Don Scott (Virginia politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Don Scott
Scott in 2023
58th Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates
Incumbent
Assumed office January 10, 2024
Preceded by	Todd Gilbert
Minority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office June 1, 2022 – January 10, 2024
Preceded by	Eileen Filler-Corn
Succeeded by	Todd Gilbert
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Incumbent
Assumed office January 8, 2020
Preceded by	Matthew James
Constituency	80th district (2020–2024) 88th district (2024–present)
Personal details
Born	(1965-03-05) March 5, 1965 (age 60) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mellanda Colson
Children	1
Education	Texas A&M University (BA) Louisiana State University (JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1986–1991

Don Leonard Scott Jr. (born March 5, 1965) is an American lawyer and politician. He is a veteran who served in the U.S. Navy. As a member of the Democratic Party, he represents the 88th district in the Virginia House of Delegates.

From 2022 to 2024, he was the leader of the minority party in the Virginia House of Delegates. On January 10, 2024, Don Scott became the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. He is the first African American to hold this important position in Virginia's history.

About Don Scott

Early Life and Education

Don Scott was born on March 5, 1965, in Houston, Texas. He grew up in Houston with his mother and five siblings. He went to a special high school that focused on aerodynamics.

After high school, he attended Texas A&M University. He earned a degree in agriculture.

Military Service

After college, Don Scott joined the U.S. Navy. He served as an officer until 1991. During his time in the Navy, he served on a destroyer ship called the USS John Hancock. He received an honorable discharge when he left the Navy.

Becoming a Lawyer

After his military service, Don Scott continued his education. He earned a law degree (called a JD) from Louisiana State University Law School in 1994.

His Career

Working in Workforce Development

In 2002, Don Scott started working at KRA Corporation. This company helps people find jobs and develop new skills. He moved to Portsmouth, Virginia, and eventually became a senior leader at the company.

Practicing Law

In 2015, Don Scott became a licensed lawyer. He opened his own law firm. He worked on different types of cases, including family law and civil cases. In 2022, he became a partner at another law firm called Breit Biniazan Trial Lawyers.

Getting into Politics

Don Scott decided to run for office in 2019. He wanted to represent the 80th district in the Virginia House of Delegates. The previous representative, Matthew James, had left the position.

Scott ran without any opponents in the first round of voting. In the main election, he won with 66.01% of the votes. He defeated James W. Evans and Ryan Benton.

In March 2020, Don Scott supported Joe Biden for president.

In the next election, Scott again ran without any opponents in the first round. He won the main election against Deanna Stanton with 66.07% of the votes.

Becoming a Leader

In the 2021 elections, the Democratic Party lost some seats in the House of Delegates. This meant they were no longer the majority party. Don Scott, along with other delegates, helped choose a new leader for the Democratic group. On June 1, he was elected as the House Minority Leader. This meant he was the main leader for the Democratic members.

Speaker of the House

In the 2023 elections, the Democratic Party won enough seats to become the majority again. Don Scott was chosen by his party to become the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. He officially became Speaker on January 10, 2024. This was a historic moment because he is the first African American Speaker in Virginia's history.

Personal Life

In 2021, Don Scott showed his kindness by donating a kidney. He gave one of his kidneys to his next-door neighbor, Judge Johnny E. Morrison.