Rep. David Scott, 80, dies while seeking 13th term

U.S. Rep. David Scott has died, Rep. Virginia Foxx said Wednesday while presiding over a House meeting. Scott, the Democratic representative for Georgia’s 13th congressional district, was 80 years old. He spent more than 50 years in elected office, including over two decades in Congress, according to his website. At the time of his death, he was seeking reelection to what would have been his 13th term. He is the fifth House member to die in office during the current session of Congress.

The congressman in 2020 became the first African-American chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, an assignment he held until his death. He also served as a senior member of the Financial Services Committee and a Member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. He was known for his advocacy for the federally-funded 1890s Scholarship Program, a competitive, full-ride scholarship given to students pursuing agriculture-related degrees at 19 historically black universities. He also pushed for increased funding for veterans’ healthcare and supported strong U.S. relationships with Israel and NATO.

Where does this leave the congressional arithmetic? Scott’s death leaves the House with only 430 total members and five vacancies. Republicans now have a slightly wider margin, with 217 GOP representatives to Democrats’ 212. The chamber’s only independent representative, Kevin Kiley of California, has continued to caucus with Republicans after leaving the party. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to call a special election for Scott’s district, which includes six reliably blue counties surrounding Atlanta, within 10 days.

Jasmine Clark, a Democratic Georgia state representative who planned to challenge Scott for his seat in November, on Wednesday praised his legacy of public service. She was praying for his wife, adult children, and grandchildren, she said. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., also said he was praying for Scott’s family and that he was saddened by the news.

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s report on the death of Republican congressman Doug LaMalfa.