The Liberty Caucus is a Congressional caucus consisting of conservative Republican members of the United States House of Representatives. It hosts a bimonthly luncheon in Washington, D.C. The group was founded by Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan and joined by Republican members who wanted to "focus on specific issues like economic freedom, individual liberty, and following the Constitution". The caucus has also been characterized as "conservative with a libertarian emphasis" and associated with the Tea Party movement.
Prior to the formal creation of the House Liberty Caucus, Rep. Ron Paul hosted a luncheon in Washington, D.C. every Thursday for a group of Republican members of the United States House of Representatives, that he called the "Liberty Caucus." The group, in close association with the political action committee the Republican Liberty Caucus, "support[ed] individual rights, limited government and free enterprise." Past attendees of this luncheon include:
Michele Bachmann of Minnesota
Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland – Defeated in 2012 general election
Chris Cannon of Utah – Lost renomination in 2008
Jo Ann Davis of Virginia – Died in 2007
Jimmy Duncan of Tennessee
Jeff Flake of Arizona – Ran successfully for the US Senate in 2012, currently US Senator from Arizona
Trent Franks of Arizona
Scott Garrett of New Jersey
Virgil Goode of Virginia – Defeated in 2008 general election
John Hostettler of Indiana – Defeated in 2006 general election
Jack Kingston of Georgia
Jeff Miller of Florida
Marilyn Musgrave of Colorado – Defeated in 2008 general election
Butch Otter of Idaho – Ran successfully for Idaho gubernatorial election, 2006, currently Governor of Idaho
Ron Paul of Texas (former Chairman) – Ran unsuccessfully for the US Presidency in 2012
Richard Pombo of California – Defeated in 2006 general election
Bill Posey of Florida
Denny Rehberg of Montana – Ran unsuccessfully for the US Senate in 2012
John Shadegg of Arizona – Retired in 2010
Tom Tancredo of Colorado – Retired in 2008
Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania – Ran successfully for the US Senate in 2010, currently US Senator from Pennsylvania
Joe Walsh of Illinois – Defeated in 2012 general election
Zach Wamp of Tennessee – Ran unsuccessfully for the nomination for the Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2010
Dave Weldon of Florida – Retired in 2008
After the 112th United States Congress began and Ron Paul switched his focus to his presidential campaign, his luncheon was replaced by a formal congressional member organization called the House Liberty Caucus and chaired by Justin Amash. In June 2014, the caucus supported Raul Labrador's campaign for House Majority Leader.
Past members of the current organization include:
Steve Stockman of Texas – Ran unsuccessfully for the US Senate in 2014
Kerry Bentivolio of Michigan – Lost renomination in 2014
Paul Broun of Georgia – Ran unsuccessfully for the US Senate in 2014
Jason Chaffetz of Utah
Curt Clawson of Florida – Retired in 2016
Scott Garrett of New Jersey – Defeated in 2016 general election
Tom Graves of Georgia
Vicky Hartzler of Missouri
Tim Huelskamp of Kansas – Lost renomination in 2016
Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming – Retired in 2016
Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina – Appointed as Director of the Office of Management and Budget in 2017
Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington
Matt Salmon of Arizona – Retired in 2016
Marlin Stutzman of Indiana – Ran unsuccessfully for the US Senate in 2016
Tim Walberg of Michigan
Rob Woodall of Georgia
