House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who is in a bid to garner support to become the next speaker of the House, assured his colleagues Tuesday that he’s “not John Boehner.”
“I’m going to run things differently. I’m my own man,” Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, quoted McCarthy.
The California lawmaker and two other rivals for the speaker position—Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla., and Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah—took turns meeting behind closed doors with the conservative leaders on Tuesday.
“We’re still an underdog. I get that,” Chaffetz told reporters. “But we’re gonna give it a go. I’m offering myself as an alternative. I still think there is a need and a desire to unify this party. I think I’m uniquely situated to do that.”
Those same lawmakers forced Boehner to resign and say they’re ready to deny McCarthy the chance to ascend unless he agrees to meet their demands.
