Republican Rep. Austin Scott won a ninth term representing Georgia’s 8th Congressional District, defeating Democratic challenger Kelly Esti. The Associated Press called the race on Tuesday evening.
Scott campaigned on supporting Georgia’s farmers, strengthening national defense and investing in rural communities. As vice chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, he supported the House-passed Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, which proposed improvements to farm credit and investments in rural infrastructure and services. Esti, a Navy veteran, emphasized lowering everyday costs, expanding affordable health care and improving educational opportunities.
The Cook Political Report rated the district Solid Republican heading into the election. Stretching from Macon through south-central Georgia to the Florida border, the district combines agricultural communities with military installations and regional population centers. First elected in 2010, Scott secured another two-year term in Washington, keeping the seat in Republican hands.
