Bob Good

Bob Good
Born	Robert George Good 11 9, 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 Official site]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 term in Congress ended on January 3, 2025, when McGuire was sworn in as his successor.

Post-Congressional Career

After leaving Congress, Good has 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.

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.

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

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. 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.

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.

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.