“The G.O.P. is probably going hoping that Good can win with out exterior intervention, however Webb’s useful resource benefit and the at present po
“The G.O.P. is probably going hoping that Good can win with out exterior intervention, however Webb’s useful resource benefit and the at present poor G.O.P. setting nationally, if it persists, might drive their hand,” stated Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, a political e-newsletter on the College of Virginia, which nonetheless regards the district as Republican-leaning. Mr. Kondik stated the important thing to a victory for Mr. Webb could be excessive Black turnout in southern elements of the district, which stretches from the outer Washington, D.C., suburbs to the North Carolina line.
One ballot recommended that Mr. Webb was solely two factors behind Mr. Good within the district, the place divisions over L.G.B.T.Q. rights have permeated latest politics. “We’re in the midst of a pandemic that has contaminated over 100,000 Virginians and a recession that has put thousands and thousands throughout the nation out of labor, however all Bob Good needs to concentrate on is same-sex marriages,” stated Grant Fox, a spokesman for the Virginia Democratic Get together. “Virginians need assistance, and Bob Good is spending his time convening church officers to determine finest discriminate in opposition to the L.G.B.T.Q. neighborhood.”
Mr. Witt and Mr. Good’s marketing campaign didn’t return phone calls searching for remark.
Mr. Good, a former athletics fund-raiser at Liberty College, entered the congressional race after Mr. Riggleman officiated on the same-sex wedding ceremony of two marketing campaign volunteers final summer time, angering native conservatives.
Mr. Riggleman, who had received election with solely 53 p.c of the vote in 2018, misplaced his get together’s nomination for re-election throughout a conference held in Campbell County, the place Mr. Good serves as a county supervisor.
“I’ve a biblical view of marriage, very completely different from the congressman’s view on that,” Mr. Good stated in February, referring to Mr. Riggleman. He additionally posted a letter from supporters on his web site that stated, “Homosexuality is a really advanced topic that medical science has confirmed is psychological moreso than genetic.”
When Mr. Good was elected to the Campbell County Board of Supervisors in 2015, he signed a decision declaring the U.S. Supreme Court docket “lawless” for legalizing same-sex marriage nationally. He additionally voted for a county decision urging that the state and federal governments “not acknowledge gender id as a protected class” and permit Campbell County to bar transgender individuals from public restrooms.
Along with anti-L.G.B.T.Q. statements, Mr. Good has taken coverage positions in opposition to immigration and in favor of creating English the nation’s official language. Mr. Good additionally didn’t disavow feedback made by a key supporter, Eddie Deane, that surfaced on social media this yr.