Former Gwinnett County School Board Chairman Everton Blair has won the special election to serve the rest of Rep. David Scott’s term in Georgia’s 13th District, NBC News projects, defeating the late congressman’s daughter.
Blair’s victory is an upset, as he trailed Marcye Scott during the first round of voting last month 46% to 38%. The two advanced from a crowded all-party special primary election in July after no candidate got a majority of the vote.
In Tuesday’s runoff, Blair led 53% to 47% with most of the expected vote tallied.
Blair supported a series of progressive policies, including a tax on households making over $50 million, “Medicare for All,” universal childcare and massive federal investments in clean energy synonymous with the Green New Deal push.
Marcye Scott tried to frame her campaign as an extension of her father’s legacy, saying she would “ensure the work already underway” advocating for the district continues.
David Scott died at age 80 on April 22 after more than two decades in Congress. He was previously the first Black chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
Blair’s stay in Washington won’t be long. State Rep. Jasmine Clark, who didn’t run in the special election, won the regularly scheduled primary for the seat and is the heavy favorite to win the November election in this deep-blue district in the Atlanta suburbs. Blair ran in that primary election but lost to Clark.
Scott had sought to be the second daughter in recent memory to succeed her late father in Congress. Last year, Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva won a special election for the seat that had been held by her father, Rep. Raúl Grijalva. She is running again this fall for a full two-year term.
Once Blair and Democrat Aisha Wahab, who won a special election last week to replace former Rep. Eric Swalwell in California last week, are sworn in, Republicans’ House majority will stand at 218-214, with one independent and two vacancies.
