Austin Davis (politician)
{{Short description|American politician (born 1989)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Austin Davis
| image = AustinDavis.jpg
| caption = Davis in 2022
| office = 35th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
| governor = Josh Shapiro
| term_start = January 17, 2023
| term_end =
| predecessor = Kim Ward (acting)
| successor =
| state_house1 = Pennsylvania
| district1 = 35th
| term_start1 = February 5, 2018
| term_end1 = December 7, 2022
| predecessor1 = Marc Gergely
| successor1 = Matt Gergely
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|10|4}}
| birth_place = McKeesport, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| spouse = {{marriage|Blayre Holmes|2017}}
| children = 1
| education = University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (BA)
| birth_name = Austin Ankarie Davis
}}
Austin Davis (born October 4, 1989) is an American politician who is serving as the 35th lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022, representing the 35th district. He is both the first African-American lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania and the youngest person to be elected lieutenant governor in the United States.
Early life and education
Davis was born October 4, 1989, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. He attended McKeesport Area High School, where he founded and served as chairman of the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council under then McKeesport, Pennsylvania mayor James Brewster.{{Cite web|last=Bowling|first=Brian|date=2007-09-27|title=East Young Achiever: Austin Davis|url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/east-young-achiever-austin-davis/|url-status=live|access-date=2019-08-13|website=TribLIVE.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813173610/https://archive.triblive.com/news/east-young-achiever-austin-davis/ |archive-date=August 13, 2019 }}
After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, where he earned a BA in political science in 2012.{{cite news |date=2021 |title=Past Alumnus of Distinction Awardees |url=https://www.greensburg.pitt.edu/alumni/awards/distinction |work=Alumnus of Distinction Award |publisher=University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg |location=Greensburg, PA |access-date=September 30, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=8032&body=H |title=Member Biography, Austin Davis |date=2022 |website=Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives |publisher=Pennsylvania House of Representatives |location=Harrisburg, PA |access-date=September 30, 2022}}
Career
While in college, Davis was hired as a legislative intern by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. In a February 2011 article on Black History Month, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review highlighted him as "a veteran at the politics of helping others."{{Cite web|last=DiVittorio|first=Michael|date=2011-02-07|title=BLACK HISTORY MONTH: At 21, Davis is a veteran at the politics of helping others|url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/black-history-month-at-21-davis-is-a-veteran-at-the-politics-of-helping-others/|url-status=live|access-date=2019-08-13|website=TribLIVE.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813173607/https://archive.triblive.com/news/black-history-month-at-21-davis-is-a-veteran-at-the-politics-of-helping-others/ |archive-date=August 13, 2019 }}
Davis previously served as executive assistant to Allegheny County executive Rich Fitzgerald. In 2014, Davis became the youngest and the first black vice chair at the Allegheny County Democratic Committee.{{Cite web|last=Daniels|first=Melissa|date=2014-11-26|title=Davis becomes 1st African-American to be named vice chair of Allegheny County Democratic Committee|url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/davis-becomes-1st-african-american-to-be-named-vice-chair-of-allegheny-county-democratic-committee/|url-status=live|access-date=2019-08-13|website=TribLIVE.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813173609/https://archive.triblive.com/news/davis-becomes-1st-african-american-to-be-named-vice-chair-of-allegheny-county-democratic-committee/ |archive-date=August 13, 2019 }}
= Pennsylvania House of Representatives =
Davis ran for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 35th district in a 2018 special election.{{Cite web|date=2018-01-23|title=Democrat wins special election for state House seat in Western Pa.|url=https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2018/01/23/democrat-wins-special-election-state-house-seat-western-pa/1060467001/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-15|website=York Daily Record|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930192954/https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2018/01/23/democrat-wins-special-election-state-house-seat-western-pa/1060467001/ |archive-date=September 30, 2020 }}{{Cite web|date=2018-01-23|title=Democrat Davis wins Pa. House's 35th District to fill Gergely's seat|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2018/01/23/Democrat-Austin-Davis-wins-special-election-for-35th-State-House-District/stories/201801230213|url-status=live|access-date=2019-08-13|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124043052/http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2018/01/23/Democrat-Austin-Davis-wins-special-election-for-35th-State-House-District/stories/201801230213 |archive-date=January 24, 2018 }} Davis defeated Republican candidate Fawn Walker-Montgomery with over 73% of the vote and became the first African American to serve as State Representative for the district.{{Cite web|title=January 23, 2018 Special Election Results|url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/PA/Allegheny/72645/Web02.193333/#/|access-date=2019-08-13|website=Allegheny County}}
