Dr. Ronny Jackson, President Donald Trump’s former chief physician and one-time nominee for Veterans Affairs secretary, is seriously considering running for a Texas congressional seat, a source with knowledge of the matter confirmed to CNN.
Jackson, a Texas native, is mulling a run for the seat currently held by one-time Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry, the source said.
Thornberry, a Republican, announced in September he would leave Congress at the end of his term. In 2018, he won reelection by nearly 65 points.
Jackson has not returned several requests for comment. Roll Call first reported Jackson’s interest in the seat.
The source said Jackson has indicated his interest to some Republicans in Washington who are in charge of helping GOP congressional candidates run for the House.
Last year after Jackson withdrew from consideration as Trump’s nominee for secretary of Veterans Affairs over allegations that he was “abusive” toward colleagues, loosely handled prescription pain medications and was periodically intoxicated. Jackson denied all of the allegations leveled against him, calling them “completely false and fabricated.”
More than a half dozen Republicans have announced they are seeking the GOP nomination for the 13th Congressional District seat, which Thornberry has held for 24 years. The seat encompasses much of the Texas panhandle. The filing deadline is December 9.
CNN’s Haley Byrd contributed to this report.
