The House Freedom Caucus (HFC) has expelled conservative Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH) following his endorsement of the caucus chairman’s primary challenger, state Senator John McGuire, who had received backing from former President Donald Trump. In June, McGuire defeated Good by roughly 375 votes.
Davidson’s support for a challenger to another freedom caucus member is unusual, though not against the caucus’s rules. However, Davidson has publicly feuded with Good since the latter’s elevation to caucus chair. In early 2024, Davidson resigned from the caucus’s leadership board in protest of its recommendation to promote Good to caucus chairman. He penned a highly critical letter at the time, asking his freedom caucus colleagues to “consider how to best increase our influence while preserving our power to move policy in the right direction.
Trump gave Davidson and other Capitol Hill Republicans cover by endorsing McGuire. The former president viciously attacked Good throughout the primary, calling him “bad for Virginia, and bad for the USA.” Good had initially endorsed Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) in the 2024 Republican presidential contest but switched to Trump after DeSantis dropped out. Good further angered Trump by suggesting on his campaign website and yard signs that Trump had endorsed him, prompting a cease-and-desist letter from the Trump campaign.
The freedom caucus is known for its secrecy, and a caucus spokesman told Breitbart News Monday evening that “HFC does not comment on membership or internal processes.” Even the official membership list is kept confidential, though it is estimated to consist of around 35 members.
Last year, the freedom caucus voted to kick out another prominent conservative member, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), amid her public feud with other caucus members over threats to Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) gavel. Ultimately, only four other freedom caucus members joined Good in voting to oust McCarthy, despite the group ejecting Greene over a feud primarily stemming from questions surrounding McCarthy’s leadership.
Tensions within the conservative caucus remain high, and its future direction is uncertain, regardless of who it chooses to lead after Good leaves Congress. In another indication of internal disruptions, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) resigned from the caucus in a disagreement with its direction under Good. I respect the HFC and have been aligned with their conservative positions,” he said in a statement provided to Breitbart News. I want to grow the organization and encourage more members to join.” He continued, “I value what the HFC brings to the table, and I can assure them I will continue to support their conservative agenda. I just won’t be a member.