Rep. David Scott, a Georgia Democrat seeking his 13th term in Congress, dies at age 80

ATLANTA (AP) 鈥� U.S. Rep. David Scott, a Georgia Democrat and the first Black chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, has died. He was 80.

Scott, who was seeking his 13th term in Congress despite challenges from within his party, was once a leading voice for Democrats on issues related to farm aid policy and food aid for consumers and a prominent Black member of the party鈥檚 moderate Blue Dog caucus. But he faced criticism and concerns in recent years because of declining health, enduring a primary challenge in 2024 and facing another one at the time of his death.

Democrats on Capitol Hill praised the longtime lawmaker.

鈥淭he news of Congressman Scott鈥檚 passing is deeply sad,鈥� House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters on Wednesday.

鈥淒avid 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 Ag Committee,鈥� Jeffries said. 鈥淗e 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 he鈥檒l be deeply missed.鈥�

草莓传媒 of Scott鈥檚 death came during the Congressional Black Caucus鈥� weekly luncheon on Capitol Hill. The Black Caucus鈥� chair, Rep. Yvette Clarke, told lawmakers at the outset of the meeting.

The White House lowered its flags to half-staff after Scott鈥檚 death.

Death creates another vacancy

Scott鈥檚 death slightly widens going into the thick of this midterm election year The GOP began the current Congress with a 220-215 advantage, but the margin has fluctuated. Scott is the fourth House Democrat to die in office during this Congress.

Scott had been mostly absent from the campaign trail in 2024 and 2026 and had become a noted example of targeted by younger generations of the left. He dodged questions from reporters when he qualified for another term in March, but he earlier dismissed pressure to retire.

鈥淭hank God I鈥檓 in good health, moving and doing the people鈥檚 work,鈥� the congressman said in 2024.

His wife and campaign adviser Alfredia Scott was even more direct. 鈥淲hen the congressman decides to leave, he won鈥檛 be pushed out,鈥� she said in 2024. 鈥淗e will bow out.鈥�

State officials will have to schedule a special election to fill out the rest of Scott鈥檚 term, which could overlap with elections to choose a representative for the next two-year term. Early in-person voting starts Monday for May 19 party primaries for the next full term.

Scott was a pioneering Black lawmaker

David Albert Scott was born in rural Aynor, South Carolina, on June 27, 1945, in the era of Jim Crow segregation. He spent part of his childhood in Scranton, Pennsylvania, along with stints New York and Florida. Scott graduated from Florida A&M University, one of the nation’s largest historically Black college campuses 鈥� and in office he was an outspoken advocate for federal support of HBCUs. Scott also earned an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in 1969.

He settled in Atlanta, opened his own advertising business and got his start in politics as a staffer on Andrew Young’s 1972 congressional campaign. Young would go on to be Atlanta mayor and United Nations ambassador under President Jimmy Carter, another Georgian.

The support of Young and baseball legend Henry 鈥淗ank鈥� Aaron, who was the older brother of Scott’s wife, helped launch Scott into Congress in 2002, said Democratic state Sen. Emanuel Jones. He was opposing Scott in the May 19 primary, although he called Scott “a good friend.”

Scott was one of a pioneering generation of Black state lawmakers in Georgia, winning election to the state House in 1974 and the state Senate in 1982 before being elected to Congress. Once identifying as a moderate “Blue Dog” 鈥� Scott had sponsored a law mandating a moment of silent school prayer in the state Senate 鈥� he evolved into a more mainstream liberal.

An advocate for historically Black schools

Scott served decades in Congress while living outside his district after maps were redrawn. He maintained support, focusing intently on constituent service including hosting job and health fairs.

Among his notable achievements on Capitol Hill, Scott secured $80 million for historically Black land-grant schools as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. The money was steered to agriculture-related scholarships at 19 campuses. He helped author various housing and mortgage aid measures, and he pushed for better health care and other benefits for veterans and their families. On foreign policy, Scott was an outspoken advocate for NATO and post-World War II American alliances.

Scott’s fellow Democrats ousted him from his post as ranking minority member on the Agriculture Committee in 2024 amid concerns about his age and health.

Scott is survived by Alfredia Scott, the couple’s two adult daughters and grandchildren.

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Brown reported from Washington.

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