Dear Friend,
Before we talk about our annual summit, this update was simply too important not to share.
Over the weekend, the South Carolina Freedom Caucus led the way in calling out the radical Left for spewing vicious attacks after Charlie Kirk’s tragic assassination.
After SCFC lawmakers mounted a viral public pressure campaign – leading to statements by Members of Congress and even President Trump – Clemson University finally caved and fired the three professors who celebrated Kirk’s horrific murder. We couldn’t more proud of the absolute master class our SCFC lawmakers demonstrated in getting Clemson to remove these woke liberals from their taxpayer-funded jobs. We’ll be highlighting more victories next week as our bold states continue to make stands like this across the country. |
Recapping our 2025 Annual Summit!
Along with donors, grassroots leaders, and conservative thought leaders, over 100 state lawmakers from our 13 state freedom caucuses came to Dallas, Texas, earlier this month for our 2nd Annual State Freedom Caucus Summit. Our lawmakers assembled to network and strategize with each other, celebrate their successes, and most importantly, to be recognized for their amazing victories this past year. After hearing from U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at our opening ceremony the the night before, the members came together for our Awards Dinner, emceed by The Blaze's Alex Stein. We gave out 9 awards to honor their grit and determination in advancing our shared conservative values in their respective state capitols.
It was a very memorable night! Here were the winners: |
Pettiest Punishment Award This award is given to the member or state freedom caucus that fought for conservative principles...and got punished by the Swamp for their efforts. This year, Georgia Freedom Caucus's State Senator Colton Moore won the award for calling out the corrupt former Speaker of the House. Subsequently, the current "Republican" Speaker banned Colton from the House chamber.
When the governor gave his annual State of the State address in the House chamber, Colton was determined to attend, despite the ban, because it was his constitutional duty to represent his voters.
In response, the sergeant-at-arms prevented him from attending and the Speaker's attorney physically assaulted Colton, pushing him down onto the ground. Colton -- and not the attorney -- was arrested and booked in the same Fulton County jail as President Trump was several months before! |
But Colton got the last laugh. After immense pressure from the grassroots, the Lieutenant Governor, the State Republican Party, and even the State Democrat Party, the charges against him were dropped and the ban was lifted. Here's Colton accepting the award along with the award presenters, Missouri Freedom Caucus's State Senator Nick Schroer and State Rep. Justin Sparks. (Yes, the actual award was a fraternity paddle) |
Best In Session Fight Award This award goes to the state freedom caucus that waged the best fight while the legislature was in session.
The Illinois Freedom Caucus won for defeating a bill that was an Illinois Democrat priority this year. The bill would have cracked down on homeschooling by imposing registration, home and curriculum inspections, and even vaccine oversight—all while their own public schools continued to fail.
The Illinois Freedom Caucus coordinated with homeschool advocates to flood the legislature with over 75,000 witness slips, organize rallies, and deliver sharp committee questioning and testimony. Thanks to this massive grassroots pushback, especially from homeschool families in Democrat districts, the bill was defeated. An excellent policy victory while in the super-minority in the legislature. |
Best Out of Session Fight Award This award goes to the state freedom caucus that kept on fighting even after the legislature gaveled out of session. The winner, the Montana Freedom Caucus, won because it executed an effective communications strategy to label 9 RINO Republican Senators as “The Nasty 9.”
These nasty Senators conspired with Democrats throughout the session to kill conservative bills and grow government. The constant pressure on "The Nasty 9" by the Montana Freedom Caucus led to their censure by the Montana Republican Party, and will be targeted by conservatives next election cycle. |
Rookie of the Year Award
This award is given to the newly-elected lawmaker who hit the ground running, pushed hard for freedom-loving principles, and was an integral part of their state freedom caucus.
