Scott Backs Jordan: GOP Nominee Emerges in Speaker Showdown: Political Upheaval

Events on Capitol Hill took a surprisingly unexpected turn when Republican Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia, who initially threw his hat in the ring after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise withdrew, lost the GOP nomination to Rep. the formidable Jim Jordan of Ohio 124-81.

After the election, Scott gracefully acknowledged his defeat and announced his support for Jordan, stressing the importance of party unity. “Jim Jordan won the election. The party should unite behind the person who won the election,” he said.

Scott’s journey to the Speakership began when he announced his views Friday on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. In his declaration, he expressed his desire to lead a House dedicated to the welfare of the American people.

His decision to enter the race, as a staunch ally of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, was driven by his belief that the party needed to realign its course and “do the right thing right,” he said, emphasizing the lack of preparation do not emphasize the race

In an effort to garner support, Scott persuaded Rep. Frank Lucas nominated him at the GOP convention meeting. He bemoaned disorganization within the party, saying it made them “look like a bunch of idiots”, as internal strife prevented them from electing new speakers

The battle for the speaker’s gavel intensified after McCarthy was impeached earlier in the month, and Scalise, originally appointed by the GOP convention, dropped out after failing to garner enough support from the House Republicans.

Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, eventually became the GOP nominee for president. But the question is whether Jordan can muster enough support to seize the gavel with a full House vote.

Scott has been a defender of McCarthy who criticized Republicans who voted to unseat him as speaker. He described them as “grifters” who destroyed party unity and ceded control of the House to Democrats in exchange for opportunities for personal promotion and fundraising

A business administration graduate of the University of Georgia, Scott’s political journey began in the Georgia House of Representatives in 1997 and he was eventually elected to the Senate in 2011. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Armed Services Committee and the House Agriculture Committee.