Runoff election set for special congressional seat in Georgia

Marcye Scott, daughter of the late Rep. David Scott, D-Ga., and Everton Blair have advanced to a runoff election scheduled for August 25 in the special election to fill the remainder of Congressman Scott's term. Neither candidate secured the required 50% majority to win outright; Scott received 47.5% of the vote while Blair received 36.1%, with Republican Caesar Gonzales trailing at 8.5%. The runoff will determine who serves the remaining weeks of the late Congressman’s term in the Democratic-leaning 13th Congressional District of Atlanta, following his death in April at age 80. The general election for a full two-year term will take place on November 3, with Democratic state Rep. Jasmine Clark having won the primary for that term with approximately 56% of the vote. Georgia law mandates a runoff when no candidate achieves a majority. Scott announced her candidacy during her father's funeral, emphasizing her experience working alongside him for over two decades. Blair, a former Gwinnett County school board chair, has a background in education policy and leadership. The winner of the runoff will contribute to the Democratic representation in a closely divided House.