At just 34 years old, Everton Blair Jr. has carved his name into the history books. The former high school maths teacher and chair of the Gwinnett County School Board in suburban Atlanta has won a special election to represent Georgia’s 13th Congressional District, succeeding the late Representative David Scott.
Blair’s victory is groundbreaking. He becomes the first openly gay Black person ever elected to Congress from a Southern state and the first LGBTQ+ representative from Georgia. He is only the third openly gay Black individual to serve in the House of Representatives, following New York lawmakers Ritchie Torres and Mondaire Jones.
Born and raised in Gwinnett County to Jamaican immigrant parents, Blair’s journey to Washington is one of academic rigour and public service. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a PhD in education from Harvard University, alongside a master’s degree from Stanford University.
Before entering politics, he taught mathematics in Atlanta Public Schools. In 2018, he made history on a local level as the first person of colour and youngest member ever elected to the Gwinnett County Board of Education, later serving as its chair.
Running on a progressive, people first agenda that champions Medicare for All, environmental justice, and fully funded education, Blair defeated Marcye Scott, the late congressman’s daughter, in a run off election with nearly 54% of the vote.
His campaign was bolstered by endorsements from figures such as Congresswoman Lucy McBath and the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.
Though his tenure will be brief, ending in January 2027, Blair sees his term as a chance to bring fresh energy to Congress. “People are craving for change,” he told the Georgia Recorder after his win. With his historic election, Everton Blair has already proven that representation and progress are possible, even in the heart of the South.
