Rep. David Scott, a Georgia Democrat, dies at 80
Source: NBC News
April 22, 2026, 1:07 PM EDT / Updated April 22, 2026, 1:23 PM EDT
Rep. David Scott, D-Ga., has died at the age of 80, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Wednesday. Congressman Scotts passing is deeply sad, Jeffries told reporters.
David Scott was a trailblazer who served the district that he represented admirably, rose up from humble beginnings to become the first African American ever to chair the House [Agriculture] Committee. He cared about the people that he represented. He was fiercely committed to getting things done for the people of the great state of Georgia, and hell be deeply missed.. NBC News reached out to Scotts office for comment.
Scott was first elected to Congress, representing a district near Atlanta, in 2002. He was running for re-election for a 13th term in the House. Earlier this month, NBC News reported that Scott was outraised in fundraising by four of his primary opponents in the first quarter.
Scott voted on the floor as recently as Tuesday afternoon, according to the clerks records. The first Black chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, he was replaced as the committee's top Democrat by Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., in 2024 as the party looked to bring in younger committee leadership.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/georgia-rep-david-scott-dies-80-rcna341463
riversedge
(81,208 posts)fragile life can be. My condolences to his family and friends.
riversedge
(81,208 posts).........Scott voted on the floor as recently as Tuesday afternoon, according to the clerks records.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens mourned Scott's death in a statement, calling the congressman "a tireless advocate for the people he served."
"For decades, he fought for Georgia farmers, advocated for our veterans and ensured his constituents were supported at the street level with job and health fairs, serving tens of thousands of Georgians over the years," Dickens said in the statement. "His legacy is one of service, perseverance and deep commitment to this state."
squiregeek
(12 posts)...unless Georgia has a law to require one before hell freezes over.
BumRushDaShow
(170,872 posts)and the special election was in March (all candidates no matter what party). But since no one got over 50%, they went to a runoff that was just held a couple of weeks ago st the beginning of the month.
Here is their statute - https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-21/chapter-2/article-14/section-21-2-543/
Title 21 - ELECTIONS (§§ 21-1-1 21-5-76)
Chapter 2 - ELECTIONS AND PRIMARIES GENERALLY (§§ 21-2-1 21-2-604)
Article 14 - SPECIAL ELECTIONS AND PRIMARIES GENERALLY (§§ 21-2-540 21-2-546)
Section 21-2-543 - Special election for United States congressional representative vacancy
(snip)
Whenever a vacancy shall occur or exist in the office of Representative in the United States Congress from this state the Governor shall issue, within ten days after the occurrence of such vacancy, a writ of election to the Secretary of State for a special election to fill such vacancy, which election shall be held on the date named in the writ, which shall not be less than 30 days after its issuance. Upon receiving the writ of election from the Governor, the Secretary of State shall then transmit the writ of election to the superintendent of each county involved and shall publish the call of the election.