Summary
Current Position: State Senator of District 5
Affiliation: Democrat
District: many rural areas of northeastern North Carolina, among the state’s most economically poor, as well as outer exurbs of urbanized Research Triangle. It contains towns and cities such as Greenville, Rocky Mount, Wilson, Goldsboro, Henderson, and Roanoke Rapids.
Upcoming Election: Reeelected to US House in 2024
Elected mayor of Snow Hill in 2001, Davis also chaired North Carolina’s 1st congressional district 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.
OnAir Post: Don Davis NC-01
News
WNCT9, – March 6, 2024
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — Super Tuesday is officially over. There’s now a new battle for the 1st Congressional District in North Carolina.
Laurie Buckhout beat Sandy Smith in the Republican primary and will take on incumbent Congressman Don Davis, a Democrat, in November.
“We have all of the ingredients in the first district for a very exciting and close U.S. House race,” said Dr. Peter Francia, an ECU political science professor. “Laurie Buckhout brings a lot of strengths given her background in the military and success as a businesswoman. But Don Davis is the incumbent, and incumbents are very difficult to beat when they run for re-election.”
About
Congressman Don Davis was born and raised in Snow Hill, North Carolina. He has spent his life answering the call to serve — as a veteran, educator, minister, and dedicated public servant.
As a young man, Congressman Davis worked in the tobacco fields and faithfully attended the same church where he currently ministers. He graduated in 1994 from the United States Air Force Academy and became a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force, where he actively served in uniform for eight years. As a First Lieutenant, Davis coordinated Air Force One and CODEL operations at Andrews Air Force Base and supported families of military members as a mortuary officer.
Congressman Davis returned to eastern North Carolina as an assistant professor of Aerospace Studies at East Carolina University Air Force ROTC Detachment 600, where he taught national security affairs, military history, and leadership courses. As an educator for over 20 years, Davis mentored thousands of students as they completed their studies.
As a veteran, Congressman Davis continued his commitment to public service by becoming the youngest Mayor of Snow Hill at age 29, where he served seven years. In 2008, Congressman Davis was elected to the North Carolina State Senate, serving six terms.
In 2022, Congressman Davis was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing 19 counties comprising the First Congressional District of North Carolina in eastern North Carolina. The Region 7 delegation unanimously elected him to serve as their representative and on the Steering & Policy Committee. Congressman Davis remains committed to working with his colleagues, regardless of party affiliation, to address the needs of his constituents in the First Congressional District.
Davis holds a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan University, a master’s degree in sociology with a concentration in regional development, and a doctoral degree in education from East Carolina University.
Congressman Davis lives in Greene County, NC. He is married to Yuvonka, and they have three sons–Ryan, Justin, and Kyler.
Personal
Full Name: Donald ‘Don’ Gene Davis
Gender: Male
Family: Wife: Yuvonka; 3 Children: Ryan, Justin, Kyler
Birth Date: 08/29/1971
Birth Place: Snow Hill, NC
Home City: Snow Hill, NC
Religion: Presbyterian
Source: Vote Smart
Education
Attended, Commissioned Lay Pastor Program, Presbyterian Church United States of America
EdD, Educational Leadership, East Carolina University
MA, Sociology, East Carolina University
MS, Administration, Central Michigan University
BS, Social Sciences, United States Air Force Academy, 1990-199
Political Experience
Representative, United States House of Representatives, North Carolina, District 1, 2023-present
Mayor, Town of Snow Hill
Senator, North Carolina State Senate, District 5, 2009-2011, 2013-2023
Candidate, United States House of Representatives, North Carolina, District 1, 2022
Candidate, North Carolina State Senate, District 5, 2020
Professional Experience
Instructor, Sociology, Lenoir Community College, 1999-present
Adjunct Professor, Department of Sociology, East Carolina University, 2001-2007
