Meet Andy Harris: The Man Behind the House Freedom Caucus

Harris did not believe he would ever lead the conservative caucus. Now, heโ€™s at the helm as Republicans prepare for the Trump presidency.

WASHINGTONโ€”Andy Harris visited Washington at the age of 14, and, upon seeing the Capitol, envisioned working there someday.

That dream has become a reality. At 53, Harris became a member of the House of Representatives from Marylandโ€™s 1st district.

He is now also the chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, which will have significant influence in the lower congressional chamber. The GOP will have a narrow majority come January, along with control of the Senate and White House, as the party looks to implement President-elect Donald Trumpโ€™s agenda.

Harris was elected as caucus chairman in September, succeeding Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), who lost his reelection primary earlier this year.

In a Nov. 20 interview with The Epoch Times in his office with a view of the Capitol dome, Harris said he did not believe he would ever lead the caucus.

Influence Without Dysfunction

The membership in the Freedom Caucus is not publicly disclosed, though there are members who have identified themselves as such.

The Freedom Caucus is known for sometimes being a thorn in the side of the wider House GOP, especially its leadership, but Harris said heโ€™s taking a more conciliatory approach, especially with Trump in the White House.

โ€œI think we will have an influence in the narrow majority,โ€ said Harris.

Members of the Freedom Caucus resisted former Rep. Kevin McCarthyโ€™s (R-Calif.) leadership as Speaker of the House. Some members ultimately backed him  after getting significant concessions from McCarthy, who won the gavel after 15 rounds of voting in January 2023.

Harris doesnโ€™t expect a repeat episode when it comes to whether Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) remains second-in-line to the presidency.

โ€œHeโ€™s delivering on what he said he was going to deliver,โ€ Harris said. โ€œAnd I think that if he continues to deliver on that, that it wonโ€™t be an issue.โ€

These promises, said Harris, include not putting forth an omnibus budget bill.

Harris said he plans to support Johnson for speaker and has a good working relationship with him.

โ€œWeโ€™re fellow conservatives. We believe in a lot of the same things,โ€ he said. โ€œAnd heโ€™s always been receptive to my input and welcomes the input.โ€

Byย Jackson Richman

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Columns

Viewers like you

There is no constitutional authority for any spending on public broadcasting โ€“ period. Any questions: See Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.

Trans-wormal

No worm ever said "I am anthropomorphizing, I am a butterfly" to a toad or flock of geese and expected acknowledgement and support.

In Greenlandโ€™s Icy Capital, Past Troubles Haunt Hopes for the Future

As geopolitical realities and ongoing economic growth raise the stakes, U.S. interest in Greenland and the dream of independence may change things in a big way.

How a Chinese Government Statistician Was Forced to Report Fake Data

Chinese local govt employee produced a non-authorized report on bees and was visited by police and threatened with being sent to a mental hospital.

โ€˜This One Time, at Groomer Campโ€™

All Camp Brave Trails programs focus on helping LGBTQ+ youth find what they need most to thrive: their people, their place, and their passion.

News

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Returns to US to Face Criminal Charges

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a citizen of El Salvador, is on his way back to the US, where he will face criminal charges for allegedly smuggling illegal immigrants.

White House Adviser Gives Update on DOGEโ€™s Future Amid Muskโ€“Trump Spat

A top White House adviser said DOGEโ€™s work will likely continue amid a spat between its former chief, Elon Musk, and President Donald Trump.

Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Allow Dismantling of Education Department

Trump admin asked Supreme Court to allow it to resume dismantling U.S. Dept of Education, following a lower courtโ€™s previous order halting process.

FTC Warns of Rising Student Loan Scams, Says Fraudsters Took Millions From Borrowers

FTC is warning borrowers to steer clear of student loan debt-relief scams, after shutting down group of companies that allegedly charged millions in illegal fees and left customers worse off.

Walmartโ€™s Drone Delivery Coming to 5 More US Cities

Walmart is set to launch its drone delivery service in five more U.S. cities: Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa, the company.

Court Orders Trump Administration to Restore AmeriCorps Funding to States

Federal court ordered Trump admin to restore AmeriCorps funding to states. The ruling comes as part of a lawsuit filed by 24 states and DC.

Tax Deductions You Can Take Without Itemizing

Itโ€™s not always beneficial to itemize. With IRSโ€™s current standard deduction for 2025 most Americans who canโ€™t itemize go with standard deduction.

US Economy Adds 139,000 New Jobs in May, Topping Market Forecasts

U.S. economy added 139,000 new jobs last month, surpassing economistsโ€™ expectations and indicating U.S. labor market remains in a robust position.
spot_img

Related Articles