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Blair Wins Georgia 13th, Becomes First Southern Gay Black MP

9/2/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Blair, a 34-year-old former teacher, won the special election for Georgia’s 13th congressional district.
He became the third openly gay Black person elected to the U.S. Congress.
He is the first openly gay Black congressperson from a Southern state.
He is also Georgia’s first openly gay person elected to Congress.
Blair will serve only the remainder of the late Rep. David Scott’s term which ends this year.

History

Historical Context

Harvey Milk’s 1977 election as San Francisco’s first openly gay supervisor, winning roughly 30% of the vote in the new district system, sparked a wave of LGBTQ activism that helped defeat the anti-gay Briggs Initiative on Nov 7, 1978. Decades later, the 2024 victory of a gay Black candidate in Georgia’s 13th congressional district illustrates how that early breakthrough has broadened LGBTQ representation across the United States.

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Story summary

Blair, a 34-year-old former teacher, won the special election for Georgia’s 13th congressional district.
He became the third openly gay Black person elected to the U.S. Congress.
He is the first openly gay Black congressperson from a Southern state.
He is also Georgia’s first openly gay person elected to Congress.
Blair will serve only the remainder of the late Rep. David Scott’s term which ends this year.

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