Jason Chaffetz, the representative from Utah, said Sunday he will run to be House speaker, joining the race just days before Republicans cast their ballots.

Chaffetz made the announcement during an appearance on Fox News Sunday. Several news outlets had reported Friday that the lawmaker was planning to run.

“I didn’t plan on running for speaker, but I don’t see anyone else stepping up,” the Republican lawmaker said in an interview with Politico this weekend. “I know I’m the underdog.”

Chaffetz is indeed a long-shot candidate compared to the front runner, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, the second-ranking Republican in the chamber, and who has extensive support among members of the House Republican Conference. Hours after John Boehner said he would resign last month, McCarthy was already making calls to colleagues. He announced his bid three days later. Daniel Webster of Florida joined the race the day Boehner resigned, but he is not considered serious opposition to McCarthy.

Boehner has said he believes McCarthy “would make an excellent speaker.”

Chaffetz disagrees. “We need a speaker who speaks,” he told Politico. “We lose the communication war time and time again, and I think the conference wants a proactive communicator.”