GOP lawmaker ‘very interested’ in run for Vitter’s Senate seat

Rep. John Fleming (R-La.) says he’s “very interested” in running for Sen. David Vitter’s (R-La.) seat should Vitter be elected governor.

“I’m very interested in that possibility,” Fleming said in an interview with Roll Call.

{mosads}“Sen. Vitter is quite conservative, and I think we need to replace a good strong conservative with another conservative,” he added.

Vitter has said he intends to run for governor next year to replace Gov. Bobby Jindal (R). If he steps down from the Senate, an interim senator would fill the seat and an election would be held for the position in 2016.

Fleming considered challenging Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) this year but deferred to Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who unseated the Democratic incumbent. Landrieu’s loss underscores the favorable position for Republicans in the state, something Fleming said would be an advantage for him if he runs.

“It’s very clear that Louisiana is gonna be voting for Republicans for statewide elections going forward, because that’s just where we are as a state. We’re a conservative state, we’re a red state, and we need to continue bringing our Louisiana values up here,” he said. “And I think that would be a great opportunity for me to do it.”

The conservative Fleming was elected to Congress in 2008.