A Virginia House Candidate Campaigns By Attacking ‘A Man Dressed as a Woman’

“The G.O.P. is probably going hoping that Good can win with out outdoors intervention, however Webb’s useful resource benefit and the presently poor G.O.P. setting nationally, if it persists, might pressure their hand,” stated Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, a political publication 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 can be excessive Black turnout in southern components of the district, which stretches from the outer Washington, D.C., suburbs to the North Carolina line.

One ballot steered 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 tens of millions throughout the nation out of labor, however all Bob Good desires to give attention to is same-sex marriages,” stated Grant Fox, a spokesman for the Virginia Democratic Occasion. “Virginians need assistance, and Bob Good is spending his time convening church officers to determine find out how to 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 looking for remark.

Mr. Good, a former athletics fund-raiser at Liberty College, entered the congressional race after Mr. Riggleman officiated on the same-sex marriage ceremony of two marketing campaign volunteers final summer season, angering local conservatives.

Mr. Riggleman, who had gained election with solely 53 p.c of the vote in 2018, misplaced his celebration’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 totally 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 website 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 resolution declaring the U.S. Supreme Court docket “lawless” for legalizing same-sex marriage nationally. He additionally voted for a county resolution urging that the state and federal governments “not acknowledge gender id as a protected class” and permit Campbell County to bar transgender folks 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 constructing 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.