Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) has died at the age of 80, according to Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.).
Foxx announced his death in the House chamber on April 22.
The cause of death is not publicly known.
Scott served in elected office for 50 years, and spent more than two decades in Congress.
First elected to Congress in 2003 after serving in both chambers of the Georgia state legislature for almost 28 years, he was the first black person to serve as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
Scott’s death brings the current number of House members to 430.
The vacancy gives House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and the Republican Party a slightly wider majority in the lower congressional chamber.
Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle expressed their condolences on X.
“We are all deeply saddened by the news of Rep. David Scott’s passing. For more than two decades, David faithfully served the people of Georgia’s 13th Congressional District and spent the majority of his life in service to others,” Johnson said.
“We are lifting up David’s wife Alfredia, his two daughters, and his grandchildren in prayer as they mourn.”
Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.) wrote: “Congressman Scott was a champion for working families in Georgia for his over 20 years in Congress and beyond. He will be missed dearly, and his impact will be felt for generations to come.”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said: “Saddened to hear of the passing of Congressman David Scott. Over two decades in Congress serving the people of Georgia is a legacy worth remembering.”
“He served Georgia with dedication and was a proud member of the Congressional Black Caucus, where he stood firm for justice and opportunity for our communities,” Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) wrote.
Scott was ranked the 18th most bipartisan member of Congress for the 114th Congress, which was between 2015 and 2017.
Born in South Carolina in 1945, Scott was first elected to public office in 1975. He served in the Georgia House of Representatives until 1983, when he was elected to the state Senate, where he served until 2003.
He was then voted into the House in Georgia’s newly established 13th Congressional District, where he served 12 terms.
One of Scott’s last actions in Congress was to introduce a resolution to spread awareness about the chronic disease endometriosis.
Scott is the fifth member of the 119th Congress to die, following Reps. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), and Sylvester Turner (D-Texas).
