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SPEAKER, VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES, PORTSMOUTH
SPEAKER, VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES, PORTSMOUTH
Virginia Business// August 29, 2024//
After bumping longtime Del. Eileen Filler-Corn from the top House role in a 2022 shakeup, Scott became Virginia’s first Black speaker in January. It wasn’t the only unexpected turn in his history: In 1994, as he was finishing up his law degree, Scott was arrested on federal drug charges. He would serve more than seven years in prison; his voting rights, which every felon in Virginia automatically loses, were restored by former Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell.
While Scott, now a well-regarded defense attorney, has faced sporadic attacks from Republicans over his criminal record, he is forthright about his past and has made criminal justice reform a priority.
First elected to the General Assembly in 2019, he quickly got attention for his progressive politics and sharp tongue. As speaker, however, he has proved more willing to reach across the aisle, striking up a working relationship with Gov. Glenn Youngkin that both men have praised publicly, and retaining Republican Paul Nardo as House clerk.
A former executive at KRA, Scott is a partner at the law firm of Breit Biniazan. He has served three terms in the House of Delegates.
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