SCOTT'S PLOT: Georgia Rep. Austin Scott Enters Speaker's Race [Details]

A new name has entered the race for Speaker: Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA). The Peach State congressman made the announcement on Friday.

“I have filed to be Speaker of the House. We are in Washington to legislate, and I want to lead a House that functions in the best interest of the American people,” Scott posted on social platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

I have filed to be Speaker of the House. We are in Washington to legislate, and I want to lead a House that functions in the best interest of the American people.

— Rep. Austin Scott (@AustinScottGA08) October 13, 2023

From Newsmax:

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, had been the only announced candidate after Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., withdrew from the race on Thursday night. Scalise had defeated Jordan 113-99 in a closed-door Republican vote on Wednesday.

Scalise, though, failed to garner the 217 GOP votes needed to become speaker, since every House Democrat is backing Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

Jordan and Scott were expected to address members of the House Republican conference at 1 p.m. Friday.

Politico reported that some people believe Scott’s entry was designed to attract Jordan critics and give the House GOP conference another choice.

“Translation: The number of people who vote for Austin will be a slightly overstated proxy for the ‘never Jordan’ people. … Others are keeping their powder dry until Jordan realizes he has no path to 217,” one House Republican told Politico.

MORE: "I have filed to be Speaker of the House. We are in Washington to legislate, and I want to lead a House that functions in the best interest of the American people," Scott posted on social platform X, formerly known as Twitter. https://t.co/xUqMwbNmgE

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) October 13, 2023