Marcye Scott loses to Everton Blair in Georgia runoff

Voters settled the Marcye Scott Everton Blair contest Tuesday as Democrat Everton Blair defeated Marcye Scott, daughter of the late Rep. David Scott, in Georgia’s 13th District special runoff. The former Gwinnett County School Board chairman will finish Scott’s House term through year’s end.

Key Takeaways

• Everton Blair defeated Marcye Scott in the Aug. 25, 2026, special runoff for Georgia’s 13th District seat.
• Blair trailed Scott in the July first round (about 38% to 46%) before winning the runoff by roughly 53%–54% to 46%–47%.
• Blair is expected to be sworn in early next week and serve only through the end of 2026.
• State Rep. Jasmine Clark already won the regular Democratic primary and is favored to take the full term in November.
• Once Blair is seated, Republicans’ House majority narrows further amid other vacancies and a recent California special-election win.

What happened in the Marcye Scott Everton Blair runoff?

NBC News projected that Everton Blair won the special election to serve the remainder of Rep. David Scott’s term, defeating the late congressman’s daughter, Marcye Scott. According to NBC News, Blair led about 53% to 47% with most expected votes counted. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported unofficial results of roughly 54% to 46%.

The runoff followed a crowded all-party special primary in July in which no candidate won a majority. Scott led that first round about 46% to Blair’s 38%, making Blair’s runoff win an upset. Turnout was low: the AJC said about 20,000 of the district’s roughly 539,000 active voters cast ballots.

Rep. David Scott died April 22 at age 80 after more than two decades in Congress, including service as the first Black chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. His death triggered the special election in the deep-blue Atlanta-suburbs district.

Who is Everton Blair, and what did he campaign on?

Blair, also known as Everton “EJ” Blair Jr., previously chaired the Gwinnett County School Board. He framed his bid around district ties and prior elected experience, arguing those credentials matter for a short remaining term. He told the AJC he wants to earn support from voters who have not yet backed his leadership and to deliver “generational change.”

NBC reported that Blair backed progressive policies such as a tax on households making over $50 million, “Medicare for All,” universal childcare, and large federal clean-energy investments tied to Green New Deal-style priorities. Marcye Scott cast her campaign as a continuation of her father’s work, saying she would “ensure the work already underway” for the district continues.

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How long will Blair serve, and what comes next?

Blair is likely to be sworn in early next week and will serve through year’s end—roughly nine weeks in Washington because of a long recess before the midterms, the AJC reported. In that window he may cast votes on extending government funding past Sept. 30, the ongoing war with Iran, and the farm bill.

State Rep. Jasmine Clark, who did not run in the special, won the regularly scheduled Democratic primary and is the heavy favorite in November in this safely Democratic district. Blair ran in that primary and lost to Clark. Clark faces Republican Jonathan Chavez for the full two-year term starting in January, the AJC reported.

NBC noted that once Blair and Democrat Aisha Wahab—who won a California special election last week—are sworn in, Republicans’ House majority would stand at 218-214, with one independent and two vacancies. The AJC similarly said the GOP majority would narrow to a two-vote margin if all members are present.

Why does this race matter beyond Georgia?

Scott had sought to become another daughter succeeding a late father in Congress, following Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva’s special-election win for her father’s former seat. Blair’s short tenure still matters for near-term House math and for votes before a new full-term member takes office in January.

For now, the Marcye Scott Everton Blair contest ends with Blair completing David Scott’s unfinished term—and with voters set to choose the longer-term successor this fall.