== Committee assignments ==
(2021–2022)
- Appropriations{{Cite web|title=Representative Austin A. Davis|url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=1794|access-date=2022-01-17|website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.|language=English}}
- Consumer Affairs
- Insurance
- Transportation
=Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania=
==Election==
{{Main|2022 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election}}
File:Austin Davis 2022 LG Logo.svg]]
On December 14, 2021, it was reported that Davis would enter the 2022 race for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, after being selected by presumptive Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro to be his running mate.{{Cite web|last=Caruso|first=Stephen|date=2021-12-14|title=W.Pa. Rep. Austin Davis to enter Pa. Lt. Gov race with Dem Josh Shapiro's backing|url=https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/austin-davis-josh-shapiro-lg-2022/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-15|website=Pennsylvania Capital-Star|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214201226/https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/austin-davis-josh-shapiro-lg-2022/ |archive-date=December 14, 2021 }} Pennsylvania law requires that a lieutenant gubernatorial candidate must run independent of the gubernatorial candidate in the primary.
On November 8, 2022, Shapiro and Davis handily defeated the Republican ticket of Doug Mastriano and Carrie DelRosso in the general election.{{Cite web |title=Democrat Josh Shapiro defeats Republican Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania governor's race |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/josh-shapiro-declared-winner-2022-pennsylvania-governor-midterm-electi-rcna55169 |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=NBC News |date=November 9, 2022 |language=en}} Davis became the first African American to be elected lieutenant governor and the first millennial to win statewide office in Pennsylvania.{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/08/politics/2022-midterm-election-historic-firsts/index.html | title=Meet the history-makers of the 2022 midterm elections | CNN Politics | website=CNN | date=November 9, 2022 }}
==Tenure==
Upon his swearing in at age 33, Davis became the youngest lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania history.{{cite web | url=https://www.abc27.com/election/whos-running-for-lieutenant-governor-of-pennsylvania/ | title=Who is the new Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania? | date=January 17, 2023 }} He is also the youngest current lieutenant governor in the United States.{{cite news |last1=Urie |first1=Daniel |title=Pa. lieutenant governor announces wife's pregnancy |url=https://www.pennlive.com/life/2023/05/pa-lieutenant-governor-announces-wifes-pregnancy.html |access-date=8 May 2023 |work=PennLive Patriot-News |publisher=Advance Local Media LLC |date=May 6, 2023}} In 2024, Davis was chosen as the chair of the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association.{{cite news |last1=Ulrich |first1=Steve |title=Davis Elected Chair of Democratic Lt. Governors Association |url=https://www.politicspa.com/davis-elected-chair-of-democratic-lt-governors-association/140123/ |access-date=4 December 2024 |work=PoliticsPA |date=December 3, 2024}}
Personal life
Davis met his wife, Blayre Holmes, at the August Wilson Center in 2012. The two were married on September 1, 2017. They live in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.{{Cite web |title=Lt. Governor Austin Davis {{!}} Lt Governor {{!}} Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |url=https://www.pa.gov/en/ltgovernor/lt-governor-austin-davis.html |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=www.pa.gov}} The couple had their first child, a daughter, in September of 2023.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Kayleigh |title=Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and wife Blayre welcome baby girl to the world |url=https://www.fox43.com/article/news/regional/lt-gov-austin-davis-wife-blayre-holmes-baby-girl-daughter-harper/521-00efcb9c-018d-4b26-8c3c-572707135db8 |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=WPMT-TV |date=September 4, 2023}}
Davis has served on the board of directors of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh,{{Cite web|url=https://www.pittsburghymca.org/why-the-y/leadership-partners|title=Meet Pittsburgh YMCA Leadership and Staff|website=www.pittsburghymca.org|language=en|access-date=2019-08-13}} The Consortium for Public Education, Communities in Schools of Pittsburgh,{{Cite web|url=https://cispac.org/about/board/|title=Board - Communities in Schools of Pittsburgh - Allegheny County|website=cispac.org|access-date=2019-08-13}} Auberle, Adonai Center for Black Males, Small Seeds Development, and the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School.
