House Freedom Caucus
Hard-right House Republican bloc founded in 2015; Jim Jordan was its first chair.
Jim Jordan, a founder and the first chair of the caucus, became House Republican minority leader on 10 November, beating Steve Scalise by 106 votes to 73, CNBC reported.
Last refreshed: 11 November 2026
Timeline for House Freedom Caucus
Jim Jordan wins House GOP leader race
US Midterms 2026Mentioned in: Letlow's 15-point lead collapses to a tie
US Midterms 2026Background
The caucus formed on 26 January 2015 after a Republican retreat in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Its nine founding board members included Jim Jordan, Mark Meadows, Ron DeSantis, Mick Mulvaney and John Fleming.
It is a bloc of hard-right House Republicans. Jordan chaired it from 2015 to 2017. Andy Harris of Maryland has chaired it since September 2024, and it had about 31 members in July 2026.
Jordan beat Steve Scalise by 106 votes to 73 to win the House Republican minority leader race on 10 November, putting one of the caucus's founders at the head of the party in the House.
A caucus founder takes the top job
House Republicans, heading into the minority after Democrats won both chambers, picked Jordan over Scalise, the outgoing majority leader, on 10 November, by 106 votes to 73, CNBC reported. Jordan was one of the caucus's nine founding board members in 2015 and chaired it until 2017.
The result puts a caucus founder at the head of the whole Republican conference for the 120th Congress. Freedom Caucus credentials had already marked insurgent Republican candidates this cycle, among them founding board member John Fleming in Louisiana's Senate primary.
Who founded the House Freedom Caucus?
Who chairs the House Freedom Caucus?
Is Jim Jordan a member of the Freedom Caucus?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 11 November 2026. Editorial standards.