The conservative House Freedom Caucus on Tuesday elected Rep. Andy Harris to be its next chairman.

The six-term lawmaker is the only Republican member of the Maryland delegation, a staunchly Democratic group of lawmakers that largely despises the Republican caucus.

Mr. Harris’ ascension marks the end of a short-lived search to find a replacement for Rep. Bob Good, Virginia Republican, who stepped aside after losing a hard-fought primary battle against John McGuire. 

“It is an honor to serve as the next House Freedom Caucus chairman,” Mr. Harris said in a statement. “I look forward to leading this caucus as we confront the reckless spending of the Biden-Harris administration, work to secure our southern border, and defend our constitutional freedoms in the House of Representatives.”

Mr. Harris, 67, is one of the original members of the caucus, which was founded in 2015 as an offshoot of the Tea Party movement and organized by lawmakers to act as a foil to then-House Speaker John Boehner. 

As chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Mr. Harris hasn’t butted heads as much with House leadership as his predecessor. Indeed, he was the architect of the continuing resolution that would fund part of the government, a move that House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, deployed multiple times to buy Congress more time.

Whether Mr. Harris will serve the remainder of Mr. Good’s term is unclear.

“The House Freedom Caucus chairmanship is in capable hands with [Mr. Harris],” Mr. Good posted on X. 

• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.