Freedom Caucus shrinks by two

Congressional caucuses gather legislators around policy ideals, platforms, common backgrounds, and more. They allow members to pursue areas of interest alongside like-minded colleagues but often also double as a symbol of status.

On Monday evening, members of the House Freedom Caucus—the most conservative caucus in the House of Representatives—voted out Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio. According to Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, another member of the group, the reasons weren’t particularly subtle.

“You know, it obviously got a little bit personal between Mr. Davidson and Mr. [Bob] Good,” Nehls said, referencing the group’s chairman who lost his primary race in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District earlier this month. Davidson had endorsed Good’s challenger.

“People dabble in some of these primaries and sometimes you put your saddle on the wrong horse, you know? And this is what happens,” Nehls said. “I think Mr. Davidson is a very articulate, smart member. I think he’s gifted and talented in many ways. I didn’t think kicking him out was a very good idea.”

Nehls resigned from the caucus in protest on Tuesday.

Good’s race—already a source of dissension for the GOP—underscores how matters of loyalty have divided Republicans even among ideologically homogeneous conservatives.

The Freedom Caucus was started in 2015 by conservatives including Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio and then-representatives Mark Meadows, R-N.C., and Ron DeSantis, R-Fla. (Meadows became former President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, and DeSantis is now governor of Florida.) The caucus has consistently provided Republicans with a tone-setting bulwark for many of their top issues. The group has called on the GOP to force government shutdowns to cut spending, tie immigration reform to foreign aid, and more. Admission to the Freedom Caucus is invite only, and although the group is thought to be roughly 35-40 members, an official count of its participants isn’t public.

Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., also a member of the Freedom Caucus, believes that that function sets the trajectory of Republicans’ congressional efforts and holds them accountable to the party’s ideals.

“I think the Freedom Caucus is the conscience of the Republican party,” Rosendale said on Tuesday.

When asked about Davidson’s removal and Nehls’ decision to walk away, Rosendale declined to speak to the group’s thinking, but said he disagreed with characterizations that they were primarily about Republican infighting.

“You always have diverse opinions and ideas and that’s one of the things that quite frankly is still respected in that room,” Rosendale said.

Like Davidson, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., used to be a member of the Freedom Caucus. Fellow members kicked her out last year over combative comments she made towards Republican lawmakers. At the time, Greene was also thought to be a close ally of then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who frequently butted heads with the caucus’ members over spending.

“They’ve imploded,” Greene said on Tuesday. “Bob Good lost his election—he should have been the one resigning at the meeting last night instead of them kicking out Warren Davidson who is one of the best conservatives in Congress. Major mistake. The Freedom Caucus is kicking people out, making enemies, having petty fights with one another.”

Greene also backed Good’s opponent in his primary, citing Good’s previous endorsement of DeSantis in his presidential campaign against Trump. Greene has characterized Good as a traitor to the former president. Trump also endorsed Good’s challenger.

Despite her opposition to Good and her history with the group, Greene added that she has respect for many of the members in the caucus. But she says the group’s leadership is looking for more control over their members—a direction which she believes has corroded the group’s function.

“The board and Bob Good and a few others want to shrink their numbers into a very small group,” Greene said, referencing the group’s driving members. “It’s horrible leadership.”

Greene cited top Freedom Caucus members putting a greater emphasis on attendance and warnings that not showing up to meetings could cost them their membership in the caucus.

While Nehls isn’t closing the door on rejoining the group at a later date, he is open about disagreeing with its current direction.

“I like the Freedom Caucus—that’s why I joined it,” Nehls said. “I’m more aligned with their ideology. I like their conservative principles and values. Whether they think I’m a loss or not I don’t know. I don’t see how the group gained anything yesterday. If you want to have real, true influence up here you have to learn how to get along with others.”

Although Virginia has called the race, Good has said he will fight the results, having lost by just under 400 votes. He is calling for a recount, which could take weeks to sort out.

Good declined to comment for this report.