ICYMI: Club for Growth 2025 Defenders of Economic Freedom Awards
Washington, D.C. – In case you missed it, Club for Growth announced the winners of its 2025 Defender of Economic Freedom Awards. This year, 75 House Members and 11 U.S. Senators received the award, increasing from 51 and 9 respectively, compared to the previous year. Winners of the award earned a 90% or higher on the Club for Growth Foundation’s annual Congressional Economic Scorecard and have a lifetime rating of at least 90% from the Foundation.
“Club for Growth is honored to recognize the elected officials on Capitol Hill who work tirelessly to advance freedom across the country,” said Club for Growth President David McIntosh. “These champions have taken on The Swamp at every turn and have never shied away from their principles. We look forward to these men and women, many of whom have been endorsed and supported by Club for Growth PAC and Club for Growth Action, continuing to lead our nation for years to come.”
George Caldwell from The Daily Signal covered the announcement in an exclusive report.
2025 House Defenders of Economic Freedom:
Michael Baumgartner, Nick Begich, Andy Biggs, Sheri Biggs, Lauren Boebert, Josh Brecheen, Robert Bresnahan, Tim Burchett, Eric Burlison, Kat Cammack, Ben Cline, Andrew Clyde, Mike Collins, Eli Crane, Jeff Crank, Warren Davidson, Scott DesJarlais, Byron Donalds, Troy Downing, Pat Fallon, Julie Fedorchak, Russell Fry, Brandon Gill, Craig Goldman, Lance Gooden, Paul Gosar, Mark Green, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Harriet Hageman, Abraham Hamadeh, Pat Harrigan, Andy Harris, Mark Harris, Diana Harshbarger, Kevin Hern, Clay Higgins, Wesley Hunt, Brian Jack, Ronny Jackson, Jim Jordan, Mike Kennedy, Brad Knott, Anna Luna, Morgan Luttrell, Tracey Mann, Tom McClintock, Rich McCormick, Addison McDowell, John McGuire, Mark Messmer, Mary Miller, Cory Mills, Barry Moore, Tim Moore, Nathaniel Moran, Troy Nehls, Ralph Norman, Andy Ogles, Bob Onder, Gary Palmer, Scott Perry, John Rose, Chip Roy, Derek Schmidt, David Schweikert, Keith Self, Jefferson Shreve, Victoria Spartz, Greg Steube, Marlin Stutzman, David Taylor, Tom Tiffany, William Timmons, Beth Van Duyne, Tony Wied.
2025 Senate Defenders of Economic Freedom:
Jim Banks, Marsha Blackburn, Ted Budd, Ted Cruz, Ron Johnson, Mike Lee, Ashley Moody, Eric Schmitt, Rick Scott, Tim Sheehy, Tommy Tuberville.
EXCERPTS:
The Club for Growth (Foundation), an organization that promotes fiscal conservatism, has released its 2025 congressional scorecard grading everyone on Capitol Hill for their alignment with the group’s economic positions.
Founded in 1999, the Club for Growth advocates for cutting taxes and government spending. The scorecard is based on 19 House votes and 17 Senate votes. The group states that “lawmakers scoring a 90 or higher in 2025 with a lifetime rating of 90 or higher earned Club for Growth’s Defender of Economic Freedom Award.”
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., who received a perfect score, praised the group’s work.
“The Club for Growth has been a strong partner for House Republicans, and I’m grateful they have recognized our efforts,” he told the Daily Signal. “The American people delivered a clear mandate in the 2024 election: secure the border, cut taxes and regulations, and grow our economy.
For the 119th Congress, the organization gave the average Senate Republican a score of 83%, compared to 19% for the average Senate Democrat.
The Club for Growth gives Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., a score of 80%, the same as Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo.
Senate Republican Conference Chair Tom Cotton, R-Ark., scored the highest in Senate leadership, with an 89% score. Meanwhile, Senate Republican Policy Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., received a 68% score.
The lowest scoring Republican in the Senate was Susan Collins of Maine, with 43% approval, while Republican senators such as Ashley Moody of Florida and Mike Lee of Utah got perfect scores.
“Our government has little ability to build real wealth, but a lot of power to harm the hardworking Americans saving, planning, and creating it,” Lee told the Daily Signal. “I am proud to stand for growth, prosperity, and opportunity for American families, workers, and their businesses. They don’t need Washington taking their money and sending it to politically favored people and projects.”
Naturally, Democrats scored low in the conservative group’s estimation, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., scoring 17%.
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House Republicans fared better in the scorecard than Senate Republicans, with the average House Republican scoring 91%.
In addition to Johnson’s perfect score, other Republican leaders also scored well, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., both receiving 90% for 2025.
“I want to thank David McIntosh and Club for Growth for their support as we fight for free enterprise and a more prosperous economy,” Emmer told the Daily Signal in a statement, referencing the group’s leader. “After the Biden years of overregulation, wasteful government spending, and historic inflation, thanks to President Trump’s leadership we are getting our economy back on track.”
Emmer added, “Club for Growth is a key defender of the free market, and I appreciate all the work they do to keep House Republicans accountable to those principles. As the House Majority Whip, we look forward to our continued partnership as we look to the future.”
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House Democrats scored low, as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., got a 7% score, and dozens of Democrats received the minimum score of 0%.