NASHVILLE -- U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., says he was "certainly shocked" by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy's abrupt decision to pull out of the House speaker's race on Thursday.
"I have the utmost respect for Leader McCarthy and in this situation he very clearly put the good of the conference first," the Chattanooga Republican said in a statement on McCarthy, a Calfornia Republican who sought to succeed GOP Speaker John Boehner who is resigning.
Fleischmann said he remains "confident that we will come together and find a conservative Speaker who can voice strong alternatives to President Obama's damaging domestic and foreign policies."
McCarthy had been expected to succeed Boehner but faced problems from House GOP hardliners. In a statement, he said "over the last week it has become clear to me that our Conference is deeply divided and needs to unite behind one leader. I have always put this Conference ahead of myself. Therefore I am withdrawing my candidacy for Speaker of the House."
U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., said in his own statement that the "Republican-controlled House of Representatives must be led by a principled, conservative Speaker of the House. I will continue to work to ensure that happens."
House Majority Leader of Kevin McCarthy of California walks out of nomination vote meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, after dropping out of the race to replace House Speaker John Boehner.In Georgia, U.S. Rep. Tom Price, a Republican who has had his own eye on a leadership post, issued a statement suggesting an interim speaker, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
"Now is the time for our members to come together and have an honest conversation about how we unify our Conference," Price said. "The best course would be for us to select a candidate for Speaker who will serve in that capacity for the next 15 months. This would allow the House to complete the business in a responsible manner, providing ample time for everyone's voices to be heard, leading into full leadership elections in November of 2016."
One Tennessee Democrat, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis, tweeted his take on what many are describing as a chaotic situation:
"You don't have to be a member to be Speaker," Cohen tweeted. "Where is Ray LaHood."
A former Republican congressman from Illinois, LaHood served as U.S. Transportation Secretary under Democratic President Barack Obama until 2013.