Special Election Called in GA To Replace Deceased Dem Lawmaker
A closely watched congressional race remains unresolved after voters declined to hand any candidate an outright victory, setting up another election to determine who will serve the final months of a late lawmaker’s term.
The outcome keeps attention focused on Georgia for several more weeks as Democrats prepare for another intra-party contest in a district they have dominated for years.
Marcye Scott and Everton Blair advanced Tuesday to an Aug. 25 runoff in the special election to fill the remainder of the late Rep. David Scott’s congressional term after neither candidate received the majority needed to win outright.
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According to the Associated Press, Scott received approximately 47.5% of the vote while Blair earned about 36.1% with most of the ballots counted.
Republican Caesar Gonzales finished a distant third with roughly 8.5% of the vote.
Georgia law requires a candidate to receive more than 50% of the vote to win a special election outright.
Because no candidate reached that threshold, the top two finishers will meet in a runoff next month.
The winner will serve only the remainder of David Scott’s current term following his death in April at the age of 80.
The special election is separate from the race that will determine who represents Georgia’s 13th Congressional District for the next full two-year term beginning in January.
Voters already selected nominees for that race during the regularly scheduled primary in May.
Democratic state Rep. Jasmine Clark won that primary with about 56% of the vote and will face Republican Jonathan Chavez in the Nov. 3 general election.
Blair also competed in the May Democratic primary for the full term but finished third with approximately 12% of the vote.
Tuesday’s special election featured all candidates on a single ballot regardless of party affiliation.
Originally, six candidates sought the seat.
However, Democrat Tony Brown was disqualified after the qualifying fee he submitted was returned because of insufficient funds, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.
State officials said any votes cast for Brown would not be counted.
The remaining candidates included Scott, Blair, Gonzales, attorney Carlos Moore and Republican Fayth Park.
Scott entered the race shortly after her father’s funeral in May.
She has campaigned on completing the work her father began, particularly projects involving pending federal funding requests for communities throughout the district.
“Right after my dad passed, a lot of the City Council or the commissioners and chair people, they wanted to know what was going to happen with these projects,” Scott told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“And that’s really why I’m running: to complete that.”
Blair previously served on the Gwinnett County Board of Education after first being elected in 2018.
He later became chairman of the school board and has emphasized his background in education throughout the campaign.
According to his campaign, Blair earned a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics, a master’s degree from Stanford University and a doctorate in education leadership from Harvard University.
Although the winner will serve only the remainder of David Scott’s term, the special election will temporarily reduce one of the vacancies in the House of Representatives.
Once the winner is sworn into office, Democrats will gain one additional seat while Republicans will continue holding a narrow House majority.
Georgia’s 13th Congressional District includes all of Rockdale County along with portions of Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry and Newton counties.
The district has consistently favored Democratic candidates in recent elections.
David Scott won reelection there in 2024 with approximately 72% of the vote.
Breaking: Norway's King Harald passes away
The King of Norway King Harald has passed away
News has just come in, that the King of Norway, King Harald V has passed away and is survived by his son, Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Queen Sonja.
According to the BBC the 89-year-old monarch had been in treatment for 10 days at this point and was receiving treatment for a rare blood condition called haemolytic anaemia, its being said.
For those unversed with the disorder it is where red blood cells end up getting destroyed in the body way faster than the bone marrow can make new ones. It leads to dizziness, shortness of breath and a myriad of other conditions.
On Thursday an official update was also shared, whereby the Palace had revealed how serious his condition was. What is also pertinent to mention is that the royal has been on the throne since 1991, and is considered Europe’s oldest head of state, according to the outlet.
His son, the Crown Prince is also 53-years’ old and has already been serving as regent while his father was on medical leave.
The outlet’s report also says, “King Harald has been treated in recent weeks with cortisone for haemolytic anaemia, a condition that causes the number of red blood cells in the body to be reduced, and leads to fatigue and shortness of breath.”
The official website has also gone down since then, with the simple message, "It is with deep grief that we announce that His Majesty King Harald has passed away. King Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet Friday 28 August at 6:35 AM."
The One Guest At Dolly Parton's Funeral No One Expected
When the world lost an irreplaceable icon, the entire globe stopped to mourn. Yet, behind the scenes, away from the glittering lights and the massive stadium farewells, a deeply personal and shockingly quiet goodbye was taking place. The Queen of Country had meticulously planned her own farewell, dictating exactly who was allowed inside the room. But when the guest list was finally revealed, one specific name left the public absolutely stunned. Who was the unexpected guest, and what does it reveal about the beloved star's final days? Read the full breakdown below and find the complete video analysis at the end of this article.
1. A World in Mourning: The Tributes Pour In
The video begins by painting a picture of the overwhelming global grief following Dolly Parton's passing in August 2026. The tributes were historic. From Paul McCartney to Seth MacFarlane, and from world leaders to ordinary fans, everyone agreed that the world had lost someone truly irreplaceable. President Donald Trump even ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide for an entire week—an unprecedented honor for a country singer, proving just how deeply her philanthropy and universal kindness had impacted the nation.
2. The Quiet Goodbye: Planned to Perfection
Contrary to the massive public outpourings of grief, Dolly’s actual farewell was intensely private. According to the video, Dolly had been planning her own funeral for years to ensure her loved ones wouldn't be burdened with decisions. She explicitly requested to be buried in a comfortable cotton dress and her signature high heels, resting beside her husband of 59 years, Carl Dean, who had passed away just 17 months prior. She requested no massive public service, asking instead that fans donate to her Imagination Library to give children the gift of reading. The actual funeral room in Nashville was strictly reserved for "immediate family only."
3. The Unexpected Guest: A Chosen Family
The climax of the story revolves around the strict "immediate family only" guest list. Sibling, nieces, and nephews were there, but the world was shocked to learn that pop star Miley Cyrus was also invited into that sacred, private room.
While many knew Dolly as Miley’s "honorary godmother," the video reveals the profound depth of their bond. From faxing love notes to discovering they were actual blood relatives (seventh cousins, once removed), Dolly viewed Miley not as a celebrity connection, but as true family. Dolly’s decision to include Miley in her final moments perfectly encapsulated her life's philosophy: she refused to categorize people, choosing genuine love and deep relationships over industry reputation.
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