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Virginia's first Black House speaker and Biden bond over personal hardships during congratulatory call
“I had people who told me that my life was over, that I would never be who I thought I could be,” Del. Don Scott tells theGrio.
GERREN KEITH GAYNOR
JAN 14, 2024
President Joe Biden called to congratulate Don Scott, the Portsmouth Democrat who made history last week when he was elected the first Black speaker of Virginia’s House of Delegates, theGrio reports exclusively.
During the brief chat, Biden extended an invitation to Scott to visit the White House within the next few weeks.
An excited Scott told theGrio that an “energetic” Biden personally extended his well wishes to him after Democrats won back a majority in the Virginia General Assembly. Their critical victory came as a result of them successfully campaigning on abortion rights, an election trend national Democrats hope will lead to more key wins in this year’s general election on Nov. 5, 2024.
snip
On Wednesday, in less than five years as a member of the House of Delegates, Scott ascended to the speakership, becoming the first Black person to preside over the legislative body. The new speaker’s rise in Virginia politics was improbable to some after serving seven years in federal prison for drug conspiracy. He finished his law degree when he completed his sentence.
During the brief chat, Biden extended an invitation to Scott to visit the White House within the next few weeks.
An excited Scott told theGrio that an “energetic” Biden personally extended his well wishes to him after Democrats won back a majority in the Virginia General Assembly. Their critical victory came as a result of them successfully campaigning on abortion rights, an election trend national Democrats hope will lead to more key wins in this year’s general election on Nov. 5, 2024.
snip
On Wednesday, in less than five years as a member of the House of Delegates, Scott ascended to the speakership, becoming the first Black person to preside over the legislative body. The new speaker’s rise in Virginia politics was improbable to some after serving seven years in federal prison for drug conspiracy. He finished his law degree when he completed his sentence.
https://thegrio.com/2024/01/14/virginias-first-black-house-speaker-and-biden-bond-over-personal-hardships-during-congratulatory-call/
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Congratulations to Speaker Scott. What an amazing story.
Good job Virginia!
3 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
Wonderful Inspirational story... Good on Virginia!
TY & Pres Biden
