Marcye Scott, the daughter of the late Democratic U.S. Rep. David Scott, will face former Gwinnett County School Board Chairman Everton Blair Jr. in an Aug. 25 runoff after failing to win a majority in the July 28 special election.
Unofficial results reported by Fox News showed Scott leading with 46.0% of the vote. Blair received 37.4%, while Republican Caesar Gonzales finished third with 8.7%. Georgia law requires a majority to win outright.
The Georgia Secretary of State called the election after David Scott died April 22 at age 80. The 13th Congressional District includes all of Rockdale County and portions of Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry and Newton counties. The runoff winner will serve the remainder of Scott’s term, ending in January.
Scott, a design consultant who has never held elected office, says she wants to continue her father’s work, including pursuing approximately $40 million in requested federal earmarks. An Atlanta Journal-Constitution profile says she spent decades assisting his campaigns and community events. She lives in Atlanta outside the district, although House members need only reside in the state they represent.
Blair has emphasized his elected experience. He served on the Gwinnett school board, became its first Black chairman and finished third in the May Democratic primary for the next full congressional term. He told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he will focus on building name recognition outside Gwinnett.
The Aug. 25 contest is separate from November’s general election. Democratic state Rep. Jasmine Clark will face Republican Jonathan Chavez for the full two-year term beginning in January 2027. The special-election winner could spend only about nine weeks voting in Washington.
