Rep. Austin Scott, the senior member of Georgia’s GOP House delegation spent much of last week fuming over the GOP conference’s inability to elect a new candidate for Speaker of the House. And so on Friday, with Jim Jordan poised to be the only declared candidate in the race, Scott surprised his colleagues, the Capitol Hill press corps, and almost his own wife, and declared himself a candidate for the position. Scott lost to Jordan, but emerged from his status as a little-known maverick conservative into the national spotlight.

The AJC’s Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein, and Bill Nigut look at the factors that led Scott to launch his last-minute surprise bid and where his sudden prominence could take him next. And Tia Mitchell evaluates the likelihood that Republicans will rally to name Jordan speaker this week.

Plus, Governor Brian Kemp had his own moment in the GOP sun again this past weekend when he mingled with big wig Republican donors and leaders at their Sea Island, Georgia, meeting. Is Kemp laying the groundwork to run for U.S. Senate against Senator Jon Ossoff in 2026? The hosts weigh. And they look at the future potential aspirations of Brad Raffensperger, Burt Jones, Chris Carr and other state Republicans; and speculate on Democrats who may be considering stepping up for statewide races.

You’ll also get a look at the split in the language Democratic and Republican legislators are using in statements of support for Israel in the war against Hamas.

Have a question for the show? Call the 24-hour Politically Georgia Podcast Hotline at 404-526-AJCP. That's 404-526-2527. We’ll play back your question and answer it during the Listener Mailbag segment on next Friday’s episode.

Links to today's topics:

What led to Austin Scott's surprise bid to become speaker?

Austin Scott: A conservative with a maverick streak

A sharp divide over Israel in Georgia House

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