Amid the recruitment effort, Gowdy made a rare appearance at the Republicans’ conference meeting Tuesday — the first time he’d attended in a year and a half, he said — to extinguish any notion that he wants to enter the leadership ranks.

“What I said is, ‘I’m not your person. I don’t have the qualities that are necessary to be an effective leader. I’m very content where I am,'” Gowdy told The Hill Thursday, recalling his message to the group.

His vocal resistance to entering leadership has disappointed conservatives who feel unrepresented on the current ballot for both Speaker and majority leader. They’re holding out hope he’ll reconsider.