US Representative Denver Riggleman,
who drew criticism from fellow Virginia Republicans after
presiding at a gay wedding last year, lost a primary challenge
at a nominating convention on Saturday.
Bob Good, a religious conservative and former athletics
administrator at Liberty University in Virginia, defeated the
congressman by claiming the support of 58% of delegates who
attended the convention held in a church parking lot, according
to Melvin Adams, chairman of the 5th District's Republican
committee.
Riggleman, a first-term congressman endorsed by President
Donald Trump, angered some social conservatives when he
officiated at the same-sex wedding of two former campaign
volunteers last summer. Riggleman defended the wedding as a
matter of individual liberty but the backlash helped fuel Good's
challenge.
Riggleman was endorsed by Trump in a December tweet that
described him as a "true CONSERVATIVE leader" who would back the
president's agenda. Good has campaigned as a more ardent
supporter of Trump's policies and says Riggleman is out of step
with the conservative district.
Virginia Republicans sometimes pick congressional nominees
through conventions, which typically encourage participation by
party activists, rather than through traditional primary
elections.
Because of coronavirus safety concerns, the convention was
made an all-day, drive-through vote in the parking lot of a
Lynchburg church.
Riggleman, who could not be reached for comment, said on
Twitter late Saturday that "voter fraud" was "a hallmark of this
nomination process" that he was evaluating his options. Adams
said that there were issues with one or two votes but not enough
to change the results.
Later this month, Democrats will pick their nominee for the
November 3 election in a primary involving four candidates.