WASHINGTON–Georgia Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland told The Daily Caller Thursday he is running for speaker of the House.
“I don’t think this thing will be won by people out-campaigning and calling people and talking to people,” Westmoreland said, noting that the race will be won when the Republican Study Committee and the Freedom Caucus, among other factions within the party, come together and support one candidate.
“We’ve been getting a lot of good comments and feedback. It’s very encouraging,” he said. “We put out name out there. People know we are interested in it. So we’ll se what happens.”
Westmoreland’s announcement comes on the heels of House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy announcing he would drop out of the race and House Speaker John Boehner’s decision to delay the speaker’s election.