An 80-year-old Democratic congressman from suburban Atlanta hasn’t voted in six straight elections — including the 2024 presidential race. Representative David Scott, who’s held Georgia’s 13th District seat for over two decades, is now facing a serious primary challenge from state Representative Dr. Jasmine Clark, who uncovered the stunning record through a public records request.
“Our right to vote is sacred and constantly under attack. I cannot fathom any elected official asking his constituents for their votes every two years without even bothering to go vote himself,” Clark posted on X, adding that Scott no longer lives in the district he represents.
For many Georgians, it’s a troubling reflection of what’s become a recurring issue in Washington — politicians who hold onto power long after they’ve stopped showing up, literally and figuratively. Scott’s absence at the polls is only the latest sign that age and capacity questions inside Congress can’t be ignored any longer.
In recent months, Scott has drawn attention for what some describe as moments of confusion and disconnection. In June, he claimed to have attended the 1956 premiere of The Ten Commandments — a film released when he was just 11 years old. At a February hearing, he gave a rambling speech on tariffs that ran over his allotted time before being cut off. “You have the president just using these tariffs as a means of fight or like a war. And this is not going to do it. Everybody is not going to be Mexico or Canada,” Scott said.
Last December, Scott reportedly cursed at a photographer who snapped his picture as aides pushed him in a wheelchair outside the Capitol.
Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) posted on X: “Here’s a picture of 79-year-old congressman @repdavidscott yelling at a photographer, ‘Who gave you the right to take my picture, asshole?’ (The picture was taken in a public place.)”
Behind the scenes, even Democratic insiders are uneasy. According to Politico, colleagues, staff, and lobbyists have privately questioned whether Scott can still handle the demands of his role as the ranking member on the powerful House Agriculture Committee. Those close to him say he now struggles to sustain detailed conversations and often reads directly from a script — a far cry from the energetic leadership his district once knew.
The problem extends beyond one seat. Three congressional Democrats — Representatives Gerry Connolly, Sylvester Turner, and Raúl Grijalva — have died this year, all over the age of 70. Their passing has tightened the House’s already narrow margin and reignited concern about an aging political class clinging to power.
Scott’s district may be safely Democratic, but his detachment from both his duties and his voters underscores a deeper issue: a Washington culture that prizes seniority over service. The same system that shields long-tenured lawmakers also keeps fresh voices and common-sense reform at bay.
Perhaps, like Nancy Pelosi before him, Scott should recognize when it’s time to step aside. Washington doesn’t need more career politicians reading from scripts — it needs leaders willing to show up, vote, and represent the people who sent them there.
