Georgia’s 13th District Runoff Will Add Democrat to Narrowed Republican House Majority

Voters in Georgia’s 13th Congressional District will head to the polls Tuesday for a special runoff election to fill the seat left vacant by the April 22 death of Democratic U.S. Rep. David Scott. The race between the two top finalists will further erode the Republican Party’s already slim House majority.

Former Gwinnett County School Board Chair Everton Blair and Marcye Scott, the late congressman’s daughter, advanced from a five-candidate field in the July 28 all-party special election. Scott garnered approximately 46 percent of the vote compared to roughly 38 percent for Blair, securing the two spots in Tuesday’s runoff.

The winner will complete Scott’s current term, which expires within months. Neither candidate is seeking the full term beginning January 3, 2027. State Rep. Jasmine Clark won the May 19 Democratic primary for the full-term race with 56 percent of the vote and will challenge Republican Jonathan Chavez in November.

Georgia’s 13th Congressional District encompasses portions of six heavily Democratic counties east and southeast of Atlanta: Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton and Rockdale. Gwinnett County comprises approximately 46 percent of the district’s electorate.

Blair captured 56 percent of votes in his Gwinnett County stronghold during July’s election, while Scott dominated the other five counties, posting strongest performances in DeKalb, Clayton and Henry. The district favors Democrats significantly, with Scott winning his 2024 reelection bid with roughly 72 percent of the vote.

Approximately 585,000 voters were registered in the district as of Friday. Polls close at 7 p.m. Eastern Time Tuesday. About 5,200 ballots had already been cast early as of Friday, with the majority coming from Gwinnett County.