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change|title=2018 Pennsylvania House of Representatives special election, District 35{{cite web |title=REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 35TH DISTRICT |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/PA/Allegheny/72645/Web02.193333/#/cid/0101 |website=Allegheny County, PA January 23, 2018 Special Election |publisher=www.scytl.com |access-date=21 February 2023 |date=March 5, 2018}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (US)
|candidate=Austin Davis
|votes=3,209
|percentage=73.69
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party=Republican Party (US)
|candidate=Fawn Walker-Montgomery
|votes=1,129
|percentage=25.92
}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|party=Write-in
|votes=17
|percentage=0.39}}{{Election box total no change|votes=4,355|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2018 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 35{{cite web |title=REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 35TH DISTRICT |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/PA/Allegheny/92253/Web02.222611/#/cid/0123 |website=Allegheny County, PA November 6, 2018 General Election |publisher=www.scytl.com |access-date=21 February 2023 |date=November 26, 2018}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (US)
|candidate=Austin Davis
|votes=15,165
|percentage=96.73
}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|party=Write-in
|votes=513
|percentage=3.27
}}{{Election box total no change|votes=15,678|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2020 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 35{{cite web |title=REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 35TH DISTRICT |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/PA/Allegheny/106267/web.264614/#/detail/0026 |website=Allegheny County, PA November 3, 2020 General Election |publisher=scytl.us |access-date=21 February 2023 |date=November 25, 2020}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (US)
|candidate=Austin Davis (incumbent)
|votes=21,327
|percentage=92.52
}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|party=Write-in
|votes=1,725
|percentage=7.48}}{{Election box total no change|votes=23,052|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2022 Pennsylvania lieutenant gubernatorial Democratic primary election{{cite web |title=2022 General Primary Tuesday, May 17, 2022 Official Returns Statewide |url=https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/Home/SummaryResults?ElectionID=94&ElectionType=P&IsActive=0 |website=electionreturns.pa.gov |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of State |access-date=21 February 2023}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (US)
|candidate=Austin Davis
|votes=768,141
|percentage=63.00
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (US)
|candidate=Brian Sims
|votes=305,959
|percentage=25.09
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (US)
|candidate=Raymond L. Sosa
|votes=145,228
|percentage=11.91
}}{{Election box total no change|votes=1,219,328|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2022 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 35{{cite web |title=REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 35 |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/PA/Allegheny/115752/web.307039/#/detail/0022 |website=Allegheny County, PA November 8, 2022 General Election |publisher=scytl.us |access-date=21 February 2023 |date=December 12, 2022}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (US)
|candidate=Austin Davis
|votes=15,241
|percentage=65.90
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party=Republican Party (US)
|candidate=Don Nevills
|votes=7,817
|percentage=33.80
}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|party=Write-in
|votes=71
|percentage=0.31}}{{Election box total no change|votes=23,129|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title=2022 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election{{cite web |title=2022 General Election |url=https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/General/SummaryResults?ElectionID=94&ElectionType=G&IsActive=1 |website=Pennsylvania Elections - Summary Results |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of State |access-date=January 8, 2023}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = {{ubl|Josh Shapiro|Austin Davis}}
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 3,031,137
| percentage = 56.49
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate={{ubl|Doug Mastriano|Carrie DