David Scott, a Democratic congressman for Georgia’s Atlanta suburbs since 2003, has died at the age of 80. His office confirmed the news, though no cause of death was given. Scott had qualified to run for a 12th term but faced multiple primary challengers amid concerns over his declining health.
Scott had not spoken on the floor of the House of Representatives in two years. He was the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee and, when Democrats controlled the chamber, the first Black chairman of that committee. His last major legislative effort was a bipartisan housing bill passed in February, which included his provisions on rural housing and financial literacy.
Tributes came from fellow Democrats. State Representative Jasmine Clark, who was challenging Scott in the primary, said: “His legacy of unwavering dedication to public service for more than 50 years will live on.” Senator Jon Ossoff called him a dedicated public servant, adding: “The State of Georgia is a better place thanks to the service of Congressman Scott.”
Scott began his political career in the Georgia House in 1974, moving to the state Senate in 1982 before winning a congressional seat in 2002. He held a finance degree from Florida A&M University and an MBA from Wharton, and previously worked in billboard marketing.
He was considered a moderate Democrat, sometimes voting with Republicans—including endorsing the GOP candidate Johnny Isakson for Senate in 2016 and supporting George W. Bush’s tax cuts. He later repudiated his early support for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. In recent years, his health visibly declined; he was seen sleeping during the State of the Union address and missed several elections.
