NEW: Arizona’s Andy Biggs Elected as Chairman of House Freedom Caucus
Richard Moorhead
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Arizona’s Andy Biggs will become the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, taking over for North Carolina’s Mark Meadows.
Biggs was elected by caucus members to succeed Meadows in a Tuesday meeting.
The House Freedom Caucus is a conservative congressional group known for a willingness to challenge the Republican establishment, creating thorns in the side of Paul Ryan and John Boehner alike. Most in the caucus are strong supporters of President Trump.
Since arriving in the House of Representatives in 2017 to represent Arizona’s Fifth congressional district, Biggs has made a name for himself as a liberty-inclined conservative willing to take controversial stands that at times leave him alone in the broader Republican caucus.
Biggs won a heated primary election for nomination in the deep-red Mesa district, taking over for retiring Republican Matt Salmon.
He was one of a handful of Republican legislators to vote against a measure expressing unconditional support for America’s role in the costly NATO(North Atlantic Treaty Organization) international treaty.
Outgoing caucus Chairman Mark Meadows expressed his support for Biggs in a statement after his election. “I’ve been honored and humbled to serve as chairman of the Freedom Caucus for the last two and a half years, and I can’t think of a better person to pass the torch to than Andy Biggs.”
Congressman Biggs also emphasized his readiness to take on a challenging and contentious congressional position, in an era where radical Democrats are hungry to use their majority in the chamber for pointless impeachment proceedings and other wide-ranging investigations hoping to nail Trump and Republicans for supposed wrongdoing.
“I’m grateful for the trust of my colleagues in selecting me to serve as the next chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. The Freedom Caucus has revolutionized Capitol Hill because our members endeavor to keep our promises to the American people.”
Congressional Republicans are limited in what they can accomplish in the House Majority, but it’s unlikely Biggs plans to provide empty, token opposition to Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats. It’s unclear if Republican Caucus leaders plan on having his back.
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