RICHMOND. Va. (AP) — The Virginia State Board of Elections on Tuesday certified the apparent narrow defeat of Republican Rep. Bob Good, one of America's most conservative congressmen, to a challenger endorsed by former President Donald Trump in the state's June 18 primaries.
The board's unanimous vote to certify the results does not end the matter, though. Good, who chairs the hard-right House Freedom Caucus in Congress, has said he will seek a recount now that the state has declared his opponent, state Sen. John McGuire, the winner of the primary in Virginia's 5th Congressional District.
The margin of victory certified by the electoral board was roughly 375 votes out of nearly 63,000 ballots cast, or 0.6 percentage points. That falls within the 1% margin allowing a recount to be requested. But because the margin is larger than 0.5 percentage points, Good will be required to pay for the cost of a recount himself.
Last week the AP declared the race too close to call, citing the likelihood of a recount.
Good has said he will pursue both a recount and legal challenges to block a McGuire victory. On social media he called for a “do-over” in the city of Lynchburg, the largest city in the district and a Good stronghold, citing alleged irregularities there.
Good and others have claimed that the city botched the vote count by accepting ballots from a drop box after Election Night.
The Lynchburg registrar has said due to a procedural error that seven ballots were retrieved from a drop box on the Friday after the election rather than on Election Night. The registrar said, though, that they believe the ballots were dropped off on Election Day and that no one witnessed any of the seven ballots being dropped off after Election Day.
Good’s campaign, in a social media post, also raised skepticism about three fire alarms that went off at polling places in three different district precincts on Election Day.
“AI estimates the probability being 0.0000000318% chance,” the campaign said of the likelihood.
Virginia elections commissioner Susan Beals said at Tuesday’s meeting that the fire alarms were triggered by maintenance activities at schools that were hosting the polling places. She praised the work of elections officers to secure ballots and said workers “ensured that no voters were turned away.”
She said that occasional issues always crop up in elections administration, “but these are not systemic problems that call into question the results of our elections.”
At Tuesday's meeting an election lawyer representing the McGuire campaign, Daniel Bruce, said there is no reason to doubt the results despite efforts to undermine confidence. Bruce noted the complaints about the Lynchburg drop box and said that “at most we're talking about seven votes.”
“We are confident in the integrity of the election and the legitimacy of the results,” Bruce said.
No one from the Good campaign spoke at Tuesday's meeting. Good's campaign manager, Diana Shores, said in an email that Good remains committed to seeking a recount.
Now that the results have been certified, Good's campaign has a 10-day window in which to file a recount petition with one of the circuit courts in the 5th District.
Shores said the campaign does not yet have information it can share on where it will file its petition.
Both Good and McGuire are among Republicans who have raised concerns about election integrity in the wake of Trump’s false claims of voter fraud in his 2020 reelection defeat. Good was among more than 100 GOP House members who voted in January 2021 to object to the Electoral College count from states that Trump disputed.
In an Election Eve telephone rally with Trump, McGuire urged supporters to deliver him a margin of victory “too big to rig.”
If Good loses, he would be the first House incumbent nationally to lose a primary challenge this year, with the exception of one race in which two incumbents faced off due to redistricting.
The Good-McGuire race highlighted the frictions in the party and was seen as a test of Trump's hold on the GOP electorate. Trump labeled Good a backstabber because Good endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the Republican candidate for president.
Either Republican would be favored in November over the Democratic nominee, Gloria Witt, in a district that tilts conservative.
FILE - Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., speaks at a news conference held by members of the House Freedom Caucus on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 29, 2021. On Monday, July 2, 2024, The Associated Press said the winner of the Republican primary in the state's 5th Congressional District, between Good and Sen. John McGuire, was still too close to call. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
FILE - Virginia state Sen. John McGuire, a candidate in the Republican primary in the state's 5th Congressional District, joins supporters, June 18, 2024, in Lynchburg, Va. On Monday, July 2, 2024, The Associated Press said the race between McGuire and Rep. Bob Good was still too close to call. (AP Photo/Skip Rowland, File)
Millions of people in the U.S. celebrated and suffered under heat warnings as they flocked to beaches and traveled in droves to toast their nation’s birth with July 4 parades, cookouts and the always anticipated fiery splashes of color in the evening sky.
