The Republican Main Street Partnership Takes Aim at Hard-Right Lawmaker Bob Good
In a surprising move, the Republican Main Street Partnership, a group known for supporting center-leaning House Republicans, is directing half a million dollars into an effort to defeat Representative Bob Good, a staunch conservative from Virginia. This marks a significant departure for the organization, which typically avoids getting involved in primary challenges against sitting Republican members of Congress.
The candidate the Main Street Partnership is backing in this race is John J. McGuire, a former Navy SEAL and election denier who has aligned himself closely with former President Donald J. Trump. McGuire’s platform includes promises to bring a “biblical worldview” to Congress, a stark contrast to the moderate Republicans the Main Street Partnership has historically supported.
The decision to target Good, who has aligned himself with the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, comes as part of the organization’s broader strategy to rid Congress of lawmakers who have contributed to gridlock and division within the Republican Party. Good’s alienation of Trump by endorsing Gov. Ron DeSantis early in the presidential primary race has made him a vulnerable target for the Main Street Partnership.
Sarah Chamberlain, the president of the Main Street Partnership, emphasized the group’s focus on getting things done and working towards conservative policy outcomes. She highlighted Good’s obstructionist tactics and lack of willingness to collaborate with fellow Republicans as reasons for targeting him in this election cycle.
The move to support McGuire over Good underscores the deep divisions within the Republican Party, as more extreme voices have gained prominence in recent years. McGuire’s alignment with the far right, including attending the “Stop the Steal” rally and promoting election fraud conspiracy theories, has drawn support from figures like Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.
As the Main Street Partnership continues to navigate the changing landscape of the GOP, its leaders hope that supporting candidates like McGuire will help steer the party away from further dysfunction and towards a more functional future. The organization’s decision to intervene in the Virginia primary signals a shift towards a more aggressive approach in challenging incumbent Republicans who do not align with their vision for the party.
