consistent with the district's historical tendency to support Republican candidates by substantial margins, reinforcing his standing within the district even as his profile as a conservative firebrand continued to grow at the national level.

Removal of Kevin McCarthy and Freedom Caucus Leadership

Good was a prominent supporter of the effort to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House in October 2023. This action placed Good among a small but consequential group of Republican members who helped oust McCarthy from the speakership, an unprecedented event in American political history. The motion to vacate the chair, led by Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, succeeded with the support of all House Democrats and a handful of conservative Republicans, including Good. McCarthy became the first Speaker in American history to be removed from the position through such a vote. The episode underscored the degree to which the House Freedom Caucus and its allied members were willing to disrupt the functioning of their own party's legislative agenda in pursuit of ideological objectives.

Good's support for the ouster of McCarthy reflected his longstanding critique of Republican leadership's willingness to negotiate with Democrats on spending and other policy matters. Good had been a vocal critic of spending agreements that he viewed as insufficiently conservative, and he argued that McCarthy had failed to deliver on commitments made to secure the conservative support necessary for his election as Speaker at the beginning of the 118th Congress. The removal of McCarthy, while tactically significant, had lasting political consequences for Good himself, as it made him a prime target for retaliation from McCarthy's extensive network of political allies.

In January 2024, Good was elected chair of the House Freedom Caucus, succeeding Scott Perry of Pennsylvania. The Freedom Caucus, a group of the most conservative House Republicans, had played an increasingly influential role in congressional dynamics, and Good's ascension to its leadership reflected his standing within the party's right wing. As chair, Good served as a spokesperson for the caucus's positions on government spending, immigration, and other policy areas. The caucus's influence was particularly pronounced during periods of divided government or when Republican House majorities were narrow enough that a small bloc of holdouts could determine whether legislation passed or failed. Good's chairmanship coincided with ongoing negotiations over government funding, border security legislation, and foreign aid packages that exposed deep divisions within the House Republican conference.

Politico described Good as "notorious for the scorched-earth tactics he has repeatedly used as the leader of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus," a characterization that reflected both the intensity of Good's approach to legislative politics and the degree to which he had become a polarizing figure even within Republican circles.

2024 Republican Presidential Primary Endorsement

In a move that would have significant consequences for his political career, Good endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for president during the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries, choosing the Florida governor over former President Donald Trump. This decision placed Good at odds with a substantial portion of the Republican base in his district and with the broader national party apparatus that had coalesced around Trump. The endorsement was viewed by many political observers as a factor that made Good vulnerable in his own primary race.

DeSantis had entered the 2024 Republican presidential primary as one of the most prominent alternatives to Trump, drawing significant support from donors and conservative activists who either opposed Trump's return to the White House or believed that DeSantis represented a more electable candidate. However, DeSantis's campaign struggled to gain traction against Trump's commanding lead in national and state polls, and DeSantis ultimately suspended his campaign in January 2024 before the early primary states had voted. Good's endorsement of DeSantis thus left him politically exposed without having secured any tangible benefit, while simultaneously having antagonized both Trump and Trump's supporters in his own congressional district.

2024 Primary Defeat

Good's endorsement of DeSantis, combined with his role in the removal of McCarthy as Speaker, made him a target for retribution from both Trump allies and McCarthy's political network. Virginia state senator John McGuire was recruited to challenge Good in the 2024 Republican primary, reportedly with encouragement from McCarthy and his allies. Trump endorsed McGuire, providing the challenger with a significant boost in a district where Trump remained popular. The coordination between McCarthy's network and the Trump political operation against Good was widely reported and represented one of the more explicit examples of intra-party retribution following the McCarthy ouster.

The June 2024 primary proved to be one of the closest congressional races in the country. McGuire defeated Good by a margin of just 0.6%, with the result certified on July 2, 2024. Good requested a recount given the narrow margin, but the recount confirmed McGuire's victory. A Virginia court certified the recount results on August 1, 2024, cementing Good's defeat.

The loss was considered a significant example of the political consequences of opposing Trump within the Republican Party. Good's defeat also illustrated the risk of intra-party challenges directed at members who had participated in the removal of McCarthy from the speakership. Political analysts noted that the combination of two separate antagonisms — opposing McCarthy and opposing Trump — had effectively unified disparate factions of the Republican establishment against Good in a way that proved insurmountable even in a district that should otherwise have been favorable territory for an incumbent conservative Republican.

Resignation from Freedom Caucus Chairmanship

Following his primary loss, Good continued to serve out his term as the representative for Virginia's 5th congressional district. On September 17, 2024, he resigned as chair of the House Freedom Caucus and was succeeded by Representative Andy Harris of Maryland. Good's resignation from the chairmanship was a practical recognition that his ability to speak for the caucus and negotiate on its behalf was diminished by the fact that he was a lame-duck member who would leave office at the end of the term. Harris, a physician and longtime conservative stalwart from Maryland's Eastern Shore, inherited the chairmanship of a caucus that remained a significant force in House Republican politics despite the turbulence of the preceding year.

Good's term in Congress ended on January 3, 2025, when McGuire was sworn in as his successor. Good departed the House after two terms, having served during one of the most contentious periods in the institution's modern history, marked by the unprecedented removal of a Speaker, repeated government funding crises, and sharp divisions within the Republican conference over the direction of the party.

