Everton Blair is joining an increasingly growing field of primary challengers hoping to oust 79-year-old veteran Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.).
Blair, 32, said he launched his campaign after becoming frustrated by the Democratic Party’s response to President Donald Trump’s return to office and full GOP control of Washington.
“It’s time for a clean slate, and we need a new bench if we’re going to really rise to the occasion,” Blair told us in an interview. “Folks are just kind of doing more of the same and I don’t think we can stand for that anymore.”
Blair is running on his public service experience, particularly around education. He was the youngest member and first person of color to be elected to the Gwinnett County Board of Education in 2018. Blair served as board chair during the COVID pandemic.
Blair also served as a White House fellow under President Barack Obama with a focus on expanding educational opportunities for Black Americans. Blair has a PhD in education from Harvard and a master’s degree from Stanford University.
Scott has faced a slew of primary challengers in the past. In 2024, Scott beat six challengers to advance to the general election. Scott is currently in his 12th term representing Georgia’s 13th District.
But Blair said Scott is uniquely vulnerable this cycle as he faces a new swath of challengers and the district has shifted to include more of Gwinnett County, where Blair served.
Scott has also been under heavy scrutiny for his health issues and age. Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) defeated Scott for the top spot on the House Agriculture Committee. And Scott missed weeks of votes last year due to treatment for back issues.
“Some of his vulnerabilities [are] around his age and and his missing votes due to illness,” Blair said. “At a certain point, you just have to be able to do the job, and there are plenty of people who can do this job better.”
Scott’s campaign didn’t respond to a request for comment. Scott hasn’t announced yet whether he’s running for reelection.
Scott is facing at least three other newcomer challengers in addition to Blair. Jonathan Bonner, a local party organizer, Army veteran Simeon Nunnally and Georgia State Sen. Emanuel Jones have announced their campaigns.
