U.S. Representative David Scott Dies at 80
Representative David Scott, a Georgia Democrat and the first African American chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, died unexpectedly on Wednesday at the age of 80.
His congressional office confirmed the death, describing it as "unexpected." No details regarding the cause of death have been released. According to House clerk records, Scott voted on the House floor on Tuesday afternoon. He was running for re-election in Georgia's May 19th primaries at the time of his death.
Political Career and Background
David Albert Scott was born on June 27, 1945, in Aynor, South Carolina. He graduated from Florida A&M University and earned an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School in 1969.
His political career began as a staffer on Andrew Young's 1972 congressional campaign. Before entering politics, he owned an advertising business in Atlanta.
- State Politics: He was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1974 and to the Georgia State Senate in 1982.
- U.S. Congress: Scott was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002, representing Georgia's 13th Congressional District near Atlanta.
- Committee Leadership: He served as chairman of the influential House Agriculture Committee during the first two years of President Joe Biden's term, overseeing legislation related to farm subsidies, food stamps, and school lunch programs. In 2024, fellow Democrats voted to replace him as the top Democrat (ranking member) on that committee.
- Caucus Memberships: Scott was a longtime member of the Congressional Black Caucus. He was also a member of the New Democrat Coalition, the Congressional Equality Caucus, and was previously part of the moderate Blue Dog caucus.
- Policy Advocacy: He was an advocate for federal support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Reactions and Statements
Elected officials from both parties issued statements following Scott's death:
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated Scott was "a trailblazer who served the district that he represented admirably" and would be deeply missed.
- Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Scott was "a tireless advocate for the people he served" and fought for Georgia farmers and veterans.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson said members of Congress were "deeply saddened by the news."
- Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock praised Scott's service, with Warnock calling him a "Georgian's Georgian."
- Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Charlie Bailey said Scott was "one of our state's most steadfast advocates for working people and families."
A statement from Scott's office described him as a "devoted leader" with more than 50 years of public service. The White House ordered flags to be flown at half-staff.
Impact and Context
- House Composition: Scott's death changes the party breakdown in the House of Representatives. Sources report the new composition as either 217 Republicans, 212 Democrats, and one independent who caucuses with Republicans, or 217 Republicans, 212 Democrats, one Independent, with five seats vacant.
- Special Election: Under Georgia election law, the governor must declare a special election within 10 days of the vacancy to fill the remainder of Scott's term.
- Recent History: Scott is the fourth House Democrat to die in office during the current Congress.
Personal Life
Scott is survived by his wife, Alfredia Scott, two adult daughters, and grandchildren. His brother-in-law was baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, and his grandson is NFL running back Kimani Vidal.