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.
The House formally acknowledged his passing and announced the chamber's total membership is now 430. The updated partisan breakdown was given as 217 Republicans, 212 Democrats and one independent. Officials have not released details about the cause or exact timing of his death. Scott had been running for a 13th term and was facing a May 19 primary challenge when he died.
A veteran lawmaker, Scott first won office in the Georgia House in 1974 and served in the state Senate after a 1982 victory before joining Congress. He served more than two decades in the U.S. House and had chaired the House Agriculture Committee during the first two years of the Biden administration. Colleagues called him a leading voice on farm and food-aid policy and the first Black lawmaker to chair the committee. He later became the committee's ranking member but was removed from that top Democratic role in 2024 amid concerns about his health. Reports said staff and peers described declines in his speech and focus, and he had been largely inactive on the 2026 campaign trail. Scott had publicly dismissed pressure to retire in 2024, saying he was in good health and continuing to do the people's work.
Early reporting focused on his death and long tenure, while later accounts added context about his recent health, leadership changes and campaign status. MS NOW and PBS broadened the coverage by reporting his removal as top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee and his reduced campaign activity. Public reaction included praise from Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and a statement from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries noting Scott's rise from humble beginnings. Jeffries also confirmed Scott was the first African American to chair the Agriculture Committee.
đ Key Facts
- Rep. David Scott, an 80-year-old Democrat from Georgia, has died; the House formally acknowledged his passing on the floor.
- With Scott's death the full membership of the House is now 430, with an updated partisan breakdown of 217 Republicans, 212 Democrats and 1 independent.
- Scott had served in elected office for decades â first winning a seat in the Georgia House in 1974, then the state Senate in 1982, and later serving more than two decades in the U.S. House.
- He was running for a 13th term and was on the May 19 primary ballot, facing a primary challenge and having been largely inactive on the 2026 campaign trail.
- Scott chaired the House Agriculture Committee during the first two years of the Biden administration, later became the committee's ranking member, and was the first African American to chair that committee.
- He was a prominent member of the moderate Blue Dog caucus and a leading Democratic voice on farm and food-aid policy.
- In 2024 Scott 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.
- Details about the cause and exact timing of his death have not been released; public reactions included extended praise from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and remarks from Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens lauding his advocacy for Georgia farmers and veterans.
đ° Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- 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.