Sharice Davids facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sharice Davids
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Official portrait, 2019
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas's 3rd district |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Kevin Yoder |
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| Born |
Sharice Lynnette Davids
May 22, 1980 Frankfurt, West Germany (now Germany) |
| Citizenship | American Ho-Chunk |
| Political party | Democratic |
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Sharice Lynnette Davids is an American leader, lawyer, and former athlete. She serves as a U.S. representative from the state of Kansas. She belongs to the Democratic Party. In Congress, she represents Kansas's 3rd congressional district. This area includes places like Kansas City, Overland Park, Prairie Village, Leawood, Lenexa, and Olathe. These towns are all part of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Davids made history when she was elected in 2018. She became one of the first two Native American women to serve in the United States Congress, alongside Deb Haaland. She is an enrolled member of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin. Before running for office, she was a skilled lawyer and an athlete in mixed martial arts.
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Early life and education of Sharice Davids
Davids was born on May 22, 1980, in Frankfurt, West Germany. Her mother, Crystal Herriage, served in the United States Army. Because her mother served in the military, the family moved around before settling down. Davids was raised by her single mother, who taught her the value of hard work. Her grandfather, Fredrick J. Davids, was also a United States Army veteran. He belonged to the Mohican Nation Stockbridge-Munsee Band in Wisconsin. Davids takes great pride in her Ho-Chunk tribal heritage.
Growing up, Davids attended Leavenworth High School in Kansas. After high school, she worked hard to put herself through school. She took classes at Haskell Indian Nations University and earned an associate degree from Johnson County Community College. Later, she studied at the University of Kansas and went to the University of Missouri–Kansas City. There, she earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2007.
Davids wanted to learn more about the legal system to help people. She went to Cornell Law School, which is part of Cornell University in New York. She earned her Juris Doctor law degree in 2010. During her school years, she often worked regular jobs while studying. Today, she lives in Roeland Park, Kansas.
Mixed martial arts and community work
Before entering politics full-time, Davids enjoyed competitive sports. She began training in mixed martial arts (MMA) as an amateur athlete in 2006. In 2013, she decided to compete as a professional fighter.
Davids had a strong record in sports. As an amateur, she earned five wins and only one defeat. As a professional, she won one fight and lost one fight. She tried out for a television sports show called The Ultimate Fighter, but she was not picked.
After competing in sports, Davids traveled across the country. She lived and worked on Native American reservations. She helped tribal communities create economic programs, start small businesses, and build local opportunities.
Career in law and public service
Davids started her career as a lawyer in 2010 with the law firm SNR Denton. She used her legal skills to assist business projects and community leaders.
Later, she moved to South Dakota to work on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. While there, she directed economic and community development projects. She focused on helping local entrepreneurs start new businesses.
In 2016, Davids was selected for a special national leadership program as a White House Fellow. She worked inside the United States Department of Transportation. This job allowed her to see how government programs operate across the country during the change from the presidency of Barack Obama to the first presidency of Donald Trump.
Serving in the United States Congress
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Congressional elections
In 2018, Davids ran for the United States House of Representatives in Kansas. She entered the Democratic primary election and won against Brent Welder, who had the support of Senator Bernie Sanders. In the general election, she faced the Republican incumbent Kevin Yoder. The major newspaper The Kansas City Star reported closely on the race, and public radio station KCUR checked the candidates' statements. Davids won the election with more than 53 percent of the vote.
When she took office in 2019, Davids became the first Democrat to represent Kansas in the House since Dennis Moore retired in 2011. She also became the second Native American to represent Kansas, following Charles Curtis, who later served as vice president under Herbert Hoover.
Davids ran for reelection in 2020. She defeated Republican nominee Amanda Adkins, a former business executive from Cerner Corporation and former leader of the Kansas Republican Party. In 2022, state officials changed district lines, making the area more rural and politically challenging. Even with the change, Davids defeated Adkins again. In 2024, Davids won reelection to a fourth term against Prasanth Reddy.
Work in the House of Representatives
In Congress, Davids has worked on key committees that shape national policy. She serves on the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. On this committee, she participates in the United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation and the United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. She also serves on the United States House Committee on Agriculture, including the United States House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit and the United States House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
Davids is a leader in her party, serving as a Chief Deputy Whip. She belongs to the New Democrat Coalition, which focuses on practical ideas and economic growth. She also joins many groups of lawmakers, such as the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, the Congressional Native American Caucus, the Congressional Solar Caucus, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus, the Rare Disease Caucus, and the Black Maternal Health Caucus.
Davids worked on major laws to help the country. She supported the America COMPETES Act, which provided funds for American manufacturing and scientific research. She added an amendment to make sure small businesses could make medical supplies and personal protective equipment. In 2020, she worked as a vice-chair of the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Lawmakers like Cheri Bustos praised her strong work ethic. She was also recognized in magazines like Queerty and Fast Company for her leadership and public service.
See also
In Spanish: Sharice Davids para niños
- List of Native Americans in the United States Congress
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
