With congressional Republicans so far unable to choose a House Speaker, Mike Collins and other newly elected members of Congress were unable to take their seats on Tuesday’s first day of the 118th Congress: Republican Collins will represent the 10th Congressional District, which includes Athens. Collins, from Butts County, is replacing Jody Hice, the Republican who had represented Athens since his election in 2014. Hice left office after last year’s unsuccessful GOP primary challenge to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
Andrew Clyde, the Athens gun shop owner who represents northeast Georgia’s 9th congressional district, was among the House Republicans who blocked California Congressman Kevin McCarthy’s bid to speaker in three House ballots conducted Tuesday. A fourth attempt is anticipated this afternoon.