Rep. David Scott Dies At 80, Fifth House Member To Pass Away During Current Congress

Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) died Wednesday at the age of 80, according to his office, becoming the fifth member of the 119th Congress to pass away since lawmakers convened in January 2025.

A cause of death was not immediately released.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) reacted to the news, calling Scott a “trailblazer” who rose from humble beginnings to become the first African American to chair the House Agriculture Committee. Jeffries said Scott was deeply committed to his constituents and would be missed.

Scott, a former advertising executive, was first elected to Congress in 2002 and had represented Georgia’s 13th Congressional District since it was created after the 2000 census. The district includes much of the southeastern suburbs and exurbs of Atlanta.

Despite representing an urban-heavy district, Scott played a major role on agricultural policy as the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee. He was also a member of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition and was known for focusing on farm aid and food assistance programs.

In recent years, Scott had faced increasing scrutiny over his health and performance in office. Following his 2024 re-election, he was criticized for missing multiple House votes while undergoing treatment for back problems. Reports also raised concerns about his ability to engage in detailed policy discussions.

He was seeking a 13th term in office and was facing several primary challengers ahead of the May 19 election. Critics had pointed to his age as a concern, while Scott had repeatedly pushed back, insisting he remained capable of serving.

Scott’s death reduces the number of sitting House members to 430, with Republicans holding 217 seats, Democrats 212, and one GOP-aligned independent.

He is the fifth lawmaker from the current Congress to die in office, joining Reps. Sylvester Turner of Texas, Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Gerry Connolly of Virginia, and Doug LaMalfa of California.