Jan. 10, 2024 marked the opening of the 2024 legislative session in Virginia. Newly elected delegates and their friends and family filled the House chamber and gallery to witness the swearing-in of the first Black speaker of the House of Delegates.

In the years since his election to the House of Delegates, Delegate Don Scott from Portsmouth has established himself as a bold leader, and willing collaborator. As Leader of the Virginia House Democrats, he was proud to work across the aisle to ensure bipartisan support of critical bills to move the Commonwealth forward. Speaker Scott was nominated by Democratic Delegate Luke Torian, and the motion was seconded by Republican Delegate Terry Austin.

Speaker Scott began his address by expressing gratitude to his wife, Dr. Mellanda Colson-Scott, his daughter Peyton, and his mother Helen. He continued:

“It is an honor and privilege to be elected by my peers as the first Black Speaker of the House of Delegates. Four hundred and five years after the founding of the longest, continuous democratiy-elected body in the western hemisphere was founded.

Also, four hundred and five years after the first enslaved people arrived – not far from here down in Hampton Roads, Virginia. I know I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me.

There’s something about being the first to do something. I think about the folks that I look up to personally – who I still count as friends, who are brilliant. They are legislators, they are jurists, they are now colleagues and peers – and they have served in this body.

…

And every time I look around this room I see the ghosts of those people who worked here, who may have been enslaved here, whose dignity and humanity was discounted right here in this room. I see those people.

I think about all of the people who never got their rights heard by people sitting in these seats centuries ago.

I can imagine how proud they would be to see all the people who now serve in this chamber looking back at me. From different backgrounds, different faith traditions, different races, and ethnicities. And so many other differences that make our Commonwealth so very rich.”


Speaker Don Scott has proudly represented Portsmouth since 2020. He was elected Minority Leader in 2022 and was unanimously nominated by his caucus to serve as the first Black Speaker in the history of the House of Delegates. He is a veteran of the United States Navy and partner at Breit Biniazan P.C. He is active in his community, serving on many boards and commissions. He resides in Portsmouth with his wife and daughter.