Representative David Scott, a Georgia Democrat, has died at the age of 80. A senior House Democrat familiar with the matter confirmed the news to Axios. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported the death, citing confirmation from his congressional office.
Scott served in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than 20 years. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Axios regarding his passing.
The lawmaker's death creates a vacancy in Georgia's 13th Congressional District. The district, which he represented, covers parts of the Atlanta metropolitan area.
His passing will trigger a special election to fill the seat, a process governed by Georgia state law. The timeline for that election and the potential political implications were not immediately clear.
The news marks the end of a long congressional career for the Democratic figure.