Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) could draw a primary opponent for the first time since he was elected following his vote to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Former Tennessee state Rep. Jimmy Matlock, a Republican who ran against Burchett in 2018 when the seat was open, told the Washington Examiner that he is seriously considering another bid.

After all the “things that have transpired in the last 90 days” with Burchett, Matlock said he’s been approached to see if he would run for the seat. Burchett was one of eight Republicans to vote for McCarthy’s ouster in October.

“Lots of people have come and said, ‘Hey, this is not what we wanted. This is not what we thought we were getting. This is not what we started out with; things have changed.’ So many of the folks that were not, let’s say, with me in 2018 have now come and said, ‘We’re not pleased; we feel like we’re not getting representation,’” Matlock said.

Burchett said he is “always worried” about running for reelection but that he is prepared regardless. “There’s only two ways to run: scared and unopposed,” he said.

The vote to depose McCarthy, who has since retired from Congress, is at the center of the animosity toward Burchett. When “you join seven other members” with all the Democrats to “oust the Republican speaker, I don’t know what party you are, but it’s not the Republican Party,” Victor Ashe, the longest-serving mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee, told the Washington Examiner.

But Ashe also expressed a sense of disappointment with the three-term congressman’s priorities, raising Burchett’s fascination with aliens in Congress.

“UFOs may be an issue for some people, but middle Tennessee, in the middle east Tennessee, it doesn’t break No. 45 on the list,” Ashe said. “It’s just not a topic that relates to that, whereas jobs and public safety, you know.”

Ashe, formerly the U.S. ambassador to Poland under President George W. Bush, previously supported Burchett, but after the past year in Congress, he doesn’t have plans to in the future, he said.

Burchett has attracted controversy for his falling out with McCarthy. Burchett claimed the former speaker elbowed him in the kidneys in a Capitol hallway, a claim he has doubled down on despite McCarthy denying it happened.

He had another confrontation with McCarthy loyalist Dave Joyce (R-OH), who jokingly shouted, “Ask me about UFOs,” at Burchett while he was talking with reporters. Burchett then confronted Joyce, calling him a “coward” as he walked away.

The controversy has not stopped there. Ashe called it “unacceptable” that Burchett suggested some of his fellow members were compromised, alleging they had been seduced by spies who then turned around and blackmailed them.

“Next thing you know, you’re in the motel room with ’em naked, and next thing you know, you’re about to make a key vote,” Burchett said. “And what happens? Some well-dressed person comes up and whispers in your ear, ‘Hey man, there’s tapes out on you.’”

Matlock said some donors to the Tennessee Republican have talked to him about running because of Burchett’s actions. Without naming names, Matlock said that “lots of the individuals who were donors previous to the congressman have reached out to me.”

According to a source familiar with the matter, Jim Haslam, who founded the Pilot J Corporation and is a major donor in Tennessee politics, has soured on Burchett and is unlikely to support him this cycle after being one of his biggest supporters throughout his time in office.

Haslam is also the father of former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and owner of the Cleveland Browns, Jimmy Haslam.

Bill Haslam, who has supported Burchett in the past, declined to comment, Jimmy Haslam did not respond to a request for comment, and the elder Haslam could not be reached for comment.

Matlock declined to say whether or not the Haslams had spoken with him.

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Burchett said he was aware of Jim Haslam souring on him and had heard that the wealthy Tennessean would likely not be supporting him this cycle.

About four minutes before Burchett voted to oust McCarthy, Jim Haslam called him and tried to convince him not to do it, Burchett said, but at that point, he was already on the floor and had made up his mind.