GOP colleagues sneer at Rep. Good's election complaints

• "No one is buying it, but all understand this is one of the several stages of electoral grief," said one House Republican, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
• The GOP lawmaker added that Good's assertion of election irregularities is "the reflexive thing people who can't accept loss say these days."

Driving the news: Good has said he plans to challenge the result if the race is called for his opponent, state Sen. John McGuire, and has demanded a "do-over" in one county.

• He trailed McGuire by just 368 votes out of more than 62,000 cast in the primary, with mail-in votes to be counted.
• Good said on Steve Bannon's podcast Monday that he'll try to block certification of the results as he seeks an investigation.
• He has claimed fires broke out at three voting precincts the day of the primary, though local election officials have said each incident was simply fire alarms going off, which didn't significantly impact voting.

Good was backed by several of his fellow House GOP hardliners, but McGuire had the support of Trump and more than a half-dozen of Good's GOP colleagues.

• Good earned Trump's disdain by initially endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the GOP presidential primaries.

What they're saying: "[Of] course Bob is claiming election fraud. He is grasping at straws to help save his political career," said Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), who endorsed McGuire.

• Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), another McGuire endorser, said simply: "Bob Good lost."
• Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), noting that Good has focused his claims on Lynchburg despite winning there, said: "What a loser."
• "Bob Good lost. It is very simple," said Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.).

The other side: "The people of our district are reaching out to our campaign demanding that we pursue a recount. Our donors, our volunteers, and our supporters expect it," Good's campaign said in a statement.

• The campaign said they have received "thousands of dollars in donations" for recount efforts.
• "We will pursue the recount to settle any questions about the fairness or transparency of the election process. This way, voters can confidently move forward to the general election."

Zoom in: For many Republicans still grousing about Good's vote to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and his general antagonism toward GOP leadership, the outcome of the primary was deeply personal.

• "F**k Bob Good. Bob Good is a sore loser. His defeat strengthens our majority," one House Republican told Axios.
• Said another: "I assume Bob Good is full of s**t."
• "If Bob had spent more time working for America and less time trying to dictate to other members of Congress how we could vote for our constituents, we would not be having this conversation. He is a bully and it is time for him to go," Van Orden said.

Between the lines: Many Republicans miffed about Good's election fraud insinuations have stood by Trump despite the ex-president's extensive efforts to overturn his own 2020 election loss.

• Former Rep. Denver Riggleman, a Republican-turned-independent who lost to Good in 2020, noted that McGuire and Good have both echoed Trump's claims about the 2020 election.
• "I don't find it surprising that an election between an election denier and an election denier would end with one of them denying the election was fair based on conspiracy theories," he said.

Yes, but: Good isn't completely abandoned. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a Freedom Caucus member, said he's taking a wait-and-see approach.

• "If it's true, the facts will be uncovered to substantiate the fraud claim," Norman told Axios.