“I don’t say that it was retaliation,” Scott said in an interview with The Washington Post that touched on his priorities and the lessons he’s learned so far from leadership. “Those things happen in the legislature.”
They tend to happen more often when someone crosses a speaker, a time-honored exercise of quiet power that Scott’s predecessors of both parties have wielded freely. Scott, the first African American to lead Virginia’s House in its 405-year history, is all too conscious that his conduct will draw extra attention because of his race. So he’s walked a careful line in his first session in charge — unafraid to use his gavel and dish out punishment, but cultivating a surprisingly cordial relationship with Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) and running sessions with a clipped efficiency.
“As the first Black speaker … you don’t want to be criticized for being late and being behind every day,” Scott said, alluding to his sense that he needs to keep all the fundamentals above reproach. “So I’ve been very, very mindful of managing the members’ time to make sure they get in and out of session in a timely fashion.”
Toward that end, Scott surprised some in the Capitol by retaining House Clerk G. Paul Nardo, a longtime Republican staffer with deep knowledge of House procedures. With only a couple of weeks remaining before the scheduled March 9 end of his first session as speaker, Scott has drawn praise from across the aisle despite the occasional sharp jab.
“He’s kept things moving right along — he’s been very astute on keeping the floor moving and he’s doing a good job,” said Del. Terry G. Kilgore (R-Scott), a former House majority leader.
Or as one Republican staffer who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Scott candidly put it, “We know he’s going to [hurt] us, but he’ll do it by the book and we respect that.”
Perhaps no aspect of Scott’s speakership has been more surprising than his chemistry with Youngkin, whose efforts to woo national conservatives have often put the two men at sharp ideological odds. “A strong working relationship starts with a relationship,” Youngkin said in written comments when asked about the new speaker, whom he called a friend. “Speaker Scott’s willingness to invest significant time with me has been foundational (plus we both like Dr. Pepper). We may disagree on some issues, but he is committed to discussing and debating in a spirit of fostering collaboration and problem solving.”
Scott became one of Youngkin’s top critics soon after the governor took office in 2022, saying the Republican’s emphasis on race-related culture war issues such as banning critical race theory called into question Youngkin’s profession of Christian faith.
The tough partisan approach quickly vaulted Scott to the position of House minority leader when Republicans were in charge. But now that Democrats control the General Assembly, he said, his relationship with Youngkin has evolved.
“I think we have built a rapport unlike we had before, which was no rapport,” Scott said. “When I was minority leader, I don’t think I ever heard from the governor. But when I became speaker, we’re BFFs now,” he added with a laugh, using social media slang for “best friends forever.”
Scott said he and Youngkin text one another regularly, speak on the phone every few days and meet usually once a week. Youngkin attends a Wednesday morning prayer session that Scott hosts in the speaker’s office.
“We talk in a way that is friendly and is respectful,” Scott said. It’s important, he said, for leaders to have relationships across party boundaries so they can get things done for the public good. “We don’t need to be just adversaries. I think we have to be true to our core values and beliefs, but we have to be able to have conversations.”
It’s part of the arsenal in his professional life as a defense lawyer: You have to talk to negotiate. Many of the legislative priorities that Democratic majorities are sending to Youngkin’s desk will put the governor on the spot as he decides whether to…
Read More: Don Scott was a fiery partisan; as Va. speaker, he’s top negotiator