GA Congressman Austin Scott Seeks To Be U.S. House Speaker

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-GA 8th District, says he has put in a bid to be the next Speaker of the House.

Scott made the announcement Friday on X, formerly Twitter, less than a day after Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-LA 1st District, reportedly ended his bid to fill the high position left vacant by Kevin McCarthy.

"We are in Washington to legislate, and I want to lead a House that functions in the best interest of the American people," Scott wrote in his announcement.

McCarthy, R-CA 20th District, was historically ousted earlier this month "after he ... relied on Democratic votes to help pass a bill to avoid a partial government shutdown," Reuters reported on Oct. 4. He became the first U.S. House Speaker to be removed from the role.

According to Scott's biography, he is currently in his seventh term and advocates for military installations and rural communities.

He serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Armed Services Committee, and is the vice chairman for the House Agriculture Committee.

Scott is also the chairman of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management and Credit.

He is a University of Georgia graduate, earning a bachelor's of business administration in risk management and insurance. For almost 20 years, he owned and operated an insurance brokerage, according to his biography.