Georgia Rep. David Scott Dies At 80; House Now Has 430 Members
Rep. David Scott, an 80-year-old Democratic congressman from Georgia, has died, reducing the House membership to 430.
House leaders and multiple outlets confirmed his death but have not released details on cause or timing. Scott was seeking a 13th term and was facing a May 19 primary challenge when he died.
He first won office in the Georgia House in 1974 and the state Senate in 1982 before election to Congress. Scott chaired the House Agriculture Committee during the first two years of the Biden administration and later served as its ranking Democrat. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other leaders noted Scott was the first Black person to chair that committee. He was a prominent member of the moderate Blue Dog caucus and a leading voice on farm and food-aid policy. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens praised Scott for his advocacy for Georgia farmers and veterans, and Jeffries highlighted his rise from modest beginnings.
Early reports focused on Scott's death and long career, presenting him as actively engaged in his duties. Later pieces, notably from MS NOW and PBS News, added that he had been largely inactive on the 2026 campaign and was removed as top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee amid health concerns. Those reports cited descriptions of a declining ability to speak and focus and reshaped understanding of his final years in office. The House formally acknowledged his passing on the floor and announced the whole number of members, now 430, with a partisan split of 217 Republicans, 212 Democrats and one independent.
📌 Key Facts
- Rep. David Scott, an 80-year-old Democrat from Georgia who served in Congress for more than two decades, has died.
- Scott was running for a 13th term and was on the ballot for the May 19 primary when he died.
- The House formally acknowledged his passing on the floor and announced the chamber’s full membership is now 430, with a partisan breakdown of 217 Republicans, 212 Democrats and 1 independent.
- Scott began his political career in the Georgia House in 1974, was elected to the Georgia Senate in 1982, and later won election to the U.S. House.
- He served as chair of the House Agriculture Committee during the first two years of the Biden administration, later becoming ranking member, and was celebrated as the first Black person to chair that committee.
- Scott was a prominent member of the moderate Blue Dog caucus and a leading Democratic voice on farm and food-aid policy.
- In 2024 he was removed as the top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee amid concerns about his health, with reports describing a declining ability to speak and focus; he had been largely inactive on the 2026 campaign trail but had publicly resisted calls to retire.
- Details about the cause and precise timing of his death have not yet been released; public figures including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens issued statements praising his service and advocacy for farmers and veterans.
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms and elaborates on the death of Rep. David Scott at age 80 as previously reported.
- Provides additional biographical and political-career detail beyond the initial wire-style death notice (not fully accessible due to paywall/CAPTCHA).
- Associated Press/PBS report emphasizes Scott was seeking a 13th term in Congress and facing a primary challenge at the time of his death.
- Article highlights that Scott was a prominent member of the moderate Blue Dog caucus and a leading party voice on farm and food-aid policy.
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is quoted at greater length, praising Scott's rise from humble beginnings and his service to Georgia.
- Story notes that Scott had been largely inactive on the 2026 campaign trail but had publicly dismissed pressure to retire, saying in 2024 he was in good health and doing the people's work.
- CBS reiterates that Rep. David Scott, an 80-year-old Democrat from Georgia, has died after serving more than two decades in the House.
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries confirmed Scott's death to MS NOW and called him the first African American to chair the House Agriculture Committee.
- The House formally acknowledged Scott's passing on the floor and announced the whole number of the House is now 430.
- The updated partisan breakdown is now 217 Republicans, 212 Democrats and 1 independent.
- Article reiterates prior reporting that Scott was removed as top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee in 2024 amid concerns about his health, citing Politico descriptions of his declining ability to speak and focus.
- Confirms Scott was running for a 13th term in the May 19 primaries when he died.
- Clarifies he first won office in the Georgia House in 1974 and then the state Senate in 1982 before election to Congress.
- Notes that he chaired the House Agriculture Committee for the first two years of the Biden administration before becoming ranking member.
- Includes public reaction quote from Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens praising his advocacy for Georgia farmers and veterans.
- Specifies that details about cause and timing of death have not yet been released.