Jim Jordan has a challenger for the speaker’s gavel: Rep. Austin Scott

Congress

Jim Jordan has a challenger for the speaker’s gavel. Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) has filed to run against the Ohio conservative, adding a new dimension to the topsy-turvy speaker’s race.

“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 wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Scott, an ally of Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), informed reporters he would not support Jordan on Thursday after allies of the majority leader felt Jordan and his allies unfairly blocked the No. 2 House Republican from the gavel.

Some believe Scott’s entry into the race is designed to simply pull over 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,” said one House Republican, speaking on condition of anonymity.

More than enough Republicans have stated they will oppose Jordan to block him from reaching the necessary threshold on the House floor, though he was actively trying to win over holdouts Friday morning, including a call to Scott, according to a GOP aide familiar with the matter.

If Jordan doesn’t get the gavel and pulls out, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) is likely to run for the speakership, a source with direct knowledge tells POLITICO.

Meanwhile, Jordan is projecting confidence heading into the candidate forum, scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday.

“I think I can unite the conference. I think I can go tell the country what we’re doing and why it matters,” he told reporters, adding that he feels “confident” heading into the secret ballot vote.