The once-strained relationship between the House Freedom Caucus and the House GOP’s campaign arm has turned an unexpected corner this cycle. The two sides, which have long been adversarial, have formed an unusual alliance to help conservative candidates across the country.
Senior sources within the NRCC and HFC confirmed their working relationship to boost candidates including Joe Kent in Washington, Nick Begich in Alaska and Neil Parrott in Maryland – all key offensive opportunities for House Republicans. The NRCC and HFC have also been in close coordination to help Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), a former Freedom Caucus chair hoping to fend off Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson.
HFC members transferred more than $1 million to the NRCC this past month alone, which includes a $500,000 check from Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), according to multiple sources. The contributions were described as “unprecedented” by both camps since the ultraconservative group has typically stiffed the GOP on campaign cash.
Meanwhile, the NRCC is allowing lawmakers to receive credit for their membership dues if they donate to Perry’s campaign through them, several sources told us.
A sea change: The Freedom Caucus sees the NRCC as a tool of the Republican establishment that favors moderates over conservatives, while GOP leaders counter that HFC members oppose everything they do but still want campaign donations and organizational help.
Yet the NRCC, and by extension Speaker Mike Johnson, need these conservative members to prevail to retain and expand their majority. Johnson is also trying to earn chits with hardliners to keep his speaker’s gavel if House Republicans are still in the majority come January.
And the Freedom Caucus recognizes the value of receiving reinforcements from the NRCC, as well as the top super PAC aligned with Johnson — another organization conservatives once railed against. The NRCC has spent over $8 million on ads for Begich and Kent alone. The Congressional Leadership Fund poured $2 million-plus into Perry’s race.
Johnson will campaign for Kent on Thursday for the second time since August. The speaker also stumped for Perry earlier this month — an offer he made after polls showed the Pennsylvania Republican down.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise is also expected to campaign for Parrott in Maryland later this month.
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) said there’s been a change in the overall HFC-leadership relationship since Johnson, who is more ideologically aligned with the conservative wing of the party, became speaker.
“[Kevin] McCarthy looked at us as adversaries, but with how close our numbers are, they need everybody and we’re working well together,” Norman said.
Conservatives’ concerns: Still, some HFC members have privately grumbled about leadership coming in too late to help their candidates. Plus, the NRCC has struggled to close the fundraising gap with Democrats, meaning there are fewer resources to go around.
“It is frustrating that they seem to give little priority to members of the Freedom Caucus because, at the end of the day, we’re gonna make the majority,” Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) told us.
There’s also still plenty of angst, particularly around Perry’s race. The HFC is desperate to prevent another high-profile loss, after their former chair, Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), lost his primary race. Expect a lot of finger-pointing if Perry goes down too.
