The highly effective Home Freedom Caucus is wrangling with a worsening identification disaster — one that might quickly redefine the group’s alignment with former President Donald Trump.
Typically, the divisions lie between the Tea Celebration-aligned previous guard, targeted extra on conservative rules, and the extra populist MAGA-friendly members. It’s a debate that has persevered within the notoriously non-public group for some time, however its fights are more and more spilling into the open.
Members have had a number of public rifts over the previous yr — together with ugly private feuds stemming from the seemingly major defeat of Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-Va.). There’s additionally been near-constant pressure over the previous yr attributable to votes in addition members, the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, spending disputes and hardball ground techniques.
Six Freedom Caucus members expressed to POLITICO that the group wants new management as quickly as doable with the intention to transfer ahead, significantly as they put together for spending fights and a possible Trump takeover subsequent yr. However that dialogue has additionally divided the caucus, as members foyer for management that fits their distinct visions of the group’s future.
“There will be quite a few individuals that will contemplate it,” Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) stated concerning the race to succeed Good. And he acknowledged friction inside the group: “Have there been disagreements? Sure. Will there be disagreements sooner or later? Sure, however I do not have a look at that as a foul factor.”
Good is going through a recount in his major on Thursday, a race he formally misplaced by about 400 votes after Trump endorsed his opponent. If the recount upholds his defeat, as anticipated, Good instructed POLITICO that he would resign instantly as chair. It might mark each the primary time the group has confronted a emptiness atop its ranks throughout a presidential election yr and the primary time its chair has been ousted in a major.
The group is probably going to make use of the six-week summer season break to strategize, in accordance with three members, and isn’t anticipated to make a proper resolution about new management till the Home returns in early September. That may mark the primary time they’re capable of meet in particular person as a gaggle since Thursday’s recount.
Some members have mentioned permitting a former chair, like Reps. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) or Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), to quickly fill the seat till subsequent yr. Whereas putting in a chair emeritus would give members extra time to determine on a long-term substitute, some argue this course of shouldn’t be inside the Freedom Caucus’ bylaws — although they’re in largely uncharted territory.
The opposite choice is having the Freedom Caucus board transfer to advocate a brand new chair as quickly as September, seemingly putting in that particular person for the remainder of Good’s time period, which runs by way of the tip of subsequent yr. However the cut up over the potential candidates runs deep, significantly with a doable second Trump time period looming in January.
Among the many names most often talked about: Reps. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), Chip Roy (R-Texas) or Andy Harris (R-Md.).
Some members wish to align the group nearer to Trump, significantly after some felt like they had been in a clumsy spot when the ex-president endorsed Good’s major opponent, John McGuire. These members hope {that a} second Trump administration may assist focus the disparate factions inside the Freedom Caucus — which has managed to be a headache for Republican management this time period not due to their unity, however because of the GOP’s extremely skinny majority.
“I feel beneath a Trump administration, particularly with so many people being near Trump, that provides us an excellent alternative to additional form coverage,” Ogles, who has expressed curiosity in serving as the subsequent chair, stated in a short interview.
Ogles, who’s on the group’s board, instructed POLITICO that he privately reached out to each member of the caucus amid the dustup between Good and Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), which finally led to the latter’s ouster. Ogles stated that, in his capability as a board member he “checked with them, made certain they’re OK, what considerations have they got, as we proceed to remain collectively as a workforce and construct the workforce going ahead.”
That sparked chatter that Ogles is eyeing the highest HFC spot, however Ogles can be going through his personal tough major problem. And there’s skepticism amongst a swath of Freedom Caucus members about giving their high spot to somebody who’s at the moment serving their first time period.
Roy’s title additionally often comes up as somebody who may serve within the high spot, however he may fire up considerations with members who would somewhat bear hug Trump. Roy has stoked the previous president’s ire a number of occasions — voting to certify the 2020 election and, like Good, initially endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president.
Two Freedom Caucus members, granted anonymity to talk candidly, stated that it was truthful to boost Roy’s help for DeSantis as they weigh the Texas Republican as a possible subsequent chair. Others who again Roy have additionally questioned if he really needs the job, noting that he’s an excellent slot in his present position as coverage director.
“That’s not one thing I’m going to speak about. What we’re going to determine is what’s finest going ahead. We’re all dedicated to the mission. Each group — they undergo some variations of opinion,” Roy stated, when requested about working for chair.
Harris can be considered as a possible Good successor. The Maryland Republican, who was first elected in 2010, aligns extra carefully with the group’s different fiscal hawks within the Tea Celebration-aligned wing, and Freedom Caucus members say he expressed curiosity within the high spot in 2023 earlier than Good was finally elected.
The group has more and more cut up over what its fiscal technique needs to be, with some arguing that they overplayed their hand on this Congress’ authorities funding fights. And subsequent yr, if Trump takes the White Home, management may play a key position in how a lot the group embraces Trump insurance policies — significantly if he pushes efforts that will increase spending once more.
But it surely’s the group’s fraught relationship with Trump that has gotten the highlight beneath Good’s stewardship. When members of the group took a visit to Trump’s trial in New York earlier this yr, usually chatty Freedom Caucus Republicans refused to speak about it. They had been involved they might face backlash from Trump and his supporters if the Home voting schedule compelled them to again out.
Critically, considerations concerning the group’s future additionally lengthen to their very own elections. Republicans have raised non-public considerations that the group’s marketing campaign arm has lagged in fundraising, which means it has much less bandwidth to guard weak incumbents.
Then there are the inner feuds about membership. Along with Davidson, not less than three different members have been ousted up to now two years: Retired Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). Greene’s ouster was throughout Perry’s tenure.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), a co-founder of the group, has argued that he needs Davidson, who’s an in depth ally, again within the Freedom Caucus. The 16-13 vote in addition him in July sparked unhealthy blood between a number of members, as some claimed that Good’s allies had compelled a vote when a few of Davidson’s supporters had been lacking and had bent the group’s guidelines.
“My concern is that I don’t suppose we needs to be kicking individuals out. I’ve been clear about that,” Jordan stated in a short interview.
Davidson didn’t instantly wave off rejoining the Freedom Caucus however quipped: “It’s powerful to be in a gaggle the place half the individuals don’t actually need you.”
