CONYERS, Ga. (AP) — U.S. Rep. David Scott faces several Democratic primary opponents in his quest for a 12th term in Congress in a heavily reconfigured suburban Atlanta district. But with early voting underway ahead of the May 21 primary election, the 78-year-old is ignoring his challengers and trying to secure another nomination.
The attacks on Scott are something of a microcosm of Democrats’ concerns about President Joe Biden, including claims that he is too old and that he is disconnected from young voters. He’s another example of how longtime members of Congress continue to serve even as they age, a drama that played out on a much bigger stage last year. with illness and death of the California Democrat US Senator Dianne Feinstein.
But unlike those cases, concerns about Scott’s health may not resonate widely, said Andra Gillespie, a political scientist at Emory University.
“This is the kind of thing that we talk about among insiders, among politicians,” Gillespie said. “I don’t know how much this was disseminated outside.”
Many voters still don’t know which district they now live in. After a judge overturned Georgia’s previous congressional map, racially discriminatoryhe approved a new map drawn by the Republicans with big changes. Scott’s 13th District was pushed north and east into Rockdale County and parts of Newton and Gwinnett counties.
Voters are more than a little confused. In Rockdale County, many residents did not know that Scott was now their congressman.
“We don’t know much about David Scott other than he’s had this district before,” said Beverly Dotson of Conyers. “I know he’s been in Congress for a while.”
Scott’s campaign plastered the neighborhood with billboards and signs, but he made no public appearances. Democratic opponents denounce his failure to participate an Atlanta Press Club debate illustrates Scott’s absenteeism.
“He hopes to sneak into power once again. “The voters are doing it again – let me have one more chance to hold on to power until I die in office or retire or maybe pass it on to someone like it was a cigarette,” said one opponent, attorney Brian Johnson.
When he qualified to run in February, Scott dismissed that speculation.
“Thank God I’m healthy and moving and doing people’s jobs,” Scott said. He said he was seeking another mandate to improve funding for historically black colleges such as Fort Valley State University and to provide more help to struggling homeowners. Scott, until recently a member of the moderate Blue Dog Democratic coalition, could chair the House Agriculture Committee if Democrats regain the majority.
Among Scott’s opponents is Marcus Flowers, who rose to national prominence when the Army veteran and former military contractor raised an astonishing $17 million from outraged Democrats to challenge Rep. Republican of the United States. Marjorie Taylor Greene in 2022. Although Flowers surpassed Greene – who herself…
