WASHINGTON—Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) has been elected chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, the conservative group announced on Sept. 18.
“It’s an honor to serve the House Freedom Caucus as Chairman,” Harris, 67, said in a statement posted to social media platform X. “I’ve been on the Freedom Caucus since its beginning and as Chairman, I’m going to roll up my sleeves and work to secure our Southern Border, battle Washington’s reckless government spending, and fight for our constitutional freedoms in the House of Representatives.”
Harris has represented Maryland’s First Congressional District since 2011 and is the only GOP congressman from the Old Line State.
He succeeds Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), who lost his primary and stepped down as chairman, even though he could have served until the next Congress convenes on Jan. 3, 2025. Good said last month that he will serve the remainder of his term.
Congress is currently seeking to avoid a government shutdown. A measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR), to fund the government at current spending levels through March 30, 2025, is scheduled for a vote on Sept. 18. The measure could fail due to the inclusion of a provision that would prohibit noncitizens from voting.
Other members object to the CR for fiscal reasons.
“Congress has an immediate obligation to do two things: responsibly fund the federal government, and ensure the security of our elections,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a Sept. 17 social media post. “Because we owe this to our constituents, we will move forward on Wednesday with a vote on the 6-month CR with the SAVE Act attached. I urge all of my colleagues to do what the overwhelming majority of the people of this county rightfully demand and deserve—prevent non-American citizens from voting in American elections.”
Before being elected to Congress, Harris served as a member of the Maryland Senate from 1999 to 2011. He was an anesthesiologist and served in the U.S. Navy during the Gulf War.
