Don Davis (North Carolina politician)

Donald Gene Davis (born August 29, 1971)[1] is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 1st congressional district since 2023.[2]

For other persons, see Donald Davis (disambiguation).

Don Davis
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 1st district
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byG. K. Butterfield
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 5th district
In office
January 1, 2013 – January 1, 2023
Preceded byLouis Pate
Succeeded byKandie Smith
In office
January 1, 2009 – January 1, 2011
Preceded byJohn Kerr
Succeeded byLouis Pate
Personal details
Born
Donald Gene Davis

(1971-08-29) August 29, 1971
Snow Hill, North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseYuvonka Batts
EducationUnited States Air Force Academy (BS)
Central Michigan University (MS)
East Carolina University (MA, EdD)
WebsiteHouse website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Air Force

A member of the Democratic Party, he represented the 5th district in the North Carolina Senate from 2013 to 2023. Davis was first elected to the post in 2008, representing Pitt, Wayne, and Greene counties. He was defeated for reelection in 2010, but ran and won a Senate seat for the newly redrawn 5th district in the 2012 election.[3]

Early life and education

Davis was born in the town of Snow Hill. In 1989, he graduated from McArthur High School in Irving, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Science in social sciences from the United States Air Force Academy. Davis earned a Master of Science in Administration degree with a concentration in general administration from Central Michigan University and a Master of Arts in sociology degree with a concentration in social issues in regional development from East Carolina University. He also earned a Doctor of Education in educational leadership with a concentration in higher education administration from East Carolina University. Davis has completed courses in the Commissioned Lay Minister Program through the New Hope Presbytery, Presbyterian Church United States of America.

Early political career

Elected mayor of Snow Hill in 2001, Davis also chaired North Carolina's 1st congressional district Democratic Party. He filed to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1st district in 2004, but dropped out before the primary election.[4]

In 2005, Davis was reelected as mayor. On October 1, 2007, he announced plans to file for the North Carolina Senate District 5 seat. Davis was one of six Democratic candidates to file for the seat held by retiring Senator John Kerr III. He received the most votes, 36%, in the May 6, 2008, primary election.

As Davis did not receive the 40% of the vote required to win the primary, he faced Kathy Taft in a runoff. On June 24, 2008, Davis won the Democratic nomination with 63% of the vote in the runoff. He faced North Carolina Representative Louis Pate, a Wayne County Republican, in the general election.

On November 4, 2008, Davis defeated Pate with 53% of the vote. His term began on January 1, 2009.[5]

In a rematch of the 2008 election, Pate defeated Davis in the 2010 election.[6]

In October 2013, Davis went on a legislative visit to China sponsored by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.[7]

In July 2014, it was reported that Davis had "met with a group of Chinese medical exchange students from Wuhan" to "discuss the role politics plays in health care".[8]

Davis ran unopposed in 2016. He defeated Pitt County District Attorney Kimberly Robb in the 2018 election.[9]

Don Davis' Portrait as a Member of the North Carolina Senate

Committee assignments

  • Agriculture, Energy, and Environment
  • Appropriations on Education/Higher Education
  • Education/Higher Education
  • Health Care
  • Redistricting and Elections
  • Rules and Operations of the Senate
  • Select Committee on Nominations
  • Select Committee on Storm Related River Debris and Damage in NC

U.S. House of Representatives

2022
Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina § District 1

On December 1, 2021, Davis announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives to succeed retiring Democrat G. K. Butterfield.[10] He won the Democratic primary for the 2022 election for North Carolina's 1st congressional district, defeating former state senator Erica D. Smith.[2] In November 2022, Davis won the general election, defeating Republican nominee Sandy Smith.

Caucus memberships[11]

See also

References
  1. "Rep. Don Davis (R-North Carolina, 1st)". November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  2. "Davis wins Democratic primary for 1st Congressional District". WITN. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  3. Daily Reflector
  4. News & Observer: U.S. Rep. Ballance resigns
  5. News & Observer: Legislators began on January 1, technically Archived January 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  6. "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results Statewide" (PDF). nccourts.gov. June 27, 2019. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  7. "Legislators, NC contingent in China for economic development trip".
  8. "Chinese students meet lawmakers".
  9. Livingston, Ginger. "Robb running for NC Senate".
  10. "Senator Don Davis announces campaign for Congress to replace Butterfield". WITN. December 1, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  11. "Committees and Caucuses". Representative Davis. January 3, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  12. "Endorsed Candidates". NewDem Action Fund. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
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