House Freedom Caucus elects Pennsylvania Congressman Perry as new leader

The House Freedom Caucus board has elected Pennsylvania GOP Rep. Scott Perry as its new chairman.

Perry was viewed as the frontrunner for the leadership post prior to the election Monday, but competed against Reps. Warren Davidson of Ohio and Ralph Norman of South Carolina.

Arizona GOP Rep. Andy Biggs' term expires at the end of the year. Perry will replace him at the start of 2022.

The caucus is considered the House's most conservative group and includes Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Matt Gaetz of Florida and Madison Cawthorne of North Carolina.

When Republicans are in power in the House, the caucus uses its sway to push the party further to the right on legislative issues.

Should Republicans regain the majority next year, Perry will be in a powerful position to impact the direction of the GOP caucus and whether House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy will return as House speaker.

The roughly 6-year-old group reportedly now has about 30 members.

Perry is also one of several House Republicans whose actions Democratic lawmakers wish to further investigate in connection to events prior to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.