Lay Minister, Saint James Presbyterian Church, 2002-2007
Instructor, Sociology, Pitt Community College, 2007
Assistant Professor, Department of Aerospace Studies, East Carolina University, 1998-2001
Captain, United States Air Force, 1990-2001
Protocol Officer, Flight Line, Andrews Air Force Base, 1997-1998
Executive Officer, Andrews Air Force Base, 1996-1997
Flight Commander, Plans and Force Management, 1995-1996
Admissions Advisor, United States Air Force Academy, 1994-1995
Offices
Washington, D.C. Office
1123 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3101
Greenville Office
1710 East Arlington Boulevard
Suite A
Greenville, NC 27858Phone: (252) 999-7600
Contact
Email: Government
Web Links
Politics
Source: none
Finances
Source: Open Secrets
Committees
Congressman Don Davis serves on the following committees and subcommittees:
Agriculture Committee (Vice Ranking Member):
- Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development,
- Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit
- Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry
House Armed Services Committee:
- Subcommittee on Readiness (Vice Ranking Member)
- Subcommittee on Military Personnel
Working Groups, Panels, & Task Forces:
Caucuses:
- Tobacco Harm Reduction Caucus Co-Chair
- Congressional Black Caucus
- New Democrat Coalition
- Vice Chair of Farm Bill Task Force
- Problem Solvers Caucus
- For Country Caucus
Voting Record
Committees and Caucuses
Agriculture Committee (Vice Ranking Member)
- Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development,
- Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit
- Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry
House Armed Services Committee:
- Subcommittee on Readiness (Vice Ranking Member)
- Subcommittee on Military Personnel
Working Groups, Panels, & Task Forces
Caucuses:
- Tobacco Harm Reduction Caucus Co-Chair
- Congressional Black Caucus
- New Democrat Coalition
- Vice Chair of Farm Bill Task Force
- Problem Solvers Caucus
- For Country Caucus
New Legislation
Learn more about legislation sponsored and co-sponsored by Congressman Davis.
Issues
Health Care
Congressman Davis’ top priority in Congress is expanding access to affordable health care because he knows it is vital to keeping rural hospitals open, making health care accessible to those who need it most, and improving treatment for victims of addiction.
Congressman Davis is leading the effort in the House to expand access to affordable care for North Carolinians. That’s why a few of his first official acts in Congress included cosponsoring H.R. 31 COVER Now Act, which would help find a federal alternative to states who have yet to expand Medicaid and relaunching the State Medicaid Expansion Caucus (SMEC) to advance solutions to expand Medicaid for those trapped in their state’s coverage gap.
Congressman Davis understands that residents across North Carolina’s First Congressional District sometimes must choose between purchasing their lifesaving medication and putting food on the table. The hardworking people of eastern North Carolina make up more than 20 percent of the state, and he is doing what he can to keep them safe and healthy.
Jobs and the Economy
The east has been left behind by years of underinvestment and policies that ignored the actual needs of those who live in rural communities. His perspective on economic fairness and the dignity of work is deeply rooted in his upbringing.
Growing up in rural eastern North Carolina, Congressman Davis learned the value of hard work early. He spent his childhood cropping tobacco to help his family put food on the table, provide clothing, and keep the lights on.
Congressman Davis recognizes that things have gotten more challenging for families like his, and for many in eastern North Carolina, the American dream has never felt more out of reach. That’s why he is pushing policies in Washington, D.C., to rebuild an economy that works for everyone by creating good-paying jobs, protecting the dignity of work, and fighting for fair wages and equitable employment practices in the workplace for all North Carolinians.
Education
Congressman Davis knows that education is the lifeline for the future of North Carolina’s First Congressional District. But, the Congressman also understands that grit and determination alone aren’t enough and that today, things are more complex than ever for kids like him trying to get to the next stop on their ladder of success.
