Republican Rep. Denver Riggleman lost his primary challenge on Saturday.
Riggleman had drawn fierce criticism from local party officials after officiating a same-sex wedding for two of his staffers last July. He was censured three times by county Republican committees. Riggleman raised nearly nine times as much money as his opponent Bob Good, but at a drive-through nomination convention in Lynchburg, Good beat Riggleman with 58 percent of the vote.
Riggleman is a freshman representative who quickly found his home in the libertarian Freedom Caucus. He has been a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, who tweeted an endorsement of Riggleman last December.
Good entered the primary race in September, challenging Riggleman’s conservative credentials on same-sex marriage and immigration.
Riggleman has alleged there were “voting irregularities and ballot stuffing” in the nominating convention on Saturday and said his campaign is exploring all options.
Reached by phone Sunday morning, 5th District Republican Committee Chairman Melvin Adams denied there was any voter fraud. He said both Riggleman and Good had observers present when votes were tallied.
