Dem
47
GOP
53
The Freedom Caucus is frequently a real pain for Republican speakers. The group isn't that big, but often big enough that if it opposes something, that something can't happen, forcing the speaker to make concessions. So far, the Democrats have been spared that kind of fringe group. However, if they get a small majority in January, newly elected Democratic Socialists could throw a monkey wrench in the works. The seven-member Squad, the three Mamdani protegés in New York and potentially two more like-minded anti-Israel members from Colorado (see above), could bring the count to 12 and half the primaries haven't happened yet. It is entirely possible that the group could yet grow to be larger than the Democrats' majority, giving them veto power over everything. Such a development will make any Democratic speaker's life very unpleasant because concessions to the left-leaning group are sure to offend many Democrats in swing districts.
AOC hinted that there could be problems ahead when she said: "When we talk about a Democratic coalition and a big tent, I think sometimes people forget that it is messy work. A big tent means we don't all love each other 100 percent of the time. It doesn't mean that we all get along 100 percent of the time."
Rep. Rebecca Balint (D-VT), who has held leadership roles in the Congressional Progressive Caucus, is aware of the problem and the parallels. She said she does not "want to replicate the Freedom Caucus on our side." Why not? She said: "Because it has made this place completely and totally dysfunctional, and we are not delivering for Americans. So, I don't think that's what's going to happen, because I think they are running to actually get things done. That's part of the progressive movement is—to actually deliver for people, make life better for people. I believe the Freedom Caucus came out of a sense of 'we want to break government so that it doesn't work, to grind things to a halt. So I think the force is different."
She could be right. The Freedom Caucus doesn't have a legislative list it wants to implement. It wants to gum up the works so nothing happens. Progressives, by contrast, do have a laundry list of policy issues, so a compromise, with them getting some of their wishes but not all, is at least plausible.
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX), whose district runs along the Mexican border, has a different take. She said: "My hope is that when they get to Congress and they meet some of our front-line members, they see how hard it is to flip districts and create a majority and that they will be a part of the greater team." Time will tell. (V)