(The Daily Caller)—Georgia Democratic Rep. David Scott died at the age of 80 on Tuesday night, shortly after filing paperwork to seek a 13th term in office.
The Democratic representative, who served in the Georgia General Assembly before becoming a House member, unexpectedly died after 50 years in elected office and became the fifth incumbent lawmaker in the lower chamber to die since 2025, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution (AJC) and other outlets. His death was confirmed by his office to the AJC on Wednesday.
“Congressman Scott’s passing is deeply sad,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters, according to NBC News. “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 he’ll be deeply missed.”
Scott was facing a strong primary field for Georgia’s 13th congressional district following concerns about his health and voting record, CBS News reported in November 2025.
