Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) died Wednesday at the age of 80, his office said.
Scott, who was seeking a 13th House term this November, is the fifth member of the 119th Congress to die since lawmakers convened in January 2025.
A cause of death was not immediately available.
“The news of Congressman Scott’s passing is deeply sad,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) told reporters.
“David Scott was a trailblazer who served the district that he represented admirably, rose up from humble beginnings to become the first African American ever to chair the House [Agriculture] 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 of Georgia, and he’ll be deeply missed.”
Scott, a former advertising executive first elected to Congress in 2002, was facing six challengers in the May 19 primary amid criticism that he was too old to perform his duties effectively.
The South Carolina native had represented Georgia’s 13th Congressional District, a majority-black jurisdiction covering many of Atlanta’s southeastern suburbs and exurbs, since its creation following the 2000 census.
The top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee despite his district covering a mainly urban area, Scott had been a leading voice in the party on issues related to farm aid policy and food aid for consumers. He was also a prominent member of the moderate Blue Dog caucus.
However, after his 2024 re-election, Scott was criticized for missing several House votes while he sought treatment for back problems. That February, Politico reported that Scott frequently read from a script during meetings and had trouble holding substantive conversations about food and agricultural policy.
“David Scott is Exhibit A for term limits,” one Democratic lawmaker was quoted by the outlet as saying. “He was a respected, talented member who has become diminished. And it’s painful for people to watch.”
In November 2025, one of Scott’s primary rivals, state Rep. Dr. Jasmine Clark, revealed that the lawmaker had not voted in the 2024 presidential election, in which Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in her bid to become the first black woman elected president.
Despite the criticism, Scott had dismissed pressure to retire, insisting in 2024: “Thank God I’m in good health, moving and doing the people’s work.”
Scott’s death reduces the total number of House lawmakers to 430 — 217 Republicans, 212 Democrats and one GOP-aligned independent — with five vacancies.
Two of the empty seats are scheduled to be filled with special elections in June to replace the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) and disgraced Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.).
In addition to Scott and LaMalfa, the 119th Congress saw the passing of Reps. Sylvester Turner (D-Texas), Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), and Gerry Connolly (D-Va.).