As a lifelong learner, Congressman Davis knows that access to a good K-12 education shouldn’t depend on your zip code and that the cost of higher education should never hinder an opportunity for a better life. So the Congressman fights daily in Washington, D.C., to expand access to early childhood education, lower the cost of higher education, and invest heavily in our HBCUs.
Congressman Davis also understands that college isn’t for everyone and firmly believes in ensuring our rural communities have the resources to offer residents opportunities like vocational training, trade schools, and apprenticeship programs that will allow young people to live their American Dream in eastern North Carolina.
Agriculture
Farmers and agricultural producers are essential to North Carolina’s First Congressional District. Our district produces tobacco, broiler chickens, sweet potatoes, soybeans, and more. North Carolina is the leading producer of tobacco in the country. As one of North Carolina’s earliest sources of revenue, it remains vital to our local economy.
As the Vice Ranking Member of the powerful House Committee on Agriculture, Congressman Davis is fighting for fair and just policies and investments that promote equity and accommodate the diversity of our district’s products and the uncertainty our farmers deal with daily.
For more information concerning work and views related to Agriculture issues, please contact our office.
Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families
As a United States Air Force veteran, Congressman Davis knows elected officials must represent the needs of our servicemembers, veterans, and military families. He also understands the challenges faced by soldiers returning to civilian life and for military families both during and after their loved one’s deployment. Therefore, the Congressman is working hard to strengthen education, career training, health, and housing assistance for our service members, veterans, and their families.
North Carolina’s First Congressional District is home to eight times more veterans per capita than the nation. As a House Committee on Armed Services member, he will boldly advocate on behalf of our active service members because he understands the sacred obligation to care for those who serve and have served our country.
More Information
Services
Source: https://dondavis.house.gov/services
District
Source: Wikipedia
North Carolina’s 1st congressional district is located in the northeastern part of the state. It consists of many Black Belt counties that border Virginia and it extends southward into several counties of the Inner Banks and the Research Triangle. It covers many rural areas of northeastern North Carolina, among the state’s most economically poor, as well as outer exurbs of urbanized Research Triangle. It contains towns and cities such as Greenville, Rocky Mount, Wilson, Goldsboro, Henderson, and Roanoke Rapids.
The first district is currently represented by Donald G. Davis.
On February 5, 2016, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the 1st district, as well as the 12th, were gerrymandered along racial lines, which was unconstitutional, and must be redrawn by March 15, 2016. It was re-drawn again in 2019 following court-mandated redistricting, which removed portions of the Research Triangle from the district and changed it to D+3 from a D+17 on the Cook Partisan Voting Index.
Besides a brief period from 1895 until 1899 when the district was held by a Populist, the 1st district has been consistently Democratic since 1883.
On February 23, 2022, the North Carolina Supreme Court approved a new map which changed the 1st district boundaries to add Chowan, Franklin, Greene, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell and the remainder of Vance County while removing Wayne County.
Wikipedia
Donald Gene Davis (born August 29, 1971)[1] is an American politician and former Air Force officer serving as the United States representative for North Carolina‘s 1st congressional district since 2023.[2] A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the North Carolina Senate for a decade, representing the 5th district from 2013 to 2023, following an earlier term from 2009 to 2011.[3]
Born in Snow Hill, North Carolina, Davis graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and served as an Air Force officer before returning to North Carolina, where he worked as an educator and entered local politics as mayor of Snow Hill.
Davis was elected to Congress in 2022, succeeding longtime incumbent G. K. Butterfield, and won reelection in 2024 in a closely contested race. He is considered a moderate Democrat.[4] In Congress he has focused on issues affecting his district in the northeast part of the state, including agriculture, defense, and rural infrastructure.
