Conservative takes former Speaker Boehner's House seat

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Warren Davidson was sworn into the House on Thursday to take former House Speaker John Boehner's long-held seat, elected with the backing of the same conservatives who helped drive Boehner from Congress.

Davidson, 46, a former Army Ranger and businessman, became a cause celebre for conservative groups who craved the symbolic triumph of capturing Boehner's old district in southwestern Ohio.

In brief House floor remarks after taking the oath of office, Davidson suggested that lawmakers are well positioned to take a dominant role in their perennial struggle against the White House.

In a statement, Boehner said his successor "can be counted on to continue the fight for a smaller, less costly, more accountable federal government."

The House Freedom Fund — a political committee financed by hard-right lawmakers in the rebellious House Freedom Caucus — contributed $43,000.

Conservatives' expenditures overcame $250,000 by the Credit Union National Association and $281,000 by Defending Main Street, which backs mainstream conservative Republicans.