Fortunately for the Democrats, the Republicans can be just as screwed up. Two weeks ago, for instance, I wrote about the scramble for the Democratic nomination in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, which was won by Leslie Cockburn, a determined progressive and former contributor to Vanity Fair. Cockburn’s caucus victory, over more moderate candidates, such as Roger Dean Huffstetler, seemingly undermined what was already a long-shot pickup opportunity for the Democrats. But Cockburn apparently lives under a lucky political star. On May 23, just days after her nomination, Politico published a report describing how Thomas Garrett, the Republican incumbent, and his wife used congressional staff as “personal servants,” requiring them to buy groceries, pick up laundry, and watch the family dog. In a week of epic media rubbernecking, Garrett first indicated that he might resign, then led a meandering press conference in which he insisted that he would fight to retain his seat, and finally confessed an alcohol problem and a decision not to stand for re-election. Garrett’s self-destruction threw the race, and the local Republican committee, into chaos.

Several days of confusion and speculation followed, as local Republicans jockeyed to be Garrett’s replacement. Roughly 10 Republicans ultimately threw their hats into the ring for the hastily assembled party caucus that would select Garrett’s replacement, and the group’s composition says a lot about the future of the G.O.P. in the Trump era. Only 2 of the 10 hopefuls had current relevant experience in elected office, and neither survived early scrutiny, which reflects the special contempt that the Trumpworld holds for professional politicians, even the local variety. The rest comprised a motley crew of business executives, small-business owners, and grassroots activists, all pledging to be more Trump than Trump. Among the notables were technology executive Michael Del Rosso, who warned voters that the “fourth branch” of government is planning a “coup” against President Trump and Martha Boneta, a tea-party favorite who had gained local fame as the “Freedom Farmer.” After four rounds of balloting, several shouting and shoving matches, and at least one intervention by law enforcement, the voting came down to two unlikely, and maybe unlikeable, candidates: Cynthia Dunbar and Denver Riggleman.

Dunbar, who led the vote up until the final ballot, is best known for her role on the Texas State Board of Education, where she argued to excise Thomas Jefferson from school books for his advocacy of the separation of church and state—a position that proved to be a bit of a millstone in a district that encompasses Charlottesville and Mr. Jefferson’s University. Much of Dunbar’s philosophy is captured in her book One Nation Under God, in which she called public schools a “tool of perversion” and argued that the federal government could not lawfully enact programs for the poor (a church function) or maintain roads (a local function). Just weeks ago, early in May, Dunbar lost out for the nomination for the Virginia 6th Congressional District, to replace the retiring Bob Goodlatte. Though she was one of the frontrunners in that race, her campaign was marred by charges of ethics violation, list stealing, F.E.C. complaints, and claims that she allegedly called one of her opponents a “flamboyant gay, a communist, and a socialist.” (Dunbar has denied this comment, noting that it is part of a larger smear campaign.)

Nevertheless, it was somewhat of a shock that such a considerable magnet for controversy was the early round leader for Garret’s seat in the 5th. Much to the joy of some local Republicans, Dunbar ultimately lost out (barely) to Riggleman, a local distillery owner whose campaign pitch centered on his claim that, “as we have all seen over the past few years, it takes a real outsider with real-world experience to drag the swamp monsters to dry land.” It says something rather unflattering about the current state of the Republican Party when it is a relief that the winning candidate is the one who mangles such an empty and tired campaign platform.