# Don Scott
Don 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/)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Party | Democratic[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) |
| Current office | Speaker, Virginia House of Delegates (since 2024); Member, Virginia House of Delegates (88th district, since 2020)[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) |
| 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) |
| Born | 1965, Houston, Texas[1](https://www.donscott.com/about) |
| Education | Texas A&M University (Agricultural Education, 1987)[3](https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/9977) |
## Party affiliation
Scott 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)
## Early life and education
Scott 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)
In 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)
## Career
Scott 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)
After 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)
## Electoral history
- 2019: Elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from the 88th district.[1](https://www.donscott.com/about)
## Issues specific to Scott
On 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)
As 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)
## Positions and voting record
### Criminal justice
Scott 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)
### Education
On 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)
### Health care
Scott'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/)
### Constitutional amendments
Scott'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)
### Economic opportunity
Scott'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)
## References
1. [About — Speaker Don Scott for Virginia House of Delegates](https://www.donscott.com/about)
2. [Speaker Don Scott for Virginia House of Delegates](https://www.donscott.com/)
3. [Don Scott, Virginia House of Delegates history](https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/9977)
4. [News — Speaker Don Scott for Virginia House of Delegates](https://www.donscott.com/news)
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*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*
*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*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license