David Scott Is Critical. GA-13 Deserves Better.

Let me ask you a simple question.

If your doctor missed two weeks of work, lost their hospital privileges, had colleagues publicly question whether they could still do the job, and then it came out that they hadn’t voted in six straight elections, including a presidential election, would you keep scheduling appointments with them?

Of course not.

So why do voters in Georgia’s 13th keep sending David Scott back to Washington?

That’s the question we’re asking. And the answer matters.

Who Is David Scott?

David Scott has represented GA-13 since 2003. That’s 22 years. He’s 80 years old. And until very recently, he was the Ranking Member on the House Agriculture Committee, one of the most powerful seats a Democrat could hold in the House.

He had a platform. He had seniority. He had leverage.

And he lost it.

Here’s What Happened

In November 2024, David Scott missed two straight weeks of Congress. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Scott was in an Atlanta-area rehabilitation facility receiving treatment for a persistent back injury. He told the AJC, “I had to go ahead and take care of myself so I can be very strong, and I am.” (Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

But what happened next is what really stands out.

According to reporting by The Hill, his absence “spawned renewed concerns from fellow Democrats that his age and health made him unable to continue his duties.” Two colleagues, Reps. Angie Craig of Minnesota and Jim Costa of California, moved immediately to challenge him for the Ranking Member position. (Source: The Hill)

After Scott withdrew from the contest, the full Democratic Caucus voted to install Craig in his place. As the Georgia Recorder reported, the vote completed “a post-election shakeup that saw some longtime lawmakers ousted.” His own party decided he could no longer lead one of the most important committees in the House. (Source: Georgia Recorder)

Let that sink in. When your own party, the people who work alongside you every day, says you’re no longer capable of leading, that’s not a minor setback. That’s a statement.

And Then It Got Worse

A challenger in the 2026 primary started digging into Scott’s record. What they found was stunning.

According to Newsweek, public records reveal that David Scott did not vote in six consecutive elections. Including the 2024 presidential election. (Source: Newsweek)

HE DIDN’T VOTE.

Think about that for a second. Scott has made a career out of telling constituents how important it is to show up, to participate, to protect voting rights. And then he skipped six elections in a row.

That’s not a distraction. That’s a disqualifier.

The CREW List

Add one more to the pile. David Scott appeared on CREW’s Most Corrupt Members of Congress list.

CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) is a nonpartisan watchdog. Getting on that list isn’t easy. It requires a documented pattern of ethical concern. It’s not a partisan hit. It’s a designation based on the record.

In 2007, the AJC reported that more than 40 tax liens had been placed against Scott's home and business dating back to the 1980s and 1990s, totaling over $150,000 in unpaid taxes. Scott subsequently paid off the liens, attributing them to bookkeeping errors. Source: https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/rep-scott-faces-crowded-field-challengers/TfaMKNv40gzl4jTqXDpaAK/

The Safe Seat Problem

GA-13 is a D+21 district. Scott has never faced a serious general election threat in his 22 years.

And that is the core problem.

Safe seats with no real accountability create zero incentive to change. Scott has never had to stand in front of voters and make the case for why he, specifically, is still the best person for this job. He’s coasted on seniority and name recognition in a district that would elect almost any Democrat.

That’s not democracy. That’s incumbency as a lifetime appointment.

The 2026 Primary Is Different

Here’s the thing. This time, the challengers are serious.

As reported by the Washington Examiner and Georgia Public Broadcasting, three credible Democrats have stepped forward:

•        Dr. Jasmine Clark (age 42) a microbiologist, Emory University lecturer, and state representative from Lilburn. She’s the one who uncovered and released Scott’s missed voting record publicly.

•        Everton Blair (age 32) a former Gwinnett County school board member, Harvard and Stanford graduate, and White House Fellow under President Obama. His message: the party needs a bench that can actually show up.

•        Emanuel Jones (age 66) a 20-year veteran of the Georgia State Senate from DeKalb County. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jones filed regardless of whether Scott was running, saying voters need a “louder voice” in Washington.

These aren’t vanity campaigns. These are credible candidates with real records, real support, and a real argument: that GA-13 deserves someone who can show up, lead, and fight.

And they’re not alone. According to Newsweek, as of late 2025, nine Democrats had announced plans to challenge Scott.

Nine challengers.

That’s not a primary. That’s a verdict.

What We’re Asking

We’re not here to be cruel. Twenty-two years of service is real. Scott made history as the first Black chairman of the Agriculture Committee. That matters.

But past achievements don’t automatically earn future terms. His own colleagues already made that judgment when they removed him from the Agriculture Committee. The voters of GA-13 get to make it next.

If you live in the district here’s what you can do right now:

•        Pledge your support for a challenger at dnrcongress.com/pledge. You can pledge to vote for a credible challenger, volunteer for a campaign, donate when one announces, or simply get updates when a challenger files in your district. This is the most direct way to signal that GA-13 is ready for change.

•        Call Scott’s office. Tell them you’re paying attention to the primary. Congressional offices track constituent calls. Use our call scripts at https://www.dnrcongress.com/take-action to make it easy.

•        Email his office using our ready-made templates at https://www.dnrcongress.com/email-scripts . Polite, direct, on the record.

•        Look at the challengers. Clark, Blair, and Jones all have campaign websites. See whose message resonates. The primary is May 19, 2026 and primary turnout in safe districts is low. Your vote in May counts more than you think.

•        Tell your neighbors. Word of mouth in a low-turnout primary is everything. The more people who know this race is happening, the better the odds of real change.

The Bottom Line

A score of 33 out of 100 is one of the lowest status we’ve assigned.

Critical Condition.

That’s not rhetoric. That’s the data. David Scott is 80 years old, lost his most important committee post because of documented health and capacity concerns (Source: AJC), missed six elections in a row including the 2024 presidential (Source: Newsweek), and sits on a Most Corrupt watchdog list.

GA-13 deserves a representative who shows up. For hearings. For votes. For elections. And for the next generation of constituents who need someone fully in the fight.

The challengers are already there. The primary is May 19th. The rest is up to you.

➡  Ready to take action?

Pledge your support for a challenger, sign up for updates, or volunteer for a campaign at dnrcongress.com/pledge. It takes 60 seconds and sends a signal that GA-13 is done waiting.

Not ageism. Democracy.

Learn more at dnrcongress.com

METHODOLOGY DISCLAIMER:

CVI scores represent our analysis of publicly available information about

democratic accountability. Scores are opinion-based assessments, not medical

or legal judgments. All factual claims are sourced from public records and

credible news reporting.