Bob Good: The Rise of a Controversial Hard-Right Leader within House GOP

In the recent chairmanship election for the far-right House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Bob Good faced direct questioning by board members regarding his controversial decision to support Ron DeSantis over Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. According to a source familiar with the conversation, Good responded by stating that he would ultimately support Trump if he becomes the GOP presidential nominee. However, he also explained that he believed it was better to have a candidate who could potentially serve eight more years rather than just four, which is why he chose to back the young Florida governor early on.

The outspoken Virginia Republican was elected this week to lead the House Freedom Caucus, a prominent position that will thrust him into the center of major funding battles next year and pit him against the new speaker, Mike Johnson, in negotiations with Democrats. However, the conversation about DeSantis, not previously made public, indicates that there was some doubt about Good assuming leadership of the House Freedom Caucus, which is composed of some of the former president's most devoted supporters. His endorsement could also pose a risk for Good's own reelection campaign, as he is now being challenged by a pro-Trump Republican who is using the DeSantis endorsement against him.

Good has clashed with other influential Republicans aside from Trump this year. He was part of the small group of hardliners who voted to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker in October, causing internal turmoil and disarray among Republicans in the House. Despite facing opposition within the GOP, Good stands by his decision to support DeSantis and oust McCarthy. He is prepared to hold Johnson accountable and is unafraid of the primary challenge he now faces.

Not everyone is pleased with Good's promotion to the top position of the influential conservative group. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who has close ties to both McCarthy and Trump and was previously removed from the Freedom Caucus earlier this year, described it as a "significant error" and a "controversial" decision.

Greene has also mentioned that she has already met with John McGuire, the Republican candidate who is seeking to challenge Good. She also mentioned that there is a chance that she might get involved in the primary.

The majority of the Freedom Caucus was able to overlook Good's support for DeSantis and had no concerns about his ability to work with Trump, possibly because several members themselves had endorsed other candidates. Republicans told CNN they believed his advocacy for fiscal conservatism, his no-holds-barred approach, and clashes with leadership aligned with the group's core mission and saw him as a good fit to lead them in their next chapter.

Norman brushed off worries about Goods influencing DeSantis or McCarthy's decision-making, stating, "We're all independent thinkers. We're all free agents."

However, numerous Republicans directly fault the Freedom Caucus for stalling their party's agenda and employing aggressive tactics to achieve their goals.

Good emphasized that the faction is prepared to vigorously fight for their position on federal spending in anticipation of a government shutdown early next year. He also urged Johnson to stand firm on the hard-line immigration bill passed by the House, as it aligns with their stance, especially as senators negotiate a deal on immigration to provide assistance to Ukraine and Israel.

However, the appointment of Good as the head of the Freedom Caucus was not without controversy: Representative Warren Davidson of Ohio informed his colleagues in a letter that he would not seek re-election to the group's board after it recommended Good as its next chairman, expressing concerns that Good might "hinder" their core objectives, as per a letter obtained by CNN and initially reported by Axios.

Davidson declined to comment when asked by CNN about the letter.

Good earns his reputation as a rebel

Good, a prior county supervisor known for his staunchly conservative fiscal and social views, won his first election to Congress in 2020 with the support of former President Trump. In the primary, he defeated fellow GOP Rep. Denver Riggleman, a member of the Freedom Caucus who faced criticism for officiating a same-sex marriage.

Currently, Good is facing a primary challenge from McGuire, a Virginia state representative and former Navy Seal who is emphasizing his support for Trump in his campaign.

According to a source close to McGuire, he initially had no plans to run for the seat, but was urged by state residents to reconsider after Good played a role in removing McCarthy from the speakership in October. McGuire made a statement to CNN, expressing that the overwhelming support to challenge Bob Good was impossible to ignore.

According to McGuire, people across Virginia's 5th District believe that Bob's decision to join forces with Pelosi, AOC, and other Democrats to remove a Republican speaker was purely self-serving and could not have come at a worse time for the November elections in Virginia. "Adding to that, Bob's endorsement of DeSantis over Trump on the day of Trump's indictment... it all adds up to Bob being unfit for office," McGuire stated.

But some of Good's supporters dispute this, claiming that it will be challenging for McGuire to portray Good as out of touch with the conservative base. They also argue that Good will enhance his fundraising capabilities with his newfound high-profile role.

Retiring GOP Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado, a member of the Freedom Caucus who has not endorsed Trump, stated, "You're not going to get to the right of Bob Good." Good had criticized McCarthy for not being serious about cutting federal spending and also revealed a personal grudge, expressing dissatisfaction that McCarthy did not congratulate him after winning his 2020 primary race.

Good has displayed less hostility towards Johnson, despite his more conservative stance than his predecessor. However, Good and the Freedom Caucus have expressed strong discontent over some of Johnson's recent actions, specifically his choice to incorporate an extension of a contentious government surveillance program in an annual defense bill. Good has vowed to continue exerting pressure on Johnson, criticizing the GOP leadership's management of the defense bill as "an abysmal failure."

The Trump factor

Advisers and sources close to former President Trump were surprised that the traditionally pro-Trump Freedom Caucus chose Good as their leader, according to CNN. Good's endorsement of Trump's leading rival, DeSantis, in May annoyed Trump and his close aides, who viewed it as disloyal. They argued that Trump had helped get Good elected by endorsing his congressional bid in 2020.

With Goods now at the forefront of the Freedom Caucus, there are concerns among some of Trump's supporters about the reliability of the ultra-conservative group. On the other hand, some members of Trump's inner circle are dismissing the significance of Good's selection and have stated that few people in Trumpworld are even following the activities of the Freedom Caucus.

Bob Good has not been mentioned at all. It's not something we're focused on," said a second adviser to the Trump campaign, speaking to CNN. "DeSantis is not likely to be the nominee, so it's not a concern for us," they continued.

Throughout his time as president and now as a candidate, Trump has typically placed more emphasis on his connections with specific members of the Freedom Caucus rather than the caucus as a whole. However, he has consistently seen the caucus as a grouping of "his people," as described by one of Trump's allies.

During the interview, Good had only positive things to say about Trump.