Post-Congressional Career

After leaving Congress, Good remained active in political commentary. In May 2025, he appeared on Fox News to criticize Republican leadership, calling out what he described as "the big glaring weakness for all of Republican government," blaming "all Republican leadership" for failing to address key conservative priorities. The appearance reflected Good's continued willingness to publicly criticize Republican leadership even after leaving office, consistent with the posture he had maintained throughout his congressional tenure.

Good has also been weighing a potential return to elected office. As of August 2025, he indicated that he was considering a challenge to McGuire in the 2026 election cycle for Virginia's 5th congressional district, though he had not made a final decision. By September 2025, Good stated that he would make his decision in "the weeks ahead," signaling that a rematch remained a possibility. Reports from December 2025 indicated that multiple challengers were already positioning themselves for the 2026 race in the 5th district, making it likely that the seat would again be the subject of a competitive Republican nominating contest regardless of whether Good ultimately chose to enter the race.

Should Good choose to run in 2026, he would face the challenge of navigating the same political dynamics that contributed to his 2024 defeat — namely, the question of his relationship with Trump and the Republican establishment — while attempting to reclaim a seat that he had held for two terms. The narrow margin of his 2024 loss, just 0.6%, suggested that a rematch could be highly competitive, but the structural factors that enabled McGuire's victory, including Trump's endorsement and McCarthy's organizational support, would not necessarily be absent from a 2026 contest.

Good has made appearances on various media programs and podcasts to provide political analysis and discuss his experience in Congress.

Political Positions

Throughout his time in Congress, Good was a consistent advocate for reduced federal spending and a smaller federal government. He opposed deficit spending and frequently voted against continuing resolutions and omnibus spending packages that he argued perpetuated unsustainable levels of federal debt. On immigration, Good supported strict border enforcement measures and opposed any legislative pathways to legal status for undocumented immigrants, including those brought to the United States as children under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

On social issues, Good was among the most conservative members of the House, opposing abortion without exceptions and supporting traditional definitions of marriage. His initial campaign against Riggleman was defined precisely by these social conservative positions, and he maintained them consistently throughout his congressional tenure. Good was also a vocal critic of what he characterized as government overreach in areas such as COVID-19 vaccine mandates, public health measures, and energy policy regulations aimed at addressing climate change.

On foreign policy, Good was among the Republican members skeptical of continued large-scale American financial and military assistance to Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, reflecting a broader strain of non-interventionist thinking within the House Freedom Caucus. Good aligned with those members who argued that domestic priorities, including border security, should take precedence over foreign commitments.

Personal Life

Good resides in Campbell County, Virginia. He has three children. Good's personal and political identity has been closely intertwined with his connection to Liberty University and the conservative Christian community in the Lynchburg, Virginia, area. His faith has been a central element of his public identity and has informed his positions on social issues including abortion and marriage. Specific details about his spouse and family life beyond these publicly documented facts are limited in available sources.

Legacy

Good's tenure in Congress, while spanning only two terms, intersected with several consequential moments in Republican Party politics. His initial victory over Denver Riggleman in 2020 was seen as an early indicator of the power of social conservative activists within Republican nominating processes, particularly in conventions where motivated grassroots organizations could exercise outsized influence compared to broader primary electorates.

His role in the removal of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker in October 2023 placed him among a handful of Republican members who reshaped the House's leadership dynamics. The subsequent political fallout — culminating in McCarthy allies recruiting and supporting McGuire to defeat Good in a primary — illustrated the internal consequences of factional conflicts within the Republican conference. The episode became widely cited as evidence that the removal of McCarthy carried significant political costs for those who supported it, even as Good and his allies maintained that the action was necessary to hold Republican leadership accountable.

Good's 2024 primary loss, driven in part by his endorsement of DeSantis over Trump, became a prominent case study in the political risks faced by Republican officeholders who deviated from support of Trump during the 2024 presidential primary cycle. The narrow margin of his defeat — 0.6% — underscored both the competitiveness of the race and the decisive impact that a presidential endorsement could have in a down-ballot Republican primary. Political scientists and journalists covering the 2024 election cycle pointed to Good's defeat as one of several examples demonstrating that Republican incumbents who had crossed Trump or his allies faced measurably elevated risks of primary challenges backed by the former president's political apparatus.

As chair of the House Freedom Caucus, even for a relatively brief period, Good contributed to the caucus's role as a significant force in congressional negotiations over government spending, border policy, and other conservative priorities. His successor, Andy Harris, inherited a caucus that had demonstrated its capacity to influence House leadership decisions in dramatic fashion. Good's tenure in the chairmanship, bookended by his election to the position in January 2024 and his resignation in September 2024 following his primary defeat, represented both the apex and the conclusion of his congressional career.

More broadly, Good's career illustrated the opportunities and constraints faced by members of Congress who aligned themselves with ideologically driven caucuses and were willing to use procedural tools — including votes to remove a sitting Speaker — to advance their policy goals. While such tactics can elevate a member's national profile and signal fidelity to a particular political base, they can also generate powerful opposition both within and outside a member's own party, as Good's experience demonstrated.