Early life and education
Davis was born in Snow Hill in North Carolina.[5] He also lived in Irving, Texas, for a period, attending MacArthur High School.[6]
He attended the United States Air Force Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1994.[7] After graduation, he was commissioned into the United States Air Force, serving for eight years and rising to the rank of captain.[8] During his service, Davis was a coordinator of Air Force One operations at Joint Base Andrews.[5]
Davis received a master of science degree from Central Michigan University.[7] He then returned to North Carolina, where he taught and completed a master of arts in sociology and a doctorate in education at East Carolina University.[8]
Early career
Davis began his teaching career as an assistant professor of aerospace studies at the Air Force ROTC department at East Carolina University starting in 1998.[5] He taught courses in military history, leadership, and national affairs.[8] He was discharged from the Air Force in 2001.[7]
In 2001, Davis was elected mayor of Snow Hill. He also served as the chair of the Democratic Party for North Carolina’s 1st congressional district. In 2004, he briefly ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1st district but withdrew before the primary.[9] He was reelected as mayor in 2005.[10]
North Carolina Senate
Elections
2008–2010
In 2007, Davis announced his candidacy for the North Carolina’s 5th Senate district seat.[8] He was one of six Democratic candidates to compete for the position, which was being vacated by retiring senator John Kerr III. In the May 2008 primary election, Davis received 36% of the vote, the highest among the candidates.[11] However, since he did not secure the 40% required to win outright, he advanced to a runoff against Kathy Taft.[12]
In June 2008, Davis won the Democratic nomination with 63% of the vote in the runoff.[13][14] He went on to face North Carolina representative Louis Pate, a Republican from Wayne County, in the general election.[13] Davis defeated Pate, winning 53% of the vote in November 2008. His term as senator for District 5, representing Pitt, Wayne, and Greene counties, began on January 1, 2009.[15] However, in 2010, Davis was defeated by Pate in a rematch of the 2008 election.[16]
2012–2022
After his defeat in 2010, Davis ran and won a Senate seat for the newly redrawn 5th district in the 2012 election.[17] Davis ran unopposed in 2016. He defeated Pitt County district attorney Kimberly Robb in the 2018 election.[18]
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[19]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2022
In December 2021, Davis announced his candidacy for the U.S. House seat in North Carolina’s 1st congressional district following the retirement of Democrat incumbent G. K. Butterfield.[20] Davis won the Democratic nomination in the May 2022 primary for the district, defeating former state senator Erica D. Smith and other candidates.[21]
In the November general election, Davis faced Republican nominee Sandy Smith in the race for the district in the northeastern part of the state.[22] Represented by G. K. Butterfield since 2004, the district became more competitive in 2022 after a court-ordered map replaced partisan lines drawn by the Republican-led General Assembly.[22] Davis won the election with 52.27 percent of the vote to Smith’s 47.73 percent, maintaining Democratic control of the district.[23][24]
2024
Davis ran for reelection in 2024 under congressional boundaries enacted by the Republican-controlled General Assembly in 2023, which replaced the court-ordered map used in 2022.[25] The revised map made the 1st congressional district the state’s only competitive district.[25] He defeated Republican nominee Laurie Buckhout by 1.5 percentage points.[26][27][28]
Tenure
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Davis was sworn into office on January 7, 2023, as the U.S. representative for North Carolina’s 1st congressional district.[29] During the 118th Congress, he was appointed to the Armed Services and Agriculture committees.[29] In August, Davis introduced with Republican Representative Marcus Molinaro the bipartisan Flooding Prevention, Assessment, and Restoration Act to improve rural access to federal flood mitigation programs and reduce the financial costs to communities facing flood risks.[30]
In October 2023, Davis voted to provide Israel with support following the Hamas-led attack on Israel.[31][32] He was among the House Democrats who voted to censure Representative Rashida Tlaib for her comments about the Gaza war.[33] In March 2024, Davis, Representative August Pfluger, and a news reporter wrote an opinion piece in the Washington Examiner, which criticized the push by many members of Congress to condition U.S. aid to Israel.[34]
