Georgia Rep. David Scott Dies at 80
Source: ajc.com
TL;DR
- Scott's Death: Georgia U.S. Rep. David Scott, an Atlanta Democrat, has died at age 80, as confirmed by his office.[[1]](https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/04/georgia-us-rep-david-scott-has-died/)[[2]](https://www.ajc.com/politics/2025/06/the-new-attack-on-georgia-us-rep-david-scott-his-age)
- Long Career: He served 12 terms in Congress and nearly 50 years in elected office, including as the first Black chair of the House Agriculture Committee.[[1]](https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/04/georgia-us-rep-david-scott-has-died/)
- Election Context: Scott had filed for a 13th term but faced strong Democratic primary challenges.[[1]](https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/04/georgia-us-rep-david-scott-has-died/)
The story at a glance
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the death of U.S. Rep. David Scott (D-GA), confirmed by his office. Scott, 80, represented Georgia's 13th Congressional District centered around Atlanta. The article appears amid his announced run for re-election in 2026, where he faced well-funded Democratic challengers; no cause or exact date of death is given in the visible text.[[1]](https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/04/georgia-us-rep-david-scott-has-died/)[[2]](https://www.ajc.com/politics/2025/06/the-new-attack-on-georgia-us-rep-david-scott-his-age)
Key points
- Scott was a 12-term congressman who filed to seek a 13th term.
- He held nearly 50 years in elected office.
- First Black man to chair the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.[[1]](https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/04/georgia-us-rep-david-scott-has-died/)
- Represented Georgia's 13th District as a Democrat.
- Faced strong challenges from well-funded Democrats in the primary.
- Article by AJC Washington Bureau Chief Tia Mitchell.
Details and context
The article is a breaking news item, with much of the body obscured by a paywall or rendering issue, showing garbled text that appears to be backward or scrambled passages about Scott's early life and career. Visible portions focus on his longevity in office and recent political context.
Scott's district covers parts of metro Atlanta suburbs, including all of Rockdale County and portions of Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry, and Newton counties.[[3]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Scott_(Georgia_politician))
No family details, cause of death, or tributes are visible in the accessible content.
Why it matters
His death creates a vacancy in a safely Democratic district ahead of the 2026 elections. It opens the 13th District seat to a competitive Democratic primary among challengers already in the field. Watch for a special election timeline from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and how the primary field evolves.[[1]](https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/04/georgia-us-rep-david-scott-has-died/)
FAQ
Q: How long had Rep. David Scott served in Congress?
A: Scott was a 12-term congressman who had filed for a 13th term. His office confirmed the death after nearly 50 years in elected service.[[1]](https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/04/georgia-us-rep-david-scott-has-died/)
Q: What notable role did David Scott hold?
A: He was the first Black man to chair the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. The article highlights this milestone in his career.[[1]](https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/04/georgia-us-rep-david-scott-has-died/)
Q: Who confirmed Rep. Scott's death?
A: His office confirmed the death to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. No further details on timing or cause appear in the visible text.[[1]](https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/04/georgia-us-rep-david-scott-has-died/)
Q: What political challenges was Scott facing?
A: Scott faced strong challenges from well-funded Democrats in the primary for his Atlanta-based district. He had recently filed to run again.[[1]](https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/04/georgia-us-rep-david-scott-has-died/)