Andy Harris wins House Freedom Caucus chairmanship

Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) was tapped on Tuesday night to become the next leader of the Freedom Caucus, after the ultra-conservative group was forced to pick a new leader in the wake of the previous chair’s primary loss.

The Freedom Caucus had narrowed it down to Harris or Rep. Andy Biggs — a decision first reported by POLITICO last week. But members of the group were informed Tuesday night, shortly before they were scheduled to convene to pick their next leader, that Biggs had bowed out of the race, five Republicans familiar with the matter confirmed.

That cleared the way for the group to tap Harris to succeed Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) as chair, after the Virginia Republican formally left the post last week following a primary defeat that became official last month. He was ousted by a challenger who was supported by former President Donald Trump and some fellow Republicans inside the conference. Harris was named as chair by acclimation during the group’s Tuesday night meeting, one of the Republicans said.

Harris will serve through the end of 2024 — meaning the group will have two leadership elections in a matter of months. There has been talk of letting whoever won the election this week take over the rest of Good’s term that runs through 2025. Instead, the group is effectively punting a longer-term decision on leadership until after the presidential election. Harris at that point could run for the longer term with one member predicting that it would be a “given” that he would get it.

Those who wanted Harris, an appropriator, viewed him as a new path forward for a caucus that has remained largely divided over which procedural tactics to use for leverage and when to use them.

Harris had also previously expressed interest in leading the group last year, but the top spot ultimately went to Good. While much of the public focus has been on Biggs’ push for chair in recent weeks, Harris has been talking to members of the group about his interest, one person familiar with the outreach said.

Meanwhile, Biggs would have normally been termed out for the role under the group’s rules, Good’s early resignation created a loophole for the chair emeritus. And even by late last week, the group’s leadership board had narrowed their list down to the two conservative Andys, POLITICO first reported. Other Republicans have also been floated as names for when the group holds its next full election, including Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.).

Some of the members viewed Biggs, who was among eight Republicans who voted to oust then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as a more status-quo choice for leader. Members of the group had also floated him, as well as former Chair Scott Perry (R-Pa.) as placeholders to get the group through the November election and the current funding fights.

Good’s defeat also marked an embarrassing moment for the rebel-heavy group, which cares about its brand as well as perceptions about its strength. Naming a new leader allows them to begin to move on, including putting their focus on the upcoming spending fights.

Good lost to state Sen. John McGuire (R-Va.), a former Navy SEAL who got the backing of McCarthy allies as well as Trump, who took issue with Good backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis early in the presidential primary. Good’s district leans Republican, and McGuire is heavily favored to win the general election in November.

Good, meanwhile, is expected to remain a member of both the Freedom Caucus and in the House until the end of his term.