CONYERS, Georgia – U.S. Rep. David Scott faces several Democratic primary opponents in his quest for a 12th term in Congress in a heavily reconfigured suburban Atlanta district. But with early voting underway ahead of the May 21 primary election, the 78-year-old is ignoring his opponents and trying to slide toward renomination.
The attacks on Scott are in some ways a microcosm of Democrats’ concerns about President Joe Biden, including allegations that he is too old and out of touch with young voters. He is another example of how senior members of Congress continue to serve even as they age, a drama that played out on a much larger stage last year with the illness and death of California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
But unlike those cases, concerns about Scott’s health may not resonate much, said Andra Gillespie, a political scientist at Emory University.
“It’s the kind of thing that gets talked about among insiders, among politicians,” Gillespie said. “I don’t know to what extent this was really publicized out there.”
Many voters are still figuring out which district they live in now. After a judge struck down Georgia’s previous congressional map as racially discriminatory, he approved a new Republican-drawn map with major changes. Scott’s 13th district was pushed north and east into Rockdale County and parts of Newton and Gwinnett counties.
Voters are more than a little confused. In Rockdale County, many residents didn’t realize that Scott is now a member of Congress.
“We don’t know much about David Scott other than he’s had this district before,” said Beverly Dotson of Conyers. “I know he’s been in Congress for a while.”
Scott’s campaign has blanketed the district with billboards and posters, but he has not made public appearances. Democratic opponents say his failure to participate in a debate at the Atlanta Press Club exemplifies Scott’s absenteeism.
“He hopes to sneak into office once again. ‘Voters do it one more time – let me have one more chance to hold power in office until I die in office or retire or maybe pass it to someone like a cigarette,'” said one opponent, the lawyer Brian Johnson.
When he qualified to run in February, Scott dismissed that speculation.
“Thank God I’m in good health, moving around and doing people’s jobs,” Scott said. He said he is seeking another mandate to increase funding for historically black colleges such as Fort Valley State University and to provide more assistance to struggling homeowners. Scott, until recently a member of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition of Democrats, could chair the House Agriculture Committee if Democrats regain the majority.
Among Scott’s opponents is Marcus Flowers, who rose to national prominence when the Army veteran and former military contractor raised an astonishing $17 million from outraged Democrats to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in 2022. Although Flowers outperformed Greene — which itself raises money across the country — he got just 34 percent of the vote in the heavily Republican 14th District in northwest Georgia.
Flowers said he is now running against Scott because he believes Scott’s reliance on contributions from corporations and political action committees means he is not oriented toward the needs of the district. Flowers said his candidacy continues the 2022 effort, saying he will face extremists if he is elected.
“I think if there are enough people fighting and resisting this, then some of those members who are not on the far right or the far right will speak out and fight back,” Flowers said.
But Flowers’ fundraising ability doesn’t translate to this race. Scott had raised nearly a million dollars as of March 31 and had $545,000 in cash on hand. Flowers raised $142,000 and spent nearly $30,000.
The only other candidate who raised any money was former East Point councilwoman Karen René. She said if she is elected, she will leverage her experience on the council and her work on a federal jobs program to help local governments and promote business development.
“I’m running because I believe I can meet people where they are in their communities, meeting their needs,” René said.
Both Johnson and former South Fulton councilman Mark Baker are running to Scott’s left.
“So I’m not running as a seasoned politician or as a liberal or a conservative or any of those things,” Johnson said during the debate. “I’m running as a true Democrat focused on democratic issues.”
Baker argues that Scott has been too friendly to Republicans. He said that while on the South Fulton council, he advocated for an end to no-knock police raids, the decriminalization of marijuana and paying reparations to the descendants of slaves.
“He has been asleep at the wheel for a long time and supported the Republicans who have now taken away our rights,” Baker said of Scott.
Other Democratic challengers are Rashid Malik, who wants the U.S. government to do more to end the Israel-Hamas war, and Uloma Kama, a doctor and public health advocate. A second round would be held on June 18 if no one wins a majority on May 21. The winner will face the winner of the Republican primary, Jonathan Chavez or Johsie Cruz Fletcher, in November.
Scott did not respond to interview requests. But his wife and close campaign adviser, Alfredia Scott, said her husband is a better choice than any of his opponents.
“When the congressman decides to leave, he will not be expelled,” she said. “He will withdraw.”
