MACON, Ga. — Update: U.S. Congressman Austin Scott endorsed Rep. Jim Jordan for House Speaker only hours after losing his bid for speaker of the House on Friday.
“I highly respect Jim Jordan. He is an asset to the Republican Party and our nominee for Speaker,” Scott said. “Our conference has spoken, and now we must unite behind Jordan so we can get Congress back to work.”
Scott's long-shot bid for speaker came after Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisana — the previous nominee for speaker — withdrew his bid after members the right flank of the GOP declined to support his bid.
In a vote Friday afternoon, the Republican party voted to nominate Jordan as their candidate for speaker.
Now, Jordan is facing challenges himself in his bid for speaker of the House.
Republicans have a very slim majority in the house, which means that any candidate for speaker needs near-unanimous support to become House Speaker.
Original: A U.S. congressman representing parts of Central Georgia is hoping to get a promotion.
Rep. Austin Scott announced his bid for speaker of the house, according to a press release from the representative's office, only one day after the GOP's previous nominee Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana withdrew his bid.
"We are in Washington to legislate, and I want to lead a House that functions in the best interest of the American people," Scott said in the press release.
Scott has served in Congress since 2011. He had previously served as a Georgia State Representative for six years.
It comes as deep divisions within the Republican party led to the ouster of previous House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in a historic first in Congress.
The push to oust McCarthy was made by hardline members of the GOP who objected to him working with Democrats to pass a spending deal to avoid a government shutdown.
Scalise withdrew his bid for the speakership after not enough members of the right flank of the Republican caucus supported his candidacy.
With Republican's narrow majority in the House, any candidate will likely need near-unanimous support from his party to secure the speaker's gavel.
RELATED: After one week without a House speaker, Republicans appear no closer to choosing a new leader
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