Photo from Congressman Glenn Thompson’s newsletter Rep. Glenn Thompson said Speaker Mike Johnson, shown here, is an “outstanding individual” who is “going to have to grow a little bit into the position.”

The People’s House is back to work.

But the three-week fight over who would lead the House of Representatives as Speaker was “embarrassing, uncalled for and unnecessary,” according to Congressman Glenn Thompson, who sat down with the Times Observer Monday morning.

“The Speaker of the House is a challenging position,” he acknowledged, “with the margins this tight.”

Speaker Kevin McCarthy became the first speaker in the country’s history to be removed.

After that motion to vacate earlier this month, Thompson issued a strongly worded statement: “Today’s vote was nothing but a distraction from a handful of shameless self-promoters. Their form of demagoguery doesn’t work without a foil. Now, they’ll have no one to blame but themselves.”

On Monday, Thompson was especially critical of Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who led the effort to oust McCarthy, calling him “attention seeking and self aggrandizing.”

Eight Republicans were joined by the Democratic caucus to remove McCarthy.

“He was about to get a lot of likes and clocks, online fundraising,” Thompson said of Gaetz. “There were six to seven individuals… that were jealous and wanted what Matt was getting.”

He believes that the tight Republican majority in the House should be prompting a different approach.

“It should force you to work together” across party lines he said, something that he is “pursuing” in his committee work. “It didn’t work out that way as a whole body.

“It was unfortunate. By all metrics, Kevin McCarthy was doing an outstanding job and a very difficult job.”

The result was “three weeks that we literally lost,” especially when it came to approving appropriation bills.

While the process might have been frustrating, Thompson spoke glowingly of the new Speaker, Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, calling him an “outstanding individual.”

He said Johnson is “eminently qualified” based on his background but acknowledged he is “going to have to grow a little bit into the position.”

But Thompson views the early returns as positive, citing a resolution in support of Israel and the energy and water appropriations bill approved last week.

“He’s doing the right thing in changing the schedule,” Thompson added.

Representatives will be back in Washington on Wednesday this week as well as next week.

“Those are normally times,” Thompson said, that representatives are “here working in the district.”

The platform and vision Johnson is outlining are “more than rhetoric – how do we address important issues out there for the American people.”

The vote to select Johnson was the fourth held since McCarthy’s ouster. The first three tested the narrow Republican majority in the House and laid bare fractures within the party.”

Thompson said he “fleetingly” considered entering the Speaker raise.

“I thought I would have something to officer,” he said, citing his style and legislative record.

But the job would have brought substantial professional and personal changes.

“I like my district too much,” he said, while also explaining that he loves his wife and family and being to sleep in his own bed.

Ultimately, seeking the speakership “was not something I felt like I was being called to do. I appreciate the sacrifice of those that stepped forward.”.