Republican state Rep. Kevin Brooks confirmed to CQ Roll Call that he is seriously eyeing a bid against embattled Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn.

“We’re in the exploration/prayer mode,” he said. “We are gauging our support, which is growing. And that’s the reason I’ve decided to publicly state that this is something that we’re looking at.”

DesJarlais has taken a number of political hits recently, as records from a decade-old divorce have become public.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported that the Tennessee congressman and doctor had “sexual relationships with at least two patients, three coworkers and a drug representative while he was chief of staff at Grandview Medical Center in Jasper, Tenn.”

Brooks, a minister who works for the Church of God, discussed morality in an interview with CQ Roll Call on Wednesday afternoon.

“I live by a very strong moral standard,” he said. “Values are very important. Public officials, as I have learned in my service, are held to a higher standard than even the private sector.”

“This country was founded on moral principles and our Founding Fathers had a very high ethical standard and I think that’s something that we should carry on,” he said.

The news of Brooks’ potential bid was first reported by local Volunteer State news outlets.