Artur Davis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Artur Davis
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 7th district |
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| In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Earl Hilliard |
| Succeeded by | Terri Sewell |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Artur Genestre Davis
October 9, 1967 Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (before 2012, 2015–2016, 2017–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Republican (2012–2015, 2016–2017) |
| Spouse | Tara Johnson |
| Education | Harvard University (BA, JD) |
Artur Genestre Davis (born October 9, 1967) is an American lawyer and former politician. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Alabama from 2003 to 2011. He was part of the Democratic Party for most of his career.
Davis was an early supporter of Barack Obama when Obama ran for president in 2008. He even gave one of the speeches to nominate Obama at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. While in Congress, Davis was known for speaking his mind. He was the only member of the Congressional Black Caucus to vote against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
After leaving Congress, Davis moved to Virginia and joined the Republican Party. He later changed parties a few more times. He tried to become Mayor of Montgomery, Alabama in 2015 and 2019 but did not win.
Contents
Artur Davis: A Political Journey
Early Life and Education
Artur Davis was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on October 9, 1967. He was raised by his mother and grandmother. He went to Jefferson Davis High School.
He then attended Harvard University, graduating with honors in 1990. He also earned a law degree from Harvard Law School. After finishing his studies, he returned to Alabama. He worked as a lawyer focusing on civil rights law. He also served as an Assistant United States Attorney.
Serving in Congress
Artur Davis was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002. He represented Alabama's 7th district. He served four terms, from 2003 to 2011.
Key Elections
Davis first ran for Congress in 2000 but lost. He ran again in 2002 and won. This election gained national attention. He received support from different groups across the country. After winning the primary, he easily won the main election.
He was re-elected in 2004, 2006, and 2008. In 2006 and 2008, he won with very high percentages of the vote.
Important Work in Congress
As a new member of Congress, Davis helped get funding for colleges that serve minority students. This included Tuskegee University. He also worked to restore funding for programs that renovate public housing.
In 2005, Davis helped create a national cord blood bank. This bank helps provide blood transfusions for patients with diseases like sickle cell anemia. He also worked on issues important to military veterans.
Davis was a co-chair of the New Democrat Coalition. This group includes members of Congress who are considered centrists. He was also the first member of the Congressional Black Caucus to ask that a powerful committee chairman step down due to ethical concerns.
Davis voted against the health care reform law in 2009 and 2010. This law was a major goal for President Obama and the Democratic Party. He was the only member of the Congressional Black Caucus to vote against it in 2010.
Running for Governor
In 2009, Davis announced he would run for Governor of Alabama in 2010. If he had won, he would have been Alabama's first African-American governor.
During his campaign, he tried to appeal to a wider range of voters. He lost some support from black voters because he voted against the national health care law. He also chose not to meet with certain black political groups. He lost the Democratic primary election to Ron Sparks.
After this loss, Davis decided not to run for re-election to Congress. He chose to return to working as a lawyer.
After Congress: New Paths
After leaving Congress in 2011, Davis moved to Virginia. He became a visiting fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics in 2012. He also started writing articles for the conservative magazine National Review.
In 2012, Davis spoke at the 2012 Republican National Convention. He spoke in support of the Republican candidate for President, Mitt Romney. He criticized President Obama's campaign.
Davis later considered running for Congress in Virginia as a Republican but decided not to. In 2014, he moved back to Montgomery, Alabama. He ran for Mayor of Montgomery in 2015 and 2019. He lost both times.
See also
