Rep. Ted Yoho told "Fox & Friends" he was staying in the race for Speaker of the House, even though Texas Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert had added his name to the list of contenders.
Yoho announced on Saturday he was running against current Speaker John Boehner, and Gohmert threw his hat in the ring on Sunday, both responding to calls from more conservative GOP members frustrated with the current House leadership.
"I'm going to keep my name in the ring. We've been actively courting other members and going out, talking to them, and telling them why we need a change," Yoho, a Florida Republican, said Monday.
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Yoho, who has served in Congress since 2013, said he was running for the position because "we lack a leadership and we lack vision of where the country is going," adding that he "didn't want to go into this Congress with the momentum we have from the November elections without the ability to change leadership in the House."
"I hear it from members. It's just not me feeling this. I hear over and over again that we need new leadership" Yoho said.
"I hear it from older members, and I hear it from younger members. But, without somebody willing to step up and put their name in the ring, there's not an alternative," he said.
House members will vote for speaker on Tuesday, and Boehner would need the votes from a majority present to hold onto his seat.
Yoho said he wasn't worried about retribution should he fail in his attempt, because he was "doing what my voters want me to do."
With the number of House members who have said they were willing to vote against Boehner currently at 11, Yoho maintained it would "empower more people" to feel comfortable to challenge the speaker.
Should Boehner hold onto his position, Yoho said he would throw his support behind him.
"If Mr. Boehner winds up winning, or anybody who becomes the speaker, I'll go up to him, I'll thank him, and I'll tell him, 'You're the speaker for the next two years, and I look forward to working with you to solve America's problems and get a lot of these problems that have gone on for 30 years under control,'" he said.
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