Don Davis (North Carolina politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Don Davis
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 1st district |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | G. K. Butterfield |
| Member of the North Carolina Senate from the 5th district |
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| In office January 1, 2013 – January 1, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Louis Pate |
| Succeeded by | Kandie Smith |
| In office January 1, 2009 – January 1, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | John Kerr |
| Succeeded by | Louis Pate |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Donald Gene Davis
August 29, 1971 Snow Hill, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Yuvonka Batts |
| Children | 3 |
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| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1994−2001 |
| Rank | Captain |
Donald Gene Davis (born August 29, 1971) is an American politician and a former officer in the Air Force. He currently serves as a U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 1st congressional district. He has held this position since 2023. In 2024, he won reelection in a very close contest.
Mr. Davis is a member of the Democratic Party. Before joining the U.S. House, he represented the 5th district in the North Carolina Senate. He served there from 2013 to 2023. He was first elected to the state Senate in 2008.
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Don Davis's Early Life and School
Don Davis was born in Snow Hill, North Carolina. He also lived in Irving, Texas, for a while. There, he went to MacArthur High School.
He later attended the United States Air Force Academy. This is a special college for people who want to become officers in the Air Force. He earned a degree in 1994. After graduating, he joined the United States Air Force. He served for eight years and became a captain. During his time in the Air Force, he helped coordinate flights for Air Force One. This is the plane the U.S. President uses.
Mr. Davis continued his education. He earned a master's degree from Central Michigan University. Then, he returned to North Carolina. He taught at East Carolina University. While teaching, he also earned another master's degree and a doctorate degree.
Starting His Career
In 1998, Don Davis began teaching at East Carolina University. He was an assistant professor of aerospace studies. He taught classes about military history, leadership, and national affairs. He left the Air Force in 2001.
In 2001, Mr. Davis was elected mayor of Snow Hill. A mayor is the leader of a city or town. He was also the head of the Democratic Party for his area. In 2004, he briefly ran for the U.S. House of Representatives. However, he decided not to continue before the main election. He was reelected as mayor in 2005.
Serving in the North Carolina Senate
How He Got Elected
First Elections (2008-2010)
In 2007, Don Davis announced he would run for the North Carolina's 5th Senate district seat. This seat was open because the senator who held it was retiring. Six Democratic candidates competed for the position. In May 2008, Mr. Davis received the most votes in the first election.
However, he needed to get at least 40% of the votes to win right away. Since he didn't, he had to compete in a second election, called a runoff. In June 2008, he won the Democratic nomination with 63% of the votes. He then ran against Republican Louis Pate in the general election. Mr. Davis won with 53% of the votes in November 2008. His term as a state senator began in January 2009. In 2010, he ran for reelection but lost to Mr. Pate.
Later Elections (2012-2022)
After his loss in 2010, Mr. Davis ran again for a state Senate seat in 2012. He won the election for a newly drawn district. In 2016, he ran for reelection without any opponents. He won again in 2018, defeating Kimberly Robb.
What He Worked On: Committees
While in the North Carolina Senate, Mr. Davis served on several committees. Committees are groups of lawmakers who focus on specific topics. This helps them study issues and create new laws.
He was part of committees like:
- Agriculture, Energy, and Environment
- Education/Higher Education
- Health Care
- Redistricting and Elections
- Rules and Operations of the Senate
Don Davis in the U.S. House of Representatives
How He Got Elected to Congress
The 2022 Election
On December 1, 2021, Don Davis announced he would run for the U.S. House of Representatives. He wanted to take the place of the retiring Democrat G. K. Butterfield. Mr. Davis won the Democratic primary election for the 1st congressional district. He defeated former state senator Erica D. Smith. In November 2022, Mr. Davis won the main election. He defeated the Republican candidate, Sandy Smith.
The 2024 Election
Don Davis won reelection in 2024. He defeated Laurie Buckhout, a Republican, by a small margin.
What He Does in Congress
In February 2023, Mr. Davis helped introduce a new bill. A bill is a proposed law. This bill was called the Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems Act. It aims to share money from offshore wind power with states. This money would help protect and restore coastal areas.
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In 2024, Mr. Davis invited Cassie Smith, a 109-year-old woman, to attend the 2024 State of the Union Address. This is a speech given by the U.S. President each year. That same year, he also supported a bill that would limit how much Medicare can negotiate prices for medicines. Medicare is a health insurance program for older Americans.
Mr. Davis voted to support Israel after the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. He also voted to formally criticize Representative Rashida Tlaib. This was because of her comments about the Israel–Hamas war. In March 2024, Mr. Davis wrote an article with another representative and a reporter. They wrote about their concerns regarding U.S. aid to Israel.
What He Works On: Committees and Groups
In the U.S. House of Representatives, Don Davis serves on important committees. These include the Committee on Agriculture. He is also on the Armed Services Committee. On these committees, he helps make decisions about farming, food, and the military.
He is also a member of several groups called caucuses. These groups bring together members of Congress who share similar interests or goals. Some of the caucuses he belongs to are:
- New Democrat Coalition
- Congressional Black Caucus
- Problem Solvers Caucus
- Rare Disease Caucus
Don Davis's Family Life
Don Davis is married to Yuvonka. They live in Greene County, North Carolina. They have three sons. Mr. Davis is a Presbyterian. He also serves as a lay minister in his church.
See also
