David Scott, longtime Georgia Democrat, dies at 80 |
David Scott, longtime Georgia Democrat, dies at 80
Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), a groundbreaking Democrat who served in Congress for more than two decades, has passed away, according to members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).
First elected in 2002, Scott, 80, rose to prominence in 2021 when he became the first Black lawmaker to serve as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
He was immediately hailed by members of the CBC, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who characterized Scott as “a trailblazer” on Capitol Hill.
“David Scott was a trailblazer who served the district that he served admirably,” Jeffries told reporters in the Capitol shortly after the news broke.
“[He] rose up from humble beginnings to become the first African American ever to chair the House Ag Committee. He cared about the people that he represented. He was fiercely committed to getting........