Austin Scott running for Speaker against Jordan | The Hill
Georgia Representative Austin Scott, a seven-term Republican, has announced his bid for the position of Speaker of the House, setting up a two-person race against Ohio Representative Jim Jordan. Scott made his candidacy official during a candidate forum with fellow House Republicans. His decision comes shortly after proposed rule changes for selecting a speaker nominee were rejected by Republicans.
In a tweet, Scott emphasized his commitment to legislative work in Washington, aiming to lead a House that operates in the best interests of the American people. Jordan, a founder of the Freedom Caucus, was initially considered the favorite after a close second-place finish in a nomination contest against Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who later withdrew from the race due to an inability to secure a clear majority for election on the floor.
Despite Scott’s entry into the race, some allies of Jordan, such as Representative Thomas Massie, expressed confidence in Jordan’s eventual nomination and his ability to garner the 217 votes required for election as the next speaker. Jordan received nominations from various factions of the Republican conference, illustrating his strength as a candidate.
Oklahoma Representative Frank Lucas was expected to nominate Scott. However, Scott criticized the eight GOP lawmakers who voted with House Democrats to remove former Speaker Kevin McCarthy from office, labeling them as “grifters” who handed control of the House to the Democratic Party in pursuit of personal glory and fundraising.
Scott, a member of the Armed Services panel, also stated that he would vote against Jordan if he were to run for speaker. Concerns were raised among some defense hawks about potential cuts to the Pentagon budget if Jordan assumed the role. House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers voiced his support for Kevin McCarthy.
Amidst the internal GOP battle for the speaker position, some Republicans worried that neither Scott nor Jordan could secure a majority vote on the House floor, especially with unified Democratic opposition. Nebraska Representative Don Bacon suggested that, if the struggle persisted, Republicans might need to collaborate with Democrats to identify a consensus candidate. However, Representative Nicole Malliotakis dismissed this idea, emphasizing the need for bipartisanship and the unfortunate ousting of Kevin McCarthy, which resulted in a temporary halt to congressional operations.
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