Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) was elected the new chairman of the House Freedom Caucus (HFC) in a vote late on Dec. 11.
In a Dec. 12 statement emailed to The Epoch Times, the HFC announced the congressman’s election, saying, “Good has been a strong and vocal member of the Freedom Caucus since taking office in 2021, serving on the group’s Board of Directors as Whip and championing the positions and messages of the caucus.”
Forming in 2015 with over 30 members, the Freedom Caucus frequently poses a right flank challenge to House Republican leaders.
Mr. Good, who reportedly ran unopposed and was recommended by the Freedom Caucus’ board, replaces current Chairman Scott Perry (R-Pa).
Others who have served in the position include Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and former Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), who went on to become President Trump’s White House chief of staff.
It has been postulated that the HFC could be highlighting its independence with Mr. Good’s election, particularly in the current political climate in which Republicans are hesitant to distance themselves from former President Trump.
The Virginia Republican is known to support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, another Republican 2024 presidential candidate, who has recently been at odds with President Trump.
In October, Mr. Good was among eight Republicans voting to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his position as speaker.
The Virginia lawmaker commented on his election to head the conservative group, saying “It is my privilege and honor to serve as the next House Freedom Caucus chairman.
Concern Over Political Strategies
According to a report from Axios earlier on Dec. 11, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), a member of the HFC board, expressed his disapproval of Mr. Good’s political strategies and urged his colleagues to choose someone else in a letter he addressed to colleagues prior to the election.“I am concerned that our group often relies too much on power (available primarily due to the narrow majority) and too little on influence with and among our colleagues,” Mr. Davidson wrote.
“I ask that we consider how to best increase our influence while preserving our power to move policy in the right direction. I strongly feel that Bob Good as Chairman will impair that objective.”
The Ohio lawmaker went on to say that he did not “have an alternative nomination” but considered it his “final fiduciary duty as a board member” to ask that the members of the group “prayerfully consider electing someone else as Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus.”
However, his fellow HFC members opted to elect Mr. Good, likely because of his history of championing conservatism.
In recent months, the Virginia representative has been part of various conservative causes, such as protections for Second Amendment rights and changes to the federal budget, and has stood in opposition to Critical Race Theory.
Just days ago, Mr. Good authored one letter and co-signed another asserting that a proposed rule by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to redefine what constitutes dealing in firearms is cause for concern.
