One House Democrat told Insider that they'd "never" heard of Rep. Austin Scott, who's served in Congress for 12 years.
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It's been 9 days since the House had a speaker, and congressmen you've probably never heard of are emerging from the woodwork to take on the top job.
Rep. Austin Scott, a Georgia Republican who's served in Congress since 2011, announced on Friday that he would be seeking his party's nomination to be speaker of the House.
—Rep. Austin Scott (@AustinScottGA08) October 13, 2023
He's the only person currently challenging Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, who is once again running for the nomination after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise suddenly forfeited the nomination on Thursday.
Despite his lengthy tenure in Congress, its not clear that many people outside of his southern Georgia district have ever heard of him.
"Never! lol," one House Democrat told Insider via text when asked if they'd even heard of Scott before.
"We are busily googling Austin Scott right now," another House Democrat told Axios reporter Andrew Solender.
Rep. Mike Collins, a fellow Georgia Republican, seemingly took a swipe at Scott after he announced his candidacy.
If we all get a chance to be voted on as speaker, are we going alphabetically or by class? Trying to plan Thanksgiving travel," Collins wrote on X.
—Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) October 13, 2023
Scott currently serves on the House Intelligence Committee, Armed Services Committee, and Agriculture Committee, and he almost never breaks with his party or makes headlines.
As recently as this week, Scott expressed frustration with his more famous colleagues, saying they're aren't "negotiating for anything other than TV time" in an interview with CNN's Manu Raju.
"It makes us look like a bunch of idiots," said Scott.
—Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 13, 2023
Perhaps his most notable vote came on January 6, 2021, when he was among the minority of House Republicans who voted against an objection to the electoral college results in Pennsylvania and Arizona.
"Congress does not have the Constitutional authority to overturn a state's electoral votes — nor does the Vice President — and I believe my decision to support the Electoral College fulfills my sworn oath to the Constitution," Scott said at the time. "I'm also very proud of Vice President Mike Pence, and I am honored to have known him many years and call him a friend. I'm proud of his commitment to fulfilling his duty to the Constitution as well."
Scott appears to be running primarily to deny the nomination to Jordan, who he blames for denying Scalise the nomination.
"I don't necessarily want to be the speaker of the House," Scott told Punchbowl News on Friday, adding that he doesn't think "anyone can get 217 votes."
