The wave of House Freedom Caucus members leaving Congress is only the natural progression of a movement that is spreading far and wide, according to State Freedom Caucus Network President Andy Roth.
It isn’t the first time that turnover in the Freedom Caucus sparked mistaken speculation that the group of hard-line conservatives was on the decline.
“They said that when Mark Meadows and Ron DeSantis and Raul Labrador all left [Congress], and the House Freedom Caucus only got bigger and stronger,” Mr. Roth told The Washington Times as he prepared to open the second annual State Freedom Caucus Network national summit in Dallas on Wednesday.
The gathering, he said, underscores the galaxy of rising stars in the movement.
He said the “amazing people” are ready to push the House Freedom Caucus forward, including Reps. Eli Crane of Arizona, Eric Burlison of Missouri, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma and Brandon Gill of Texas.
At the same time, he said, the ranks of like-minded conservatives in state government are growing.
“I think the Freedom Caucus’ detractors always want to say that the Freedom Caucus is dying, but it’s just getting bigger and stronger,” Mr. Roth said.
House Freedom Caucus members leaving Congress to seek other offices include Rep. Chip Roy running for Texas attorney general, Rep. Barry Moore of Alabama running for an open Senate seat and Reps. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Byron Donalds of Florida and Andy Biggs of Arizona, who all launched gubernatorial bids.
Another House Freedom Caucus member, Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee, is reportedly hoping to be elevated to the Senate if Sen. Marsha Blackburn wins her gubernatorial race.
The Freedom Caucus Network, which has helped establish Freedom Caucuses in 13 state legislatures since 2021, is also creating a deep bench of hard-line conservatives to run in House races.
Mr. Roth called the network “the farm team.”
“There are three folks that are alumni of ours that are now in higher office,” he said.
Part of the network’s success, he said, is helping candidates rise through the ranks and advance conservative priorities, such as election integrity.
He pointed to Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray and Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, both alumni of their states’ Freedom Caucuses. At the summit this week, both will join attorney Cleta Mitchell for a panel discussion about election integrity.
“Justin Heap is an Arizona Freedom Caucus alum, and he’s now Maricopa County Recorder,” Mr. Roth said. “Now that sounds like a boring position, but he’s now in charge of all voter registration and elections in one of the largest counties in the country in one of the most important states.”
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.