Gaetz, Burchett say ousting McCarthy was worth it to get Johnson

Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said Tuesday night that ousting former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the top post earlier this month was worth it to elevate Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.).

“It was worth it,” Gaetz told reporters after Johnson won the GOP conference vote Tuesday.

“To everyone who said I didn’t have a plan: This guy has been sitting next to me for seven years on the House Judiciary Committee,” he added. “I hope my mentorship has rubbed off.”

Gaetz went on to praise Johnson, who became the fourth lawmaker to secure the GOP’s nomination for Speaker since McCarthy was voted out by a historic motion to vacate, led by the Florida Republican.

He called Johnson a “transformational leader” who is “broadly respected in the caucus.”

“We adore him, and I think he’s gonna do a great job for the country and for the right reasons,” Gaetz continued. “Mike Johnson is not bought and paid for. Mike Johnson does what is right.”

Burchett echoed Gaetz’s sentiment, telling reports after the internal vote Tuesday evening that it was “absolutely it was worth it.” He said he previously thought Johnson could be the “dark horse” in the GOP Speaker’s race, adding that he finds him to be a “very decent person.”

“I said, we get someone like a Mike Johnson, we could win, the country would win,” he said.

Gaetz and Burchett were two of the eight Republicans who voted with the Democrats to remove the gavel from McCarthy more than three weeks ago. Since then, the House GOP has struggled to unite behind one candidate.

However, House Republicans are expressing optimism that Johnson could be the candidate to secure the 217 votes needed to win.

Johnson was the GOP’s second nominee in a day after House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) dropped out of the running amid GOP opposition. Emmer was the GOP’s third nominee, after the conference abandoned Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) last week after he failed three House floor votes.

Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) was the first nominee they voted to put forward, but he dropped out of the race after a day when it became clear he couldn’t garner enough votes.

Mychael Schnell contributed.