Rep. David Scott, D-Ga., questions HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge during the House Financial Services Committee hearing titled Building Back A Better, More Equitable Housing Infrastructure for America: Oversight of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, in Rayburn Building on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.
Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images
U.S.Rep.DavidScott, aGeorgiaDemocrat and the first Black chairman of theHouse Agriculture Committee, has died. He was 80.
Scott, who was seeking his 13th term inCongressdespite challenges from within his party, was once a leading voice forDemocratson issues related to farm aid policy and food aid for consumers and a prominent Black member of the party’s moderate Blue Dog caucus. But he faced criticism and concerns in recent years because of declining health, enduring a primary challenge in 2024 and facing another one at the time of his death.
DemocratsonCapitol Hillpraised the longtime lawmaker.
“The news of CongressmanScott’s passing is deeply sad,” House Minority LeaderHakeem Jeffriestold reporters on Wednesday.
“DavidScottwas a trailblazer who served district that he represented admirably, rose up from humble beginnings to become the firstAfrican Americanever to chair theHouse Ag Committee,” Jeffries said. “He cared about the people that he represented. He was fiercely committed to getting things done for the people of the great state ofGeorgia, and he’ll be deeply missed.”
News ofScott’s death came during the Congressional Black Caucus’ weekly luncheon onCapitol Hill. The Black Caucus’ chair, Rep.Yvette Clarke, told lawmakers at the outset of the meeting, according to a person who insisted on anonymity to discuss a private conversation. Many lawmakers in the room, some of whom had served withScottfor decades, were shocked and saddened by the news.
Scott’s death slightly widensRepublicans’ narrow House majoritygoing into the thick of this midterm election year.
The congressman was not especially active on the campaign trail in 2026. But he had been dismissive of pressure to retire.
“Thank God I’m in good health, moving and doing the people’s work,”Scottsaid in 2024.
David AlbertScottwas born in ruralAynor, South Carolina, onJune 27, 1945, in the era of Jim Crow segregation. He graduated fromFlorida A&M University, one of the nation’s largest historically Black college campuses — and in office he was an outspoken advocate for federal support of HBCUs.Scottalso earned an MBA from theUniversity of Pennsylvania’sWharton School.
He was already a veteran state lawmaker inGeorgiabefore being elected toCongressin 2002.
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