GOP congressman who officiated gay wedding loses primary

[TexasTowelie]

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — A freshman Virginia GOP congressman who angered social conservatives in his district when he officiated a gay wedding lost his party's nomination.

U.S. Rep. Denver Riggleman lost a GOP convention Saturday that was done via drive-thru because of the coronavirus pandemic. He was defeated by Bob Good, a former official in the athletics department at Liberty University.

While the convention ended at 7 p.m., the vote tally was not announced until after 1 a.m. Sunday. Good said he won 58% of the vote, news outlets reported, and 5th District Republican Committee Chair Melvin Adams said 2,537 of the more than 3,500 registered delegates voted.

Riggleman, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, upset many Republicans in his district last summer when he officiated the wedding of two male campaign aides.

Read more: https://trib.com/news/national/gop-congressman-who-officiated-gay-wedding-loses-primary/article_46819498-211a-5d3a-84b5-02e4cdef9b5c.html
(Casper Star Tribune)

[TlalocW]

1. This is very surprising.

The narrator: But it turned out it was not surprising at all.

TlalocW

[phylny]

2. He's "my" congressman (VA-05)

except he's not because he, like both his predecessor and the president he ass kisses, only represents Republicans in the district. So, we go from bad Republican to worse Republican in the district.

[Yonnie3]

4. not mine either

from the bottom of the barrel to the sewer.

VA-05 needs to be redrawn.

[3Hotdogs]

3. He got what he deserved... not adhering to Republican fambly values.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. UPDATE: Challenger Bob Good ousts Rep. Denver Riggleman at 5th District GOP nominating convention

Hat tip, Joe.My.God.

Ex-Liberty University Staffer Ousts GOP US House Rep
June 14, 2020 Christianists, Republicans

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports:

Challenger Bob Good has ousted Rep. Denver Riggleman, R-5th in a rancorous drive-thru convention for the party’s nomination. Voting in the all-day convention at a church in Campbell County concluded at 7 p.m., but party officials did not announce the results until after 1 a.m.

Fifth District GOP chairman Melvin Adams said 2,537 delegates voted Saturday. Good said he received 58% of the tally.

Riggleman faced a backlash among some conservative activists in the sprawling district after he officiated in 2019 at a gay wedding for two men who had volunteered for his campaign. Riggleman, who touts a libertarian streak, says Republicans need to expand their base and have a “big tent” philosophy.

The Roanoke Times reports:

The two faced off at an unusual drive-thru convention at Tree of Life Ministries in Campbell County. After more than 10 hours of voting, 2,437 delegates cast ballots. Originally the convention was intended to take place indoors, but the coronavirus pandemic forced convention organizers to convert it to an outdoors contest.

People drove from all over the 5th Congressional District, which spans from Fauquier County to the North Carolina border and includes Franklin County and part of Bedford County, to participate in the convention at the church.

Cars weaved through the spacious parking lot so delegates could submit their ballots without getting out. More than 200 volunteers directed cars, handed out ballots and reviewed voter information. Few people volunteering to hand out ballots were wearing masks or gloves.

Roll Call reports:

Liberty University, an evangelical institution in Lynchburg, is deeply connected to Christian conservatives. Good worked there for 14 years, where he served as the executive director of the Flames Club, the athletics department’s fundraising program.

Riggleman said he was clear about his libertarian-leaning positions when he originally clinched the party’s nomination two years ago. He beat religious conservative Cynthia Dunbar by one vote at an emergency meeting held to replace Garrett, who had announced he was an alcoholic and would not seek reelection.

Some of Dunbar’s supporters led efforts to have Riggleman censured by the party after he officiated the wedding. They also worked on Good’s campaign.

UncleUrdnot • 21 hours ago
I live in VA 5. This district is gerrymandered to hell and very Trumpy. And we have Falwell leading a local twitter insurrection against our governor. But we do have 4 very strong dem candidates in the primary. Hopefully we can send this nutjob packing.

UPDATE: Challenger Bob Good ousts Rep. Denver Riggleman at 5th District GOP nominating convention
By AMY FRIEDENBERGER The Roanoke Times Jun 14, 2020