Dr. Everton Blair, Jr. is positioning himself as a generational shift in Georgia’s 13th Congressional District, a fast-growing suburban stretch of metro Atlanta grappling with rising housing costs, wage stagnation, and deep racial and economic inequities. Covering parts of Gwinnett, DeKalb, Clayton, Henry, Newton, and Rockdale counties, the district reflects both the promise and the pressure of rapid expansion. Blair says its leadership must reflect its present realities.
As voters consider whether to return Rep. David Scott to Washington, choose reality television personality Dr. Heavenly Kimes, or elect a younger voice with governing experience, economic survival is front and center. Scott has served in Congress since 2003, marking 23 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. Kimes is best known for her role on Bravo’s Married to Medicine.
Over Scott’s more than two decades in Congress, wages have failed to keep pace with inflation. Rent continues to rise. Homeownership feels increasingly out of reach. And for many Black families, the racial wealth gap remains entrenched.
In an exclusive interview with The Black Wall Street Times, Blair, a former educator and Gwinnett County School Board chair, outlined what he calls a “people-centered economic agenda” rooted in lived experience.
At 32, Blair would be among the youngest members of Congress if elected, drawing comparisons to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Maxwell Frost, two young lawmakers who have spoken candidly about financial strain before taking office.
Like AOC and Frost, “I live paycheck to paycheck,” Blair tells The Black Wall Street Times. “I feel the pain of this economy every single day.”
If elected at 32, Blair would also match the age of Joseph Rainey, who became the first Black member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1870 during Reconstruction, a historic milestone in Black political representation.
For Blair, youth is not the headline. Economic urgency is.
Wages That Match the Cost of Living
Blair did not mince words about what he sees as the district’s most urgent economic failure.
“The biggest failure is that wages have not kept up with the cost of living,” he said. “People are working jobs that no longer cover their basic expenses. You can’t get ahead.”
His solution: a $20 federal minimum wage indexed to inflation.
“I absolutely believe in a federal minimum wage,” Blair said. “And it should be a living wage.”
The current federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, he argued, is “a starvation wage” — one that forces workers to juggle multiple jobs just to survive.
“If you’re working full time,” he said, “that one job should cover your rent, groceries, transportation, and essentials. Period.”
Housing: Supply, Demand, and Corporate Power
Housing costs across metro Atlanta have surged, and Blair believes Washington must play a stronger role.
On the supply side, he supports federal tax credits and incentives to encourage developers to build affordable homes for purchase, not just rental units.
On the demand side, he takes aim at corporate landlords.
“I definitely support stronger regulation of corporate landlords,” Blair said, pointing to large out-of-state firms that are buying up homes and converting them into rental-only properties.
He argues that this trend is creating what he calls “a class of permanent renters,” particularly in Black and working-class communities.
“Homeownership is the fastest path to the upper middle class,” he said. “When corporations dominate the housing market, they block that pathway.”
Blair also supports a robust federal down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers, similar to one proposed by Kamala Harris during her 2024 presidential run.
“Down payment assistance can be the difference between staying trapped in the rental cycle and building equity,” he said.
Within his first two years in office, Blair says he would prioritize expanding such assistance programs and strengthening constituent services to help families access utility relief, grants, and emergency federal aid.
“If you own a home, you have an investment vehicle,” he said. “If you’re renting and fall on hard times, you can be in eviction proceedings within weeks.”
A Pro-Black Economic Agenda
When asked whether federal policy should explicitly address race, Blair was clear.
“Yes,” he said. “We need leaders who are not afraid to say ‘Black.’”
He argues that closing the racial wealth gap requires direct investment in Black communities, Black-owned businesses, and Black homeowners.
“We have to acknowledge past harms and design policies that directly address them,” Blair said.
That includes reinvesting in the Small Business Administration and restoring minority business programs that have been weakened in recent years.
“Upstart capital is often the biggest barrier,” he said. “When we unlock that early funding, we unlock tremendous potential.”
For Blair, expanding access to capital is not just about individual success. It is about strengthening local economies from the inside out.
“When business owners live where they work, they reinvest locally,” he said. “That multiplies the impact of every dollar.”
Generational Leadership Shift
Blair also made a generational argument.
He criticized Scott for what he described as absentee leadership and a lack of visibility in the district.
“There was a time when he was more present,” Blair said. “But that time has passed.”
Scott has represented the district for decades and has served in elected office for more than 50 years. Blair argues that today’s challenges require new tools and new urgency.
“We deserve younger, sharper, dynamic leadership,” he said.
Blair previously served as a high school math teacher. In 2018, he made history as both the first Black member and the youngest person ever elected to the Gwinnett County Board of Education. He ties economic stability directly to education and healthcare access.
“If we want Social Security to remain solvent, we need a workforce prepared to sustain it,” he said. “If we want affordable healthcare, we need more providers in our own communities.”
By the end of his first term, Blair says voters should hold him accountable for measurable improvements in three areas: stronger schools, more accessible healthcare, and more stable, living-wage jobs.
“If those answers aren’t yes,” he said, “then I haven’t done my job.”
At 32, Blair is asking voters to decide whether this moment demands a generational shift. It is an argument that mirrors a sentiment often expressed by Michelle Obama: “young people should not wait their turn to lead”.
For Blair, the issue is not simply age. It is urgent. It is proximity to the struggle. And it is whether the 13th District wants leadership rooted in lived economic reality, not just longevity.
Deval Patrick and Local Rivals Line Up Behind Blair
Blair has even received an endorsement from former Massachusetts governor, Deval Patrick – who told The Grio, “I had the privilege of getting to know Everton as a graduate student of mine at Harvard and am excited for the fresh leadership he brings. As an educator, problem-solver, and public servant, Everton understands that politics is about expanding opportunity and dignity for everyone, not just the powerful or those who already agree with him.”
Moreover, Ron McKenzie – another Georgia 13th Congressional District candidate announced he is suspending his campaign and endorsing fellow Democrat Dr. Everton Blair.
A Race About Lived Experience
Perhaps the sharpest contrast Blair draws is personal.
“I’m not the candidate who can loan myself $300,000,” he said, referencing the financial dynamics of the race. “This is a people-powered campaign.”
Federal filings show that both Rep. David Scott and Dr. Heavenly Kimes have contributed personal funds to their campaigns this cycle, with Kimes self-funding hundreds of thousands of dollars and Scott also putting significant personal money into his reelection bid.
Everton Blair, by contrast, says he has relied on individual donors rather than personal wealth. Notably, Blair has managed to out-fundraise both Scott and Kims with his individual donors.
For him, living paycheck to paycheck is not a liability. It is proof of alignment with the general public and Georgia voters.
“When my electricity bill goes up $100, that money has to come from somewhere,” Blair said. “I make the same amount I made before, but everything else is more expensive. That’s not sustainable.”
As Georgia’s 13th District confronts widening inequality and rising costs, Everton Blair is betting that voters are ready for representation that mirrors their financial realities.
Whether that message resonates beyond his base will determine not just the outcome of this race, but the economic direction of one of metro Atlanta’s most closely watched districts.
For many in the 13th, the question is simple: Who truly feels the weight of this economy, and which type of candidate will have the willpower to fight to change?
Voters will decide the Democratic nominee in the primary election on May 19, 2026, with a runoff scheduled for June 16 if no candidate clears 50 percent. As that contest approaches, economic survival is front and center.