The winner was Oklahoma Freedom Caucus's Julie McIntosh -- a freshman Senator, who came on board early in the session, and got right to work. She quickly became a respected cornerstone of the OK Freedom Caucus, the Oklahoma State Senate, and a draw to her peers for her policy chops, toughness, and values. Here she is with award presenters, Steve Cowles and Scott Parkinson: |
Best Communications Award
This award goes to the state freedom caucus that loudly champions its conservative priorities through all means necessary - press conferences, TV and print interviews, social media posts, and email newsletters. Winning the award were the amazing men and women of the Maryland Freedom Caucus.
For the past decade, the quote “Republican” message coming out of Maryland was the voice of RINO Larry Hogan. Starting in 2025, the authentic voice of conservatives became the Maryland Freedom Caucus. On the floor, in the press, podcasts, live stream videos, social media, op-eds, letters to the editor, television–they lived rent free in the heads of their squishy colleagues and pretender-to-the-throne Governor Wes Moore. Relentless on green energy scams, fiscal discipline, and anti-corruption, they have set a new standard in the state.
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Best Floor Speech Award This self-explanatory award went to the Louisiana Freedom Caucus's Beryl Amedee, who gave a courageous speech on the dangers of destructive DEI policies in the Bayou State. Watch it here: |
Best State Director Award The Network has a state director in each of our states. These are the brave men and women who work with the state freedom caucuses, other conservative lawmakers, the grassroots, and subject-matter experts.
This year's winner was Maria Nate, our Idaho state director. She was targeted by so-called Republicans inside and out of the legislature, the liberal Speaker of the state house, and other nefarious forces who hated that she strongly stood on her principles to advance a freedom-loving agenda. |
Best State Lawmaker Award
Freedom Caucus Members do not merely sit in rooms with each other and challenge one another to be more conservative. They listen, adapt, suggest action, build consensus, lead by example, and jump in front of the slings and arrows that inevitably come for the group as a whole.
This year's winner was South Carolina's State Rep. April Cromer, who has not only demonstrated these qualities, but has refined them and grown as a leader within the South Carolina Freedom Caucus. In one instance, she stood at the podium in the state house for 90 long minutes to rail against the state budget that was chocked full of egregious spending and absent of any strong conservative reforms. |
Best State Freedom Caucus Award Then there is the one award to rule them all! This award isn't about notching the most victories or killing the most big government bills.
Instead, the winner is the caucus that most exemplifies what it means to be an infantry unit of conservative warriors. They vote together, plan together, defend each other, and they loudly explain their intentions to the public. And most importantly, they pray together as brothers and sisters who respect and cherish each others' contributions to the fight. This year's winner was the Wyoming Freedom Caucus. Just a mere two and a half years ago, they only had eight members. But because they demonstrated a courageous, unified ability to work together, they quickly doubled in size to sixteen. Then they swept their elections last year and took control of the Wyoming House. The speaker, the pro tem, and other positions of power are all held by Wyoming Freedom Caucus members.
Policies like school choice, property tax cuts, and a ban on transgender surgeries for minors were blocked in previous years because the Democrats and liberal Republicans were in charge. But those issues all passed into law once the Wyoming Freedom Caucus took control.
The left-leaning local press can't stand that the Wyoming Freedom Caucus is so successful, but that hasn't stopped them from reporting on them everyday. A recent analysis shows that they have written about the WY Freedom Caucus for 900+ consecutive days. And that record still hasn't been broken. Thanks to their efforts, the Wyoming Freedom Caucus is a household name in the state! |
HELP US GROW
We’ve accomplished so much together this year—securing key victories that no one thought possible. But as the year winds down, we can’t let up. The battles of 2026 are right around the corner, and the other side is already gearing up.
That’s why your support today is so critical. Every gift helps us finish strong, prepare for the fights ahead, and ensure we’re ready to deliver even bigger wins in the year to come. Will you stand with us now so we can charge into 2026 with the strength we need? |
We'll be back with another update next week. Until then, please be sure to support our efforts so that we can support our State Freedom Caucuses! In Liberty, |
Andy Roth President
State Freedom Caucus Network |
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