{ "id": "epbwjj0zgy", "slug": "don-scott", "title": "Don Scott", "updated": "2026-10-21", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials", "label": "US governors and state officials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators", "label": "State legislators", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators", "label": "Southern state legislators", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators.alpha-ru-to-t", "label": "Surnames Ru to T", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators.alpha-ru-to-t" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators.alpha-ru-to-t", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Surnames Ru to T", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators.alpha-ru-to-t", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021", "label": "United States · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials", "label": "US governors and state officials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators", "label": "State legislators", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators", "label": "Southern state legislators", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators.alpha-ru-to-t", "label": "Surnames Ru to T", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators.alpha-ru-to-t" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Don Scott (born 1965) is an American politician, a Democrat serving as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates since 2024 and representing the 88th district since 2020.", "snippet": "Don Scott (born 1965) is an American politician, a Democrat serving as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates since 2024 and representing the 88th district since 2020.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.southern-state-legislators.alpha-ru-to-t", "markdown": "# Don Scott\n\nDon Scott (born 1965) is an American politician serving as Speaker of the [Virginia House of Delegates](https://www.edgepedia.org/virginia-house-of-delegates), a position he has held since 2024.[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) A Democrat, he was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2019 from the 88th district, which he has represented since 2020; he previously served as House Minority Leader.[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) • [2](https://www.donscott.com/)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Party | Democratic[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) |\n| Current office | Speaker, Virginia House of Delegates (since 2024); Member, Virginia House of Delegates (88th district, since 2020)[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) |\n| Previous offices | House Minority Leader / House Democratic Leader; Officer, US Navy (1988–1991)[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) • [3](https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/9977) |\n| Born | 1965, Houston, Texas[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) |\n| Education | Texas A&M University (Agricultural Education, 1987)[3](https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/9977) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nScott is a Democrat.[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) He served as House Minority Leader, also described as House Democratic Leader, before his election as Speaker.[1](https://www.donscott.com/about)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nScott was born in 1965 in Houston, Texas, and was raised by his single mother, Helen Scott, alongside five siblings.[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) He attended a magnet program in high school and earned a degree in agriculture from [Texas A&M University](https://www.edgepedia.org/texas-a-and-m-university), completing a degree in Agricultural Education there in 1987.[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) • [3](https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/9977) He entered Officer Candidate School in [Rhode Island](https://www.edgepedia.org/rhode-island) and became a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy, serving as an officer from 1988 to 1991.[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) • [3](https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/9977)\n\nIn 1994, Scott was convicted of drug conspiracy charges and sentenced to ten years in prison. After his release in 2002, he worked in the workforce development sector and opened a law practice in [Portsmouth, Virginia](https://www.edgepedia.org/portsmouth-virginia), becoming an attorney in 2014.[1](https://www.donscott.com/about)\n\n## Career\n\nScott was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from the 88th district in 2019.[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) His campaign site states that he entered politics that year \"with a vision to reform criminal justice, fight for economic prosperity, and expand public education.\"[1](https://www.donscott.com/about)\n\nAfter the 2022 elections, he was elected by his peers as House Minority Leader.[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) His campaign site says that in 2023 he \"led the charge to regain control of the House.\"[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) On January 10, 2024, he was elected Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, becoming the first Black Speaker in the chamber's history.[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) His office website lists committee and regional work including the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority, where he was chairman, and the Southeastern Employment and Training Organization, where he was vice president.[3](https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/9977)\n\n## Electoral history\n\n- 2019: Elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from the 88th district.[1](https://www.donscott.com/about)\n\n## Issues specific to Scott\n\nOn January 19, 2025, President Joe Biden granted Scott a pardon for his 1994 conviction. His campaign site describes the pardon as an acknowledgment of his personal transformation.[1](https://www.donscott.com/about)\n\nAs Speaker, Scott has issued public statements on a range of matters. His news page lists statements urging Virginians to vote yes on a redistricting amendment and on Virginia Supreme Court decisions allowing a redistricting referendum, as well as a statement condemning mailers that he said exploited Jim Crow imagery to mislead Black voters.[4](https://www.donscott.com/news) He and Senator Louise Lucas announced toll debt relief for [Hampton Roads](https://www.edgepedia.org/hampton-roads) residents, and he established a $100,000 endowed scholarship at [Hampton University](https://www.edgepedia.org/hampton-university), where he also gave a commencement address.[4](https://www.donscott.com/news) He was re-elected Speaker, according to his news page, and received the Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Soaring Eagle Award from the American Association for Justice.[4](https://www.donscott.com/news)\n\n## Positions and voting record\n\n### Criminal justice\n\nScott has made criminal justice reform a stated priority; his campaign site says he entered politics in 2019 \"with a vision to reform criminal justice.\"[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) His own experience of conviction, imprisonment, and release is central to how he presents his public career, and his site states that he worked \"to prove that redemption is possible.\"[1](https://www.donscott.com/about)\n\n### Education\n\nOn his campaign website, Scott writes that as Speaker he has focused on \"record investments in public schools.\"[2](https://www.donscott.com/) His campaign site also says that under his leadership Virginia has seen teacher pay raises.[1](https://www.donscott.com/about)\n\n### Health care\n\nScott's campaign site says his leadership has brought \"a focus on expanding health care access in all parts of the Commonwealth.\"[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) His campaign homepage lists \"expanding access to health care\" among his top priorities.[2](https://www.donscott.com/)\n\n### Constitutional amendments\n\nScott's campaign site says there has been \"progress toward securing constitutional amendments protecting abortion rights, same-sex marriage, and voting rights for returning citizens\" under his leadership.[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) His news page lists a statement from Scott urging Virginians to vote yes on a redistricting amendment and a statement on Governor Spanberger signing legislation protecting Virginians' rights and letting voters decide on constitutional amendments.[4](https://www.donscott.com/news)\n\n### Economic opportunity\n\nScott's campaign homepage lists \"creating real economic opportunity for working families\" among the campaign's top priorities.[2](https://www.donscott.com/) His news page lists a joint statement with Senator Louise Lucas on federal grant cancellation affecting [Portsmouth](https://www.edgepedia.org/portsmouth) students and a statement on Virginia's business ranking amid federal job cuts.[4](https://www.donscott.com/news)\n\n## References\n\n1. [About — Speaker Don Scott for Virginia House of Delegates](https://www.donscott.com/about)\n2. [Speaker Don Scott for Virginia House of Delegates](https://www.donscott.com/)\n3. [Don Scott, Virginia House of Delegates history](https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/9977)\n4. [News — Speaker Don Scott for Virginia House of Delegates](https://www.donscott.com/news)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › US governors and state officials › State legislators › Southern state legislators › Surnames Ru to T*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 28, 2026; Sep 29, 2026; Sep 30, 2026 · Edited: Sep 28, 2026; Sep 29, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Sep 30, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/don-scott", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/don-scott.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Don Scott\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/don-scott. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Don Scott](https://www.edgepedia.org/don-scott)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/don-scott](https://www.edgepedia.org/don-scott). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Don Scott\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/don-scott. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Don Scott is an American politician, a Democrat serving as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates since 2024 and representing the 88th district since 2020." }