Republican who voted to oust McCarthy stresses ‘very deep’ GOP bench

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), one of several Republicans who voted to remove former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his leadership role Tuesday, said there is a “very deep” GOP bench when it comes to choosing the next Speaker. 

“But the good thing about it is we have a very deep bench, you know, we’ve got Roger Williams out of Texas. Jodey Arrington out of Texas, Elise Stefanik, Tom Emmer,” Burchett said on “CNN This Morning,” naming GOP House members. “My buddy Steve Scalise that I know was calling around folks who I’ve talked to. Mark Greene out of Tennessee.”

“Our bench is so deep, and I feel like we’ve got a lot of leaders that are willing to step up and now they are,” he added.

Burchett cited a “condescending” comment from McCarthy about him praying on the motion to vacate from his position as the reason he support the ouster. The House voted to remove the Speaker’s gavel from McCarthy in a 216-210 vote, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) — with all Democrats and eight Republicans joining forces to remove him.

McCarthy said Tuesday that he would not be seeking the Speakership again. After the vote, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) was declared Speaker pro tempore and said the House would go into recess so that Democrats and Republicans could meet separately to “discuss the path forward.”

The Tennessee lawmaker said he has not yet decided on who to back for the next Speaker, noting that he wants to hear from all candidates. He noted that Republicans will meet to hear from potential Speaker candidates, who will give speeches like it is a “student council” race.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) has been floated as a possible pick for the next Speaker, as the No. 2 Republican in the House. Burchett said that while he believes Scalise is a “great leader,” he is not committing to backing him yet.

“I want to hear what other people have to say, you know, it’s just there might be some dark horse that gets in it,” he said.

“Steve would be an excellent choice,” Burchett continued. “And that’s a good thing about it. We have no shortage and a lot of these folks, you know, they weren’t — they couldn’t act because of their positions. And now they are and I think it’s gonna prove good — it’s gonna be great for the country actually.”