Rep. David Scott, the longtime Georgia Democrat who clung to power for over two decades, passed away Wednesday at 80 years-old, his office confirmed.
This marks the fifth lawmaker from the 119th Congress to die since it first gavelled in back in January 2025.
Scott, a former advertising executive first elected in 2002, had been gunning for a 13th term this November. Yet even his own party was turning against him.
He faced six challengers in the upcoming May 19 primary, all hammering home the obvious point that he was simply too old to do the job properly.
Scott had spent his entire congressional career representing Georgia’s 13th District.
Despite the heavily urban makeup of his district, Scott rose to become the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee.
He positioned himself as a key voice pushing for farm aid policies and food assistance programs.
He also aligned himself with the Blue Dog caucus, a moderate group.
But after his 2024 re-election, the cracks became impossible to ignore.
Scott missed multiple House votes while dealing with back problems. Reports painted a troubling picture of a lawmaker who could barely function in real time.
Politico laid out the harsh reality. Scott would often read from a script during his meetings and couldn’t articulate well during conversations regarding policy discussions centered around agriculture and food.
“David Scott is Exhibit A for term limits,” a Democrat legislator said, per Politico.
“He was a respected, talented member who has become diminished. And it’s painful for people to watch.”
Scott’s passing shrinks the House of Representatives to just 430 members: 217 Republicans, 212 Democrats, and an independent who aligns with the Republicans.
Five seats now sit empty, leaving critical work stalled while the American people wait for real representation.
