AFTON, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Former Republican Congressperson Denver Riggleman endorsed Tom Perriello for his old 5th District seat on Monday, urging Independents and Republicans to vote for the Democratic nominee instead of Republican incumbent John McGuire.

During a press conference at the Afton distillery, Silverback, he owns, Riggleman launched a “Republicans For Tom” effort which he labeled, “a coalition of the sane and decent. That’s why we’re here for Tom Perriello.”

“The challenge has always been getting the message out,” Riggleman told Cville Right Now after Monday’s event. “Virginia’s this unique incredible stew of independents that are just waiting to burst out. I know. I was one of them.”

Six other speakers, who identified as Republicans or former Republicans, pledged their support for Perriello, praising Perriello for his leadership, integrity and his information-based approach to policy, they said. Paul Wright, who worked on George Allen’s first Senate campaign, said he was won over by Perriello’s efforts to win the 5th District in 2009 and his willingness to meet with residents to explain his votes in Congress after getting elected.

“Today we don’t have fighters in Congress,” Wright said. “We have a Congressman today who is afraid.”

Riggleman said that he hears from customers in his distillery that they’re frustrated with the status quo. Riggleman said he believes that if Perriello can flip 3% of registered Republicans in the district, he’ll win in November.

“This administration doesn’t understand that their decisions affect local economies. Once you get that message out, that’s when you really have the ability to gain momentum,” Riggleman said. “There are Republicans who despise Trump right now. I never thought he’d have a negative favorability rating.”

Perriello spoke during the event, criticizing McGuire’s support of Trump’s tariff policy and the Iran war, saying those federal actions have hurt residents of the 5th District.

“As several of these Republicans said, these are very serious times and they require serious people,” Perriello said. “Good leaders know how to build a team to make sure I’m hearing from all sides. … We have to get back from a red team and a blue team and get back to a red, white and blue team.”

After the event, Perriello said he’s focused his campaign on listening to voters from across the district, regardless of their party affiliation.

“A lot of the folks that we’ve built into this coalition are people who care deeply about this community,” Perriello told Cville Right Now. “They care deeply about the economy. And they’re really excited to have somebody who cares about getting it right. It’s useful to have the Republicans and former Republicans joining us, but it’s also about how we’re going to try to govern beyond just winning the election.”

Riggleman served as the 5th District’s Congressional representative for one term from 2019-21. He has said his decision to officiate a same-sex wedding in the summer of 2019, along with his stances on health care access and rural broadband internet access, hurt his standing in the Republican Party. After he acknowledged Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 Presidential Election, he lost the backing of President Trump.

That led to Bob Good challenging and defeating Riggleman in a GOP primary. After two terms, Good was defeated in a Republican primary by John McGuire, after Good also fell out of favor with Trump after backing Ron DeSantis for the 2024 presidential nomination.

Riggleman criticized McGuire as a Trump yes-man who doesn’t truly represent the 5th District.

“He has given a blank check to Washington for things that hurt this district,” Riggleman said, pointing to the Iran war and trade tariffs.

Riggleman said one of the challenges facing Perriello is McGuire’s refusal to debate him or appear at town halls in the district.

“It’s very difficult because John McGuire’s so good at doing nothing. I think when he’s perfected his strategy of completing ignoring his own district and he thinks that he’s going to win, I would humbly submit that the strongest strength of John McGuire is his ability to do nothing.”