For about four decades, far-right members of Congress enjoyed a special group, intended to be separate from the GOP mainstream. It was called the Republican Study Committee, and it was home to the House’s most rigid ideologues and reactionary voices.
But a problem soon emerged. As we’ve discussed, the more radicalized House Republicans became, the more the Republican Study Committee included nearly everyone from the GOP conference. The Study Committee became fine for run-of-the-mill far-right members, but some really conservative members wanted an even more exclusive caucus.
The House Freedom Caucus was born.
For much of its existence, the Freedom Caucus was an annoyance to Republican leaders, but as GOP politics kept moving further and further to the right, its members took on greater influence. South Carolina’s Mick Mulvaney was a Freedom Caucus member who became White House chief of staff. He was succeeded by Mark Meadows, who used to lead the Freedom Caucus. Florida’s Ron DeSantis was a Freedom Caucus member who was elected governor.
Evidently, that’s just the start. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported this week on the far-right contingent’s plans to export its hardline tactics to state legislatures.








