Two races in politically different parts of the country take center stage today
GA-13
In April, twelve‑term U.S. Representative David Scott (D‑Atlanta), the brother‑in‑law of legendary Atlanta Braves star Hank Aaron, passed away at age 80, leaving Georgia’s Atlanta‑area 13th District vacant. Before his service in Congress, Scott served five terms in the state Senate and four in the Georgia House of Representatives.
In last night’s special election to fill the remainder of the current term, the late Congressman’s daughter, Marcye Scott (D), placed first among three Democratic and two Republican candidates. She fell short of the 50% threshold to win outright, receiving 46%, which sends her and state Sen. Everton Blair (D‑Stone Mountain), who finished second with 37%, to an August 25th special general election.
State Rep. Jasmine Clark (D‑Lilburn) won the regular Democratic primary and is the party’s nominee for the November general election. Given the district’s strong Democratic lean, Clark will win the seat in November. She chose not to run in the special election, knowing that she will be sworn into office when the 120th Congress convenes in January. Ms. Clark is a prohibitive favorite over Republican nominee Jonathan Chavez.
Georgia’s 13th District wraps around the eastern side of Atlanta and touches six counties: Rockdale in full, and parts of Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry, and Newton. The district is solidly Democratic, with a 68.9D – 29.5R partisan lean (Dave’s Redistricting App). Its population is 72.2% minority, including a 51.4% Black voting age population. It is one of four Atlanta‑metro districts with a majority‑Black population.
The Georgia legislature will enter a special session after the 2026 election to redraw its congressional map in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Callais v. Louisiana ruling, which eliminates federal protection for majority‑minority districts. Under the ruling, aligned with the Constitution rather than the affected sections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, race may no longer be a factor in drawing district boundaries.
As a result, the Atlanta‑area map will be significantly reconfigured. While many metro districts will still contain large minority populations due to regional demographics, the current configuration of four majority‑minority districts is unlikely to remain intact. The 13th District, which sits on the metro’s outer ring and spans multiple counties, is particularly likely to undergo major changes, and could conceivably receive a new district number for the 2028 cycle.
With the Scott vacancy now headed to a runoff, three other House seats remain vacant. The California district of resigned Rep. Eric Swalwell (D) will be filled on August 18th. No special elections have yet been scheduled to replace resigned Reps. Tony Gonzales (R‑TX) and Sheila Cherfilus‑McCormick (D‑FL).
SD-Governor
In the Mount Rushmore State’s Republican gubernatorial runoff last night, Gov. Larry Rhoden secured the 2026 GOP nomination with a decisive 71–29% victory over businessman Toby Doeden.
In the June 2nd primary, Mr. Doeden was a surprise first‑place finisher, while Gov. Rhoden narrowly edged at‑large U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R‑Mitchell) for second place and the right to advance to the runoff. Under South Dakota law, a runoff between the top two finishers is required if no candidate receives at least 35% of the vote. In the primary, Doeden claimed 30.6%, followed by Rhoden at 25.2%, Johnson at 23.4%, and state House Speaker Jon Hansen at 20.8%.
Gov. Rhoden ascended to the governorship at the start of 2025 when then‑Gov. Kristi Noem (R) resigned to accept a federal appointment as Homeland Security Secretary. Before winning the Lt. Governor’s position on Noem’s 2018 ticket, Mr. Rhoden served 16 years in the state legislature – ten in the House and six in the Senate. In 2014, he ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate, losing the Republican primary to current Senator and former Governor Mike Rounds.
Now, as the official Republican nominee, Gov. Rhoden is well positioned for November and will easily defeat former state Senator Dan Ahlers (D) and win the Governorship in his own right.
