Rep. Mike Pompeo, a three-term lawmaker from Kansas, announced Friday that he plans to run for House speaker if his colleague Rep. Paul Ryan passes on the chance to take over for John Boehner, who announced plans to resign from Congress.
In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Pompeo conceded that while the House GOP conference has "a lot of work to do," he would be willing to put himself forward for the position if Ryan passes. Ryan has said multiple times that he will not pursue the post, but he has been under pressure to accept the position.
"If Paul Ryan says no, are you available to become the speaker?" Hewitt asked Pompeo.
"I am," Pompeo said. "And I haven't said that, Hugh. Look, the conference has a lot of work to do. We've got to get it right. We need to find conservative leadership that's going to take the House in the right direction on behalf of America. And as we have these discussions, if it turns out that I think I'm the right fit, I will put myself forward, and I will go and try to make the case to my colleagues...We're not quite there yet, but we're getting closer to that point."
"I still have a lot to learn, but I do think that there might be a place for me to try to be the right person to lead this conference forward," Pompeo told the host.
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