In Washington, neon bursts of light illuminated the night above the National Mall. The Boston Pops performed a musical fireworks spectacular at that city’s Hatch Memorial Shell. And at parades all across the country, revelers dressed up in red, white and blue and waved the Stars and Stripes in commemoration of Independence Day.
Travel records were projected to fall with people jamming airports and crowding highways to reach Thursday's Independence Day celebrations, which will stretch into a long weekend for many.
On the East Coast, some would-be beachgoers in Connecticut were turned away as parking at state parks along the shore filled to capacity, including a 2-mile (3 kilometer) stretch at Hammonasset Beach State Park — the state's largest shoreline beach.
Across the West, meanwhile, residents dealt with stifling heat as the National Weather Service warned of a “significant and extremely dangerous” heat wave across much of the region.
A heat advisory in Philadelphia that came with temperatures tipping into the 90s didn’t stop crowds from gathering at historic sites in the city where the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776.
Outside the National Constitution Center, volunteer actors dressed in Revolutionary War-era costume made of heavy wool, despite the heat. Participants said it was worth it.
“It keeps you connected to your neighborhood and where you live,” said Adrian Mercado, who was donning a 6th Pennsylvania Regiment uniform.
Evening fireworks were scheduled over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, after a concert by Ne-Yo and Kesha.
Fireworks crackled in backyard displays and an anticipated 16,000 professional shows were planned to light up the horizon from sea to shining sea.
Millions of people were expected to watch the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show in New York City, where cross rings, strobing comets, waterfalls and other effects can reach up to 1,000 feet (305 meters) in the air.
Excited viewers crowded along both the New York and New Jersey sides of the Hudson River as dusk turned to dark, and they hoped rain would stay away.
“This is how we celebrate. It’s the bombs bursting in air. It’s the rockets’ red glare. That’s how people show their pride and patriotism,” said Julie Heckman of the American Pyrotechnics Association.
All signs pointed to big celebrations: The Transportation Security Administration reported that a record of nearly 3 million people traveled through airports in a single day last week, a figure expected to be broken this week. AAA projected that 60.6 million people will travel by car during the holiday period. Part of the boost was attributed to easing inflation, though many Americans remain concerned about the economy.
On much of the West Coast, residents were advised to take precautions to avoid overheating on the holiday.
Temperatures topped 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) on Thursday in inland areas of Northern California, with heat spreading into the Pacific Northwest. Some spots in the desert Southwest were expecting temperatures topping 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius). Hot, muggy conditions also permeated the Deep South and Middle Atlantic.
The Northern California city of Oroville’s annual fireworks were canceled although most of the 17,000 people under evacuation orders or warnings by the Thompson Fire were able to go home Thursday afternoon as hundreds of firefighters toiled under extreme heat.
In suburban Chicago, Highland Park resumed its annual Independence Day Parade on the second anniversary of a mass shooting that took seven lives and injured dozens at the 2022 event. Residents gathered at a middle school for a remembrance Thursday before the holiday march, which followed a different route than in the past.
“July Fourth is always going to be a day of mixed emotion,” Mayor Nancy Rotering said. “We come forth today hoping we as a community can remember and honor the lives lost.”
The holiday celebrating the establishment a new country, free from British rule, is traditionally marked by barbecue, cold drinks and the Stars and Stripes on flagpoles and on clothing, in addition to parades. But Americans were also celebrating in other ways unique to their communities.
Of course, there was the annual hot dog eating contest on New York’s Coney Island — where a new champion chomper emerged. Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago gobbled down 58 hot dogs to win his first men’s title.
In Alaska, the city of Seward got a head start with a fireworks display at midnight, as thousands of people gathered on a rocky beach to watch during the brief window where the sky dims in the land of the midnight sun. The shells burst over Resurrection Bay as people watched in silence. “It was absolutely magical,” said resident Iris Woolfolk.
The July Fourth holiday generally unites Americans in their shared love of country, but the 2024 version comes against a backdrop of deep political polarization and a divisive presidential race.
In Boston, where tens of thousands were expected to enjoy the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, conductor Keith Lockhart said it’s inspiring to see people of different political stripes gather on Charles River Esplanade. But he noted that “one would have to have one’s head pretty deeply stuck in the sand to not notice the deep divisions in our country.”
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Associated Press writers John O'Connor in Springfield, Illinois; Isabella O'Malley in Philadelphia; Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut; and Morgan Lee in Santa Fe, New Mexico, contributed to this report.
