Don Scott Nominated as Virginia's First Black House Speaker

Democrats Flip Control of House of Delegates, Marking Two More Years of Divided Government

Del. Don Scott has been nominated as the first Black speaker of Virginia's state House, marking a historic moment in the more than 400-year history of the chamber.
The Democrats have flipped control of the House of Delegates in the recent legislative elections, maintaining their majority in the state Senate and ensuring at least two more years of divided government.
Scott, a U.S. Navy veteran and trial lawyer, has seen a rapid rise in power among Virginia Democrats since his first election in 2019. He has pledged to advance progressive priorities during Gov. Glenn Youngkin's term, including passing a budget that favors Virginians over corporations, increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and strengthening gun-control laws.
Scott's personal story of resilience and second chances, including overcoming a felony drug conviction and serving prison time, has been highlighted as reflective of many Virginians and people across the nation.
Scott has served as the minority leader since 2022 and has been a top political adversary of Gov. Youngkin. Despite their differences, Scott sees a path forward to working with Youngkin in a bipartisan way on key issues.