Full Breakdown
Runoff Set for Georgia’s 13th Congressional District After Special Election Deadlock
7/29/2026, 5:53:19 AM
Background and Context
The vacancy arose when Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), who had served since 2003 and was the first Black chair of the House Agriculture Committee, died in April 2024. The 13th District, created after the 2000 Census, encompasses portions of six Atlanta-area counties—Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton and Rockdale—and is one of the state’s most heavily Black and Democratic districts.
Six candidates appeared on the special-election ballot: Democrats Marcye Scott (the late congressman’s daughter), former Gwinnett County School Board chair Everton Blair II, former judge Carlos Moore, and Tony Brown (later disqualified); Republicans Caesar Gonzales and Fayth Park. The election used a “top-two” format: any candidate reaching a majority (50 % + 1) would win outright; otherwise the two highest vote-getters advance to a runoff, regardless of party affiliation.
Election Results and Data
Decision Desk HQ reported that no candidate achieved a majority, sending Marcye Scott and Everton Blair II to a runoff. Scott received 48.01 % of the vote, while Blair earned 35.59 %. The remaining votes were split among the other four candidates.
ABC27 noted that the district contains about 584,000 registered voters as of July 21. In the 2024 general election, roughly 358,000 votes were cast, with about 78 % cast early or by mail. Early-vote reporting on the special election showed nearly 8,700 ballots submitted by the close of polls, the bulk from Gwinnett County, which accounts for roughly 46 % of the district’s electorate.
Official Statements and Responses
The Associated Press explained that the runoff will be held on August 25, a scheduled date, and the winner will serve the remainder of Scott’s term through the end of 2026. The AP also clarified that it will declare a winner only when the vote count eliminates any realistic scenario for a trailing candidate to overtake the leader, and that a recount may be requested if the margin is <= 0.5 % of the total vote.
The Hill reported that Marcye Scott told the *Atlanta Journal-Constitution* she considered a political bid after her father’s death and views the special election as a way to continue his legacy.
What’s Next
If a candidate secures a majority in the August 25 runoff, that individual will represent the district for the remainder of the current congressional term, ending in January 2027. The district will hold a regular election in November 2026 for a full two-year term. State Rep. Jasmine Clark (D) won the Democratic primary for that November race with 56 % of the vote and will face Republican Jonathan Chavez, who ran unopposed for the GOP nomination.
The outcome of the runoff could influence the narrow Republican majority in the U.S. House, given the district’s strong Democratic leanings.