A Tesla Cybertruck wrapped in patriotic motif rolls along in the Colorado 4th at Firestone parade to mark the Independence Day holiday Thursday, July 4, 2024, in Firestone, Colo. Floats, marching bands, classic cars and motorcycles were features in the annual parade through the Weld County community north of Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
A woman hands out patriotic pinwheels during the Colorado 4th at Firestone parade to mark the Independence Day holiday Thursday, July 4, 2024, in Firestone, Colo. Floats, marching bands, classic cars and motorcycles were features in the annual parade through the Weld County community north of Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
A fan watches a Fourth of July fireworks display after a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 4-2. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Patrick Bertoletti, center, reacts after winning the men's division in Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, Thursday, July 4, 2024, at Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Bertoletti ate 58 hot dogs. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
Eight-year-old Molly Perkins, third from left, joins fellow American Heritage Girls members in riding on a float during the Colorado 4th at Firestone parade to mark the Independence Day holiday Thursday, July 4, 2024, in Firestone, Colo. Floats, marching bands, classic cars and motorcycles were features in the annual parade through the Weld County community north of Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
American flags splay out in a display attached to the fender crest of a 1948 Pontiac Silver Streak station wagon owned by Leo and Angi Martinez during the Colorado 4th at Firestone parade to mark the Independence Day holiday Thursday, July 4, 2024, in Firestone, Colo. Floats, marching bands, classic cars and motorcycles were features in the annual parade through the Weld County community north of Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Community members take in the fireworks at Ellis Park in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette via AP)
The Vermont Symphony Orchestra performs as fireworks fill the air during the "Symphony of Stars" as part of the 2024 Vermont Symphony Orchestra Summer Festival Tour in Grafton, Vt., Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)
Fireworks follow the Omaha Storm Chasers AAA baseball game at Werner Park in Papillion, Nev., Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
The Vermont Symphony Orchestra performs as fireworks filled the air during the "Symphony of Stars" as part of the 2024 Vermont Symphony Orchestra Summer Festival Tour in Grafton, Vt., on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)
People play with glowsticks as they watch fireworks after the Omaha Storm Chasers AAA baseball game at Werner Park in Papillion, Nev., Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Gabriella Willams, 5, waves an American Flag during the "Symphony of Stars" as part of the 2024 Vermont Symphony Orchestra Summer Festival Tour in Grafton, Vt., Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)
People play with glowsticks as they watch fireworks after the Omaha Storm Chasers AAA baseball game at Werner Park in Papillion, Nev., Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Officers with the Miami-Dade County Police Department's Marine Patrol, Adam Fullana, left, Sean Carper, center, and Thomas Kennedy, right, are shown, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, near Key Biscayne, Fla. Elected officials and law enforcement agencies urged boaters not to drink and drive, check the weather before going out and to consider taking a boater safety course during a news conference ahead of the holiday weekend. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Bella Yu, left, and Xingwei Li, second from left, both of Boston, sit in a cafe as passers-by, right, make their way along a narrow street in Boston's historic North End neighborhood, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. A long Fourth of July holiday weekend in the United States is expected to create new travel records. Boston's North End neighborhood is a popular tourist destination. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Passers-by make their way along a street in Boston's historic North End neighborhood, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. A long Fourth of July holiday weekend in the United States is expected to create new travel records. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Officers with the Miami-Dade County Police Department's Marine Patrol ply the waters, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, near Key Biscayne, Fla. Elected officials and law enforcement agencies urged boaters not to drink and drive, check the weather before going out and to consider taking a boater safety course during a news conference ahead of the holiday weekend. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Cathy Nau, front left, and Jackie Trimble, front second left, both of Lake Stevens, Wash., examine maps, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in front of the Old Statehouse, in Boston. Nau and Trimble visited some of the city's historic sites the day before the July Fourth Independence Day holiday. The Old State House was built in 1713 to replace the original meetinghouse that was destroyed by fire. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Boaters enjoy a day on a sand bar, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Biscayne Bay off of Miami. Elected officials and law enforcement agencies urged boaters not to drink and drive, check the weather before going out and to consider taking a boater safety course during a news conference ahead of the holiday weekend. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Vehicles move slowly in south-bound lanes, left, of Interstate Route 93, in Boston, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, as people make their way out of the city. Boston roadways saw traffic delays Wednesday in many areas the day before the July Fourth Independence Day holiday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
