Candidates Head to Runoff in Georgia’s 13th Congressional District Special Election

Marcye Scott, daughter of the late Representative David Scott, and former Gwinnett County school board chair Everton Blair Jr. have advanced to a runoff election on August 25. This runoff will decide who completes the remaining term of the late Congressman Scott before a winner from the November regular election takes the seat for a full term starting in January.

The Associated Press announced that neither candidate achieved the required 50% majority to win outright. Scott received 47.5% of the vote, while Blair obtained 36.1% when the race was called. Republican Caesar Gonzales trailed with 8.5%. The runoff will determine who serves for the final weeks of Scott’s term in Georgia’s heavily Democratic 13th Congressional District.

The special election does not decide who will serve the full two-year term beginning in January, as voters conducted a separate primary in May. Democratic State Representative Jasmine Clark won that primary with 56% of the vote and will face Republican Jonathan Chavez in November.

All special-election candidates appeared on a single ballot, but no one achieved the necessary majority to avoid a runoff. Six names were on the ballot, although Tony Brown was disqualified due to a bounced qualifying fee check. Other candidates included Carlos Moore and Republican Fayth Park.

Marcye Scott declared her candidacy during her father’s funeral in May. She emphasized her experience working alongside her father for over two decades, focusing on completing his unfinished projects, including federal funding requests. Scott expressed her commitment to continuing her father’s legacy, especially in community projects.

Blair, her opponent, brings his experience from the Gwinnett County Board of Education. With an academic background in education and leadership from Harvard University, he is focusing on his education-policy expertise and prior board service.

The winner of the runoff will slightly shift the balance in the U.S. House of Representatives, where Republicans hold 218 seats to the Democrats’ 212, alongside four vacancies. The addition will increase Democratic seats to 213, maintaining a slim Republican-aligned majority.

Georgia’s 13th District covers parts of Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry, and Newton counties, plus all of Rockdale County. In 2024, David Scott secured 72% of the vote here, similar to then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who won 71% against President Donald Trump in the presidential race.