The conservative House Freedom Caucus has removed Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) from its ranks after he endorsed a primary challenger to the caucus chairman, Rep. Bob Good (R-VA). The decision came during a closed-door meeting on Monday night, just weeks after Davidson publicly supported Virginia state Sen. John McGuire, who narrowly defeated Good in the state’s primary last month.
Davidson, the only Freedom Caucus member to endorse against the chairman, defended his endorsement, stating it was about the candidates themselves rather than a proxy war within the Republican Party. “As a longstanding member and former board member of the House Freedom Caucus, my endorsement of John McGuire should convey the opposite message. This Congressional race was never about the Freedom Caucus,” Davidson said at the time. He expressed his commitment to supporting President Trump’s efforts to “Drain the Swamp.”
Davidson’s ousting is expected to have significant implications within the conservative faction of the House GOP. Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) announced his resignation from the Freedom Caucus in protest of Davidson’s removal. “I respect the HFC and have been aligned with their conservative positions. I want to grow the organization and encourage more members to join,” Nehls said. “With tonight’s vote, it was clear that is not their objective.”
The Freedom Caucus, formed in 2015, has been a stronghold for conservative lawmakers closely aligned with former President Donald Trump. However, internal dynamics shifted when Bob Good became the chairman in January. Good’s endorsement of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) for the GOP presidential nomination last year and his later switch to Trump’s endorsement after DeSantis suspended his campaign created tensions within the group.
Trump’s endorsement of McGuire played a crucial role in his narrow victory over Good, defeating the incumbent by just 374 votes. Good has vowed to request a recount. If confirmed, he will become the first Freedom Caucus chairman to lose a primary election.
