“Club for Growth is excited to have 51 Members of the House and 9 members of the Senate receive the Defender of Economic Freedom award, a most of whom were endorsed by Club for Growth PAC and helped elected through Club for Growth Action” group President David McIntosh said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.

Scores are determined based on several key votes taken inside both chambers, including bills to reduce income tax rates and expand free trade. The organization has been critical of the Trump administration’s “Liberation Day” tariffs due to their potential effect on free trade.

The number of Republicans scoring at least 90% has grown significantly since 2023, proving how much more conservative the conference is becoming in just the last year. In 2023, only six senators and 49 House members received the award.

While more lawmakers became “Defenders” in the 2024 scorecard, which was first shared with News of the United States, fewer Republicans were recorded as having a perfect “100%” score. In 2024, 31 House Republicans and six senators received 100%. In 2023, 42 House Republicans and three senators received perfect marks.

A decline in the numbers can be attributed to several factors, including the fact that some Republicans, such as former Virginia Rep. Bob Good, who received 100% in 2023, lost their reelection and are no longer serving in Washington.

Among the perfect scores for 2024 are several Freedom Caucus members, such as chairman Andy Harris (R-MD) and Reps. Eric Burlison (R-MO), Josh Brecheen (R-OK), and Scott Perry (R-PA). Other non-caucus members with 100% are Reps. Kat Cammack (R-FL), Russell Fry (R-SC), Tim Burchett (R-TN), and Thomas Massie (R-KY).

Burchett and Cammack are new additions, receiving a score under 100% but above 90% in 2023. Massie increased from 85% in 2023 to 100%.

Senators with perfect scores in 2024 include Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Rand Paul (R-KY), Ted Budd (R-NC), Mike Lee (R-UT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Vice President JD Vance, who was an Ohio senator before entering office.

Lee, Paul, and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) were the only senators to score a 100% in 2023. Tuberville and Vance, like Massie, increased from scores in the 80% range to 100%. Budd and Johnson held scores above 90% in 2023.

Among the lowest-ranking Republicans are Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) with 42%, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) with 52%, and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) with 52%. Several Senate Republicans who are targets for conservatives also scored low, including Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who received a 62%. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) received 65% and 62%, respectively.

HOUSE GOP’S MEDICAID REFORMS WILL BE HASHED OUT IN PUBLIC

The Club for Growth scorecard also ranks Democrats. The highest-ranking Senate Democrats are all no longer part of the chamber after losing reelection or forgoing a shot at another term: Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) with 55%, Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) with 42%, Sherrod Brown (D-OH) with 20%, and Jon Tester (D-MT) with 18%.

The conservative group found 124 Democratic members, 93 in the House and 31 in the Senate, received a 0% last year. The highest-scoring House Democrat in 2024 was Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), who received a 36%. He is the sole anti-abortion Democrat in the lower chamber and frequently breaks from his party on things related to immigration and border security.