In 2024, Davis invited 109-year-old Cassie Smith from Battleboro, North Carolina, to attend the State of the Union address.[35] The following month, he was the sole Democratic co-sponsor of a Republican-led bill by representatives Greg Murphy and Brett Guthrie that would limit Medicare‘s ability to negotiate drug prices.[36] At the end of the year, he voted for the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which authorized $895 billion in military spending and included provisions that prevented the elimination of 520 jobs at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and delayed retirement of its F-15E aircraft.[37]
In 2025, Davis joined Republicans in voting to ban gender affirming care for transgender minors, and criminalize anyone who helps them obtain it.[38]
On January 22, 2026, he voted to pass HR 7147 funding bill for the Dept. of Homeland Security, including funding for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).[39]
Committee assignments
Davis’s committee assignments for the 119th Congress include:[40]
- Committee on Agriculture:
- Armed Services Committee (vice ranking member):[41]
Caucus memberships
Davis’s caucus memberships include:[41]
Personal life
Davis is married to Yuvonka. They live in Greene County, North Carolina, and have three sons.[41] He is Presbyterian and a lay minister.[8]
See also
References
- ^ “Rep. Don Davis (R-North Carolina, 1st)”. November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ “Davis wins Democratic primary for 1st Congressional District”. WITN. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
- ^ Wooten, Kimberly (December 1, 2021). “State Senator, former Snow Hill mayor running for Congress, Butterfield seat”.
- ^ “Democratic incumbent Don Davis wins reelection in North Carolina’s only toss-up congressional race”. AP News. November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ a b c “North Carolina New Members 2023”. The Hill. November 17, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ “Unearthed yearbook photos raise questions over bio of NC-01’s Davis”.
- ^ a b c “Davis, Don 1971 –”. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ a b c d e Whittle, Matthew (October 11, 2007). “Don Davis files for John Kerr’s seat in N.C. Senate”. The Goldsboro News-Argus. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024.
- ^ News & Observer: U.S. Rep. Ballance resigns[permanent dead link]
- ^ “Don Davis to resign as Snow Hill mayor”. The Goldsboro News-Argus. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023.
- ^ Whittle, Matthew (June 25, 2008). “Davis will battle Pate”. The Goldsboro News-Argus. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024.
- ^ Whittle, Matthew (May 16, 2008). “Runoff in works for seat in Senate”. The Goldsboro News-Argus. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024.
- ^ a b Whittle, Matthew (June 24, 2008). “Breaking News: State Senate District 5 runoff results”. The Goldsboro News-Argus. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024.
- ^ Whittle, Matthew (May 16, 2008). “Runoff in works for seat in Senate”. The Goldsboro News-Argus. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024.
- ^ News & Observer: Legislators began on January 1, technically Archived January 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ “11/04/2008 Official General Election Results Statewide” (PDF). nccourts.gov. June 27, 2019. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ Wooten, Kimberly (December 1, 2021). “State Senator, former Snow Hill mayor running for Congress, Butterfield seat”.
- ^ Livingston, Ginger. “Robb running for NC Senate”.
- ^ “2021-2022 Session SPC’s Office, Senate Committee Assignments by Member”. North Carolina General Assembly 10th Edition. September 8, 2022.
- ^ “Senator Don Davis announces campaign for Congress to replace Butterfield”. WITN. December 1, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ “Davis wins Democratic primary for 1st Congressional District”. WITN. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
- ^ a b Duncan, Charles (November 8, 2022). “Davis projected to replace Butterfield in N.C. District 1”. Spectrum News 1.
- ^ “2022 North Carolina 1st Congressional District Election Results by County”. F&S Politics.
- ^ “NC Senator Don Davis defeated Sandy Smith in the state’s first Congressional District”. ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. November 9, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ a b Specht, Paul (February 23, 2024). “Contentious GOP primary battle emerges in NC congressional toss-up district”. WRAL News.
- ^ Apel, Alyse. “GOP CC invests $1.45M in Buckhout campaign”. Daily Advance. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
- ^ “Donald Davis”. Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ “Democratic incumbent Don Davis wins reelection in North Carolina’s only toss-up congressional race”. AP News. November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ a b “Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives”. April 15, 2024. Archived from the original on April 15, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ Pumphrey, Michelle (August 23, 2023). “Congressman Don Davis introduces bipartisan bill to tackle rural America’s flooding challe”. WCTI. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). “House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ “Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session”. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. October 25, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ Fink, Jenni (November 7, 2023). “Full List of Democrats Who Voted to Censure Rashida Tlaib”. Newsweek. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ Pfluger, August; Davis, Don; Makovsky, Michael (March 27, 2024). “Conditioning US aid to Israel would be a mistake”. Washington Examiner. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ Coffey, Kelsey (March 7, 2024). “NC guests to attend State of the Union address in Washington, DC”. WRAL News. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ Cohrs, Rachel (February 5, 2024). “The lone Democrat willing to weaken Medicare’s power to negotiate drug prices”. Stat News. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ Richards, Charlene (December 18, 2024). “Senate vote shields loss of F-15E jets and jobs at Seymour Johnson AFB”. WITN-TV (Channel 7).
- ^ “U.S. House passes bill making gender-affirming care a crime”. www.advocate.com. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ^ Brams, Sophie. “The Hill”. The Hill. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
- ^ “Don Davis”. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ a b c d “Rep. Don Davis (R-North Carolina, 1st)”. November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
External links
- Congressman Don Davis official U.S. House website
- Don Davis for Congress campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN
Wikipedia
Donald Gene Davis (born August 29, 1971)[1] is an American politician and former Air Force officer serving as the United States representative for North Carolina's 1st congressional district since 2023.[2] A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the North Carolina Senate for a decade, representing the 5th district from 2013 to 2023, following an earlier term from 2009 to 2011.[3]
Born in Snow Hill, North Carolina, Davis graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and served as an Air Force officer before returning to North Carolina, where he worked as an educator and entered local politics as mayor of Snow Hill.
Davis was elected to Congress in 2022, succeeding longtime incumbent G. K. Butterfield, and won reelection in 2024 in a closely contested race. He is considered a moderate Democrat.[4] In Congress he has focused on issues affecting his district in the northeast part of the state, including agriculture, defense, and rural infrastructure.
Early life and education
Davis was born in Snow Hill in North Carolina.[5] He also lived in Irving, Texas, for a period, attending MacArthur High School.[6]
He attended the United States Air Force Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1994.[7] After graduation, he was commissioned into the United States Air Force, serving for eight years and rising to the rank of captain.[8] During his service, Davis was a coordinator of Air Force One operations at Joint Base Andrews.[5]
Davis received a master of science degree from Central Michigan University.[7] He then returned to North Carolina, where he taught and completed a master of arts in sociology and a doctorate in education at East Carolina University.[8]
Early career
Davis began his teaching career as an assistant professor of aerospace studies at the Air Force ROTC department at East Carolina University starting in 1998.[5] He taught courses in military history, leadership, and national affairs.[8] He was discharged from the Air Force in 2001.[7]
In 2001, Davis was elected mayor of Snow Hill. He also served as the chair of the Democratic Party for North Carolina's 1st congressional district. In 2004, he briefly ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1st district but withdrew before the primary.[9] He was reelected as mayor in 2005.[10]
North Carolina Senate
Elections
2008–2010
In 2007, Davis announced his candidacy for the North Carolina's 5th Senate district seat.[8] He was one of six Democratic candidates to compete for the position, which was being vacated by retiring senator John Kerr III. In the May 2008 primary election, Davis received 36% of the vote, the highest among the candidates.[11] However, since he did not secure the 40% required to win outright, he advanced to a runoff against Kathy Taft.[12]
In June 2008, Davis won the Democratic nomination with 63% of the vote in the runoff.[13][14] He went on to face North Carolina representative Louis Pate, a Republican from Wayne County, in the general election.[13] Davis defeated Pate, winning 53% of the vote in November 2008. His term as senator for District 5, representing Pitt, Wayne, and Greene counties, began on January 1, 2009.[15] However, in 2010, Davis was defeated by Pate in a rematch of the 2008 election.[16]
2012–2022
After his defeat in 2010, Davis ran and won a Senate seat for the newly redrawn 5th district in the 2012 election.[17] Davis ran unopposed in 2016. He defeated Pitt County district attorney Kimberly Robb in the 2018 election.[18]
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[19]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2022
In December 2021, Davis announced his candidacy for the U.S. House seat in North Carolina’s 1st congressional district following the retirement of Democrat incumbent G. K. Butterfield.[20] Davis won the Democratic nomination in the May 2022 primary for the district, defeating former state senator Erica D. Smith and other candidates.[21]
In the November general election, Davis faced Republican nominee Sandy Smith in the race for the district in the northeastern part of the state.[22] Represented by G. K. Butterfield since 2004, the district became more competitive in 2022 after a court-ordered map replaced partisan lines drawn by the Republican-led General Assembly.[22] Davis won the election with 52.27 percent of the vote to Smith’s 47.73 percent, maintaining Democratic control of the district.[23][24]
2024
Davis ran for reelection in 2024 under congressional boundaries enacted by the Republican-controlled General Assembly in 2023, which replaced the court-ordered map used in 2022.[25] The revised map made the 1st congressional district the state’s only competitive district.[25] He defeated Republican nominee Laurie Buckhout by 1.5 percentage points.[26][27][28]
Tenure
Davis was sworn into office on January 7, 2023, as the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 1st congressional district.[29] During the 118th Congress, he was appointed to the Armed Services and Agriculture committees.[29] In August, Davis introduced with Republican Representative Marcus Molinaro the bipartisan Flooding Prevention, Assessment, and Restoration Act to improve rural access to federal flood mitigation programs and reduce the financial costs to communities facing flood risks.[30]
In October 2023, Davis voted to provide Israel with support following the Hamas-led attack on Israel.[31][32] He was among the House Democrats who voted to censure Representative Rashida Tlaib for her comments about the Gaza war.[33] In March 2024, Davis, Representative August Pfluger, and a news reporter wrote an opinion piece in the Washington Examiner, which criticized the push by many members of Congress to condition U.S. aid to Israel.[34]
In 2024, Davis invited 109-year-old Cassie Smith from Battleboro, North Carolina, to attend the State of the Union address.[35] The following month, he was the sole Democratic co-sponsor of a Republican-led bill by representatives Greg Murphy and Brett Guthrie that would limit Medicare's ability to negotiate drug prices.[36] At the end of the year, he voted for the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which authorized $895 billion in military spending and included provisions that prevented the elimination of 520 jobs at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and delayed retirement of its F-15E aircraft.[37]
In 2025, Davis joined Republicans in voting to ban gender affirming care for transgender minors, and criminalize anyone who helps them obtain it.[38]
On January 22, 2026, he voted to pass HR 7147 funding bill for the Dept. of Homeland Security, including funding for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).[39]
Committee assignments
Davis's committee assignments for the 119th Congress include:[40]
- Committee on Agriculture:
- Armed Services Committee (vice ranking member):[41]
Caucus memberships
Davis's caucus memberships include:[41]
Personal life
Davis is married to Yuvonka. They live in Greene County, North Carolina, and have three sons.[41] He is Presbyterian and a lay minister.[8]
See also
References
- ^ "Rep. Don Davis (R-North Carolina, 1st)". November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ "Davis wins Democratic primary for 1st Congressional District". WITN. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
- ^ Wooten, Kimberly (December 1, 2021). "State Senator, former Snow Hill mayor running for Congress, Butterfield seat".
- ^ "Democratic incumbent Don Davis wins reelection in North Carolina's only toss-up congressional race". AP News. November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ a b c "North Carolina New Members 2023". The Hill. November 17, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ "Unearthed yearbook photos raise questions over bio of NC-01's Davis".
- ^ a b c "Davis, Don 1971 –". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ a b c d e Whittle, Matthew (October 11, 2007). "Don Davis files for John Kerr's seat in N.C. Senate". The Goldsboro News-Argus. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024.
- ^ News & Observer: U.S. Rep. Ballance resigns[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Don Davis to resign as Snow Hill mayor". The Goldsboro News-Argus. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023.
- ^ Whittle, Matthew (June 25, 2008). "Davis will battle Pate". The Goldsboro News-Argus. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024.
- ^ Whittle, Matthew (May 16, 2008). "Runoff in works for seat in Senate". The Goldsboro News-Argus. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024.
- ^ a b Whittle, Matthew (June 24, 2008). "Breaking News: State Senate District 5 runoff results". The Goldsboro News-Argus. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024.
- ^ Whittle, Matthew (May 16, 2008). "Runoff in works for seat in Senate". The Goldsboro News-Argus. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024.
- ^ News & Observer: Legislators began on January 1, technically Archived January 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "11/04/2008 Official General Election Results Statewide" (PDF). nccourts.gov. June 27, 2019. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ Wooten, Kimberly (December 1, 2021). "State Senator, former Snow Hill mayor running for Congress, Butterfield seat".
- ^ Livingston, Ginger. "Robb running for NC Senate".
- ^ "2021-2022 Session SPC's Office, Senate Committee Assignments by Member". North Carolina General Assembly 10th Edition. September 8, 2022.
- ^ "Senator Don Davis announces campaign for Congress to replace Butterfield". WITN. December 1, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ "Davis wins Democratic primary for 1st Congressional District". WITN. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
- ^ a b Duncan, Charles (November 8, 2022). "Davis projected to replace Butterfield in N.C. District 1". Spectrum News 1.
- ^ "2022 North Carolina 1st Congressional District Election Results by County". F&S Politics.
- ^ "NC Senator Don Davis defeated Sandy Smith in the state's first Congressional District". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. November 9, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ a b Specht, Paul (February 23, 2024). "Contentious GOP primary battle emerges in NC congressional toss-up district". WRAL News.
- ^ Apel, Alyse. "GOP CC invests $1.45M in Buckhout campaign". Daily Advance. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
- ^ "Donald Davis". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ "Democratic incumbent Don Davis wins reelection in North Carolina's only toss-up congressional race". AP News. November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ a b "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives". April 15, 2024. Archived from the original on April 15, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ Pumphrey, Michelle (August 23, 2023). "Congressman Don Davis introduces bipartisan bill to tackle rural America's flooding challe". WCTI. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. October 25, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ Fink, Jenni (November 7, 2023). "Full List of Democrats Who Voted to Censure Rashida Tlaib". Newsweek. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ Pfluger, August; Davis, Don; Makovsky, Michael (March 27, 2024). "Conditioning US aid to Israel would be a mistake". Washington Examiner. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ Coffey, Kelsey (March 7, 2024). "NC guests to attend State of the Union address in Washington, DC". WRAL News. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ Cohrs, Rachel (February 5, 2024). "The lone Democrat willing to weaken Medicare's power to negotiate drug prices". Stat News. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ Richards, Charlene (December 18, 2024). "Senate vote shields loss of F-15E jets and jobs at Seymour Johnson AFB". WITN-TV (Channel 7).
- ^ "U.S. House passes bill making gender-affirming care a crime". www.advocate.com. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ^ Brams, Sophie. "The Hill". The Hill. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
- ^ "Don Davis". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Rep. Don Davis (R-North Carolina, 1st)". November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
External links
- Congressman Don Davis official U.S. House website
- Don Davis for Congress campaign website
