Daughter of Late Congressman Heads to Runoff in Georgia Special Election
Marcye Scott, daughter of the late U.S. Representative David Scott, and former Gwinnett County school board chair Everton Blair Jr. have advanced to a runoff election on August 25th. They are competing for the remainder of Congressman Scott’s term in Georgia’s 13th Congressional District. Neither candidate secured the 50% majority required to win the special election outright, prompting the need for a subsequent vote. The winner of this runoff will serve the final weeks of the late congressman’s term, following his passing in April at the age of 80. A separate election in November will decide who holds the seat for the full, next term beginning in January.
Special Election Dynamics
The Associated Press projected the runoff as the outcome shortly before 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, with approximately 85% of the expected vote tallied. At that point, Marcye Scott had garnered 47.5% of the vote, while Everton Blair Jr. held 36.1%. Republican candidate Caesar Gonzales trailed significantly in third place with 8.5% of the vote.
Georgia law dictates that if no candidate achieves a majority in a special election, the top two vote-getters proceed to a runoff. This process ensures that the eventual winner has demonstrated broad support within the district. Six individuals initially appeared on the special election ballot. However, one candidate, Democrat Tony Brown, was disqualified after his qualifying fee check failed to clear, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. Votes cast for Brown were not counted.
Candidates and Their Motivations
Marcye Scott has positioned herself as the natural successor to her father’s legacy, emphasizing her two decades of work alongside him. She highlighted her involvement in his campaign operations, fundraising efforts, constituent outreach, and community engagement. Scott stated that her decision to run was driven by a desire to complete her father’s unfinished work, particularly his efforts to secure federal funding for district projects. “Right after my dad passed, a lot of the City Council or the commissioners and chair people, they wanted to know what was going to happen with these projects,” Scott explained, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “And that’s really why I’m running: to complete that.”
Everton Blair Jr. brings a background in education and public service. He served on the Gwinnett County Board of Education, being elected to the board in 2018 and subsequently elected chairman in 2021. Blair’s campaign has emphasized his expertise in education policy, drawing on his academic credentials, which include a doctorate in education leadership from Harvard University and a master’s degree from Stanford University. His prior experience as an elected official on the local school board is also a key part of his platform.
The Path to the Full Term
It’s important to distinguish the special election from the regular election for the full term. Democratic State Representative Jasmine Clark secured victory in the primary election held in May for the upcoming full term, winning with approximately 56% of the vote. She is slated to face Republican Jonathan Chavez in the general election on November 3rd. Everton Blair Jr. also participated in the May primary for the full term, finishing third with about 12% of the vote. The winner of the November general election will begin serving a full two-year term in January.
District Demographics and House Balance
The 13th Congressional District, a heavily Democratic area in metro Atlanta, encompasses parts of Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry, and Newton counties, as well as all of Rockdale County. In the 2024 election cycle, the late Congressman David Scott carried the district with roughly 72% of the vote. Similarly, in the presidential race that year, then-Vice President Kamala Harris received approximately 71% of the district’s vote, compared to about 28% for President Donald Trump.
The outcome of the special election runoff will have a modest, immediate impact on the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives. Currently, Republicans hold a slim majority. Following the swearing-in of the winner from this Georgia special election, the Democratic caucus would gain one seat, narrowing the Republican advantage. The House composition is currently 218 Republicans, 212 Democrats, and four vacancies, with one independent member caucusing with the Republicans. A Democratic victory in the special election would shift these numbers to 219 Republicans and 213 Democrats, pending the resolution of the vacancies.
Conclusion
The August 25th runoff between Marcye Scott and Everton Blair Jr. will determine who serves out the remainder of the late Congressman David Scott’s term. While this immediate seat is temporary, the contest highlights the ongoing political engagement in the 13th Congressional District as voters prepare to select their representative for the next full term in November.
