# Andy Biggs Andrew Steven Biggs (b. 1958) is a Republican **U.S. Representative from Arizona's 5th district** (2017–present) and former **chairman of the House Freedom Caucus** (2019–2021) who played a direct operational role in the [[Stop the Steal]] effort, coordinated with [[Ali Alexander]] on January 6 rally logistics, and has been one of the most reliable votes for government shutdowns, McCarthy's removal, and institutional destruction in the House. Biggs matters for the KB as the **bridge between Freedom Caucus procedural obstruction and active election subversion**. His chairmanship of the FC (2019–2021) coincided exactly with the period when the caucus evolved from a policy-obstruction faction into a participant in the attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Under Biggs, the FC went from blocking legislation to blocking democracy. ## Background - Born November 7, 1958, in Tucson, Arizona - Brigham Young University (B.A.), University of Arizona (J.D., M.A.) - Arizona state legislature (2003–2016); served as Arizona Senate President (2013–2016) - Notably: won $10 million in the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes in 1993, which funded his early career and political campaigns - Elected to U.S. House in 2016 ## January 6 Involvement The [[January 6 Select Committee]] identified Biggs as one of the most directly involved House members in the events leading to the Capitol attack: ### Ali Alexander Coordination Ali Alexander, the national organizer of Stop the Steal, testified that he coordinated with **Biggs, [[Paul Gosar]], and [[Mo Brooks]]** on planning the January 6 rally at the Capitol. Alexander described Biggs as one of the three congressmen who helped create the "Wild Protest" event that brought thousands to Washington. ### The Pressure Campaign - Biggs contacted Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers, pressuring him to decertify Arizona's electoral votes. Bowers publicly testified about the pressure, calling it inappropriate. - Biggs was among the members who asked the White House about presidential pardons in the post-January 6 period — a detail the January 6 Committee highlighted as consciousness of guilt. ### The "Pardon" Detail [[Cassidy Hutchinson]], [[Mark Meadows]]'s aide, testified that Biggs was among the members who sought pre-emptive presidential pardons after January 6. Requesting a pardon implies awareness that criminal conduct may have occurred — the committee presented this as evidence that participants knew their actions were legally problematic. ## Freedom Caucus Chairmanship (2019–2021) Biggs chaired the Freedom Caucus during its transformation from a fiscal-conservative veto bloc to an election-denial operation: - **Pre-2020:** Focused on spending cuts, immigration restriction, opposing Democratic legislation - **Post-November 2020:** Became a vehicle for challenging election results, pressuring state officials, and organizing congressional objections to [[Electoral College]] certification - **Post-January 6:** Pivoted to defending January 6 participants, opposing the Select Committee, and targeting the FBI/DOJ The chairmanship handoff from Biggs to [[Scott Perry]] (2021) moved the FC from an election-denier chairman to one whose phone was seized by the FBI — each chairman more deeply entangled than the last. ## The McCarthy Removal Vote Biggs voted to remove McCarthy on October 3, 2023 — one of the 8 Republicans who joined all Democrats. He had previously challenged McCarthy for the speakership himself in November 2022, receiving 10 votes in the closed-door caucus vote (a signal of FC dissatisfaction that foreshadowed the 15-ballot public fight). ## The Arizona Factor Biggs represents the Arizona Republican delegation alongside [[Paul Gosar]] — together they form the most radical state delegation in the House. Arizona's Republican Party itself has been one of the most radicalized state parties, having censured its own governor (Doug Ducey), its own senator ([[John McCain]] posthumously), and former senator Jeff Flake for insufficient loyalty to Trump. Biggs operates within and is sustained by this ecosystem. ## See Also - [[Jim Jordan]] — Freedom Caucus co-founder whose model Biggs inherited and escalated - [[Scott Perry]] — Biggs's successor as FC chairman, even more deeply entangled in January 6 - [[Matt Gaetz]] — Fellow McCarthy removal vote, FC ally - [[Paul Gosar]] — Arizona delegation ally, co-coordinator of January 6 rally with Alexander - [[Ali Alexander]] — Stop the Steal organizer who coordinated with Biggs on January 6 logistics - [[Kevin McCarthy]] — The Speaker Biggs challenged and voted to remove - [[House Freedom Caucus]] — The faction Biggs chaired during its transformation from obstruction to insurrection - [[January 6 Capitol Attack]] — The event Biggs helped organize and has since defended