FreedomWorks backs Schweikert over Quayle

The political arm of FreedomWorks, a Tea Party group, has taken sides in an intra-party GOP primary in Arizona, backing Rep. David Schweikert over Rep. Ben Quayle.

“Congressman Schweikert has emerged as a leader and legislative entrepreneur,” said Max Pappas, the executive director of FreedomWorks PAC. “His fellow members of Congress look to him for direction and he has been willing to stand on the front lines of every major debate, from the debt crisis to fixing the economy.”

Schweikert and Quayle are squaring off in a redistricting-related primary to determine who will have a chance to remain in the House. Fiscal conservative groups, including Citizens United and the Club for Growth, as well as Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), have expressed their support for Schweikert, while Quayle is presumed to have the backing of much of the GOP leadership in the House.

FreedomWorks also weighed in Tuesday on another House primary in Arizona, backing state Sen. Ron Gould (R) over Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.). A third candidate in that race, Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu (R), dropped out last week.

FreedomWorks’s record has been hit-and-miss this cycle. The group backed Indiana state Treasurer Richard Mourdock (R), who successfully ousted incumbent Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) in early May. But the group also supported Nebraska state Treasurer Don Stenberg (R), who came in third place on Tuesday in the primary for the state’s open Senate seat.

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