In the aftermath of U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., ending his bid as speaker of the U.S. House, U.S. Rep. Curt Clawson, R-Fla., is once again looking for an outsider to lead the chamber.
In January, when conservatives looked to topple U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, from leadership, Clawson cast his vote for U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. With Boehner now on his way out, Clawson is once again looking outside the House to find a new speaker.
After the Republican caucus meeting on Thursday in which McCarthy, who had been the favorite to replace Bohener, announced he was ending his bid, Clawson once again urged GOP representatives to select someone from outside the House to lead it.
“As I have stated throughout this process, this is not a time for promoting from within, and the vacancy in the speakership gives our party, and the House of Representatives, opportunity for improvement,” Clawson said on Thursday after the caucus meeting. “Now, more than ever, is the time to have an ‘outsider;’ who is not from leadership, not a career politician. There are many fresh faces in Congress who have brought better experience to the chamber than the career politicians. As a former CEO and college basketball player, I have learned that working as a member of a team is vital. As these days and weeks move ahead, I will continue to work with my teammates in the House Freedom Caucus to ensure that we instill the change we need in Congress.”
Clawson did offer some kind words for McCarthy who is staying at his post as House majority leader.
“While none of the members of the House expected the news we received today from Majority Leader McCarthy, he is to be commended for putting the needs of the GOP Conference and the American people first,” Clawson said.
The Southwest Florida Republican took his call for congressional Republicans to select an outsider for speaker of the House to the national airwaves, appearing on Neil Cavuto’s show on Fox News to make his case.
When he ran in a special election for an open congressional seat last year, Clawson labeled himself “the outsider” due to his never holding elected office and his outside shooting ability from his days on the Purdue University basketball team. At the end of last month, Clawson’s name was floated by Taylor Budowich, the executive director of the Tea Party Express, as a possible replacement for Boehner but the congressman has expressed no interest in taking the job.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
