https://www.axios.com/2024/10/25/freedom-caucus-andy-harris-north-carolinaHouse Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris' (R-Md.) colleagues said he needs to pull "his head out of his ass" and take "a Civics 101 class" for suggesting North Carolina legislators consider awarding the state's electors to former President Trump before votes are counted.
Why it matters: Harris is facing rare pushback from House members in both parties, particularly colleagues from North Carolina who say he is way off base.
● He is also fueling concerns from Democrats about Republican plans to challenge a victory for Vice President Harris on Nov. 5.
Driving the news: Harris, who was tapped to lead the Freedom Caucus last month, made the comments at a local Republican Party dinner in Talbot County, Maryland, on Thursday.
● Harris said it "makes a lot of sense" for North Carolina's legislature to convene a joint session to award its 16 Electoral College votes before ballots are counted, according to a clip tweeted by pro-Trump operative Ivan Raiklin.
● Harris pointed to disproportionately pro-Trump counties in the Western portion of the state recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
● "You, statistically, can go and say, 'Hey, look, you got disenfranchised in 25 counties, you know what that vote probably would have been,' which would be, if I was in the legislature, enough to go, 'Yeah, we've got to convene the legislature, we can't disenfranchise the voters,'" said Harris.
What they're saying: "Extreme Republican leaders are openly advocating that North Carolina's Electoral votes be given to Donald Trump without an election," said Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee.
● "This blood-chilling scheme, suggested by the Chair of the so-called House Freedom Caucus, is anti-American," he added.
