Bobby Scott (politician)

Bobby Scott (politician). Robert Cortez "Bobby" Scott is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 3rd congressional district since 1993. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the first African American elected to Congress from Virginia since Reconstruction and the first of Filipino American descent in U.S. history. Scott has built a legislative career focused on civil rights, criminal justice reform, and education, holding influential positions including Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Early life and education

Robert Cortez Scott was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Newport News, Virginia. His father, Charles Waldo Scott, was a prominent surgeon, and his mother, Mae Hamlin Scott, was an educator. He attended Harvard College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in government, and subsequently earned a Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School. After law school, Scott served as a Captain in the Army Reserve and worked as a lawyer in private practice in Newport News.

Early political career

Scott began his political career in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 40th district from 1978 to 1983. He was then elected to the Virginia Senate, succeeding future Governor L. Douglas Wilder in the 2nd district, where he served from 1983 to 1993. In the Virginia General Assembly, Scott focused on issues of economic opportunity and social justice, sponsoring legislation on housing and employment discrimination. His tenure in the state legislature established his reputation as a pragmatic and policy-oriented lawmaker.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1992, Scott succeeded Republican Thomas J. Bliley Jr. and has been reelected consistently since. He has served on several key committees, including the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Education and Labor, which he chaired from 2019 to 2023. A principal legislative achievement was his role as lead sponsor of the First Step Act, a major bipartisan criminal justice reform bill signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2018. He has also been a leading voice on the Affordable Care Act and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Political positions

Scott is a staunch advocate for progressive policies, particularly in education, labor, and civil rights. He has championed increases to the federal minimum wage through legislation like the Raise the Wage Act and has worked to strengthen the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. On criminal justice, he has pushed for sentencing reform and oversight of police practices. He is a consistent supporter of organized labor, voting rights protections, and expansive access to healthcare, often aligning with the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Scott maintains a liberal voting record, as analyzed by organizations like Americans for Democratic Action.

Electoral history

Scott won his initial election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992 with 79% of the vote. He has faced only nominal opposition in most subsequent elections in the heavily Democratic district, which includes parts of Norfolk, Newport News, and Hampton. Notable reelection victories include 2010, where he defeated Chuck Smith with over 70% of the vote, and 2022, where he won against Terry Namkung with 68%. His district's boundaries were reconfigured by the Supreme Court of the United States in 2023 following a ruling on the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia Category:Harvard College alumni Category:Boston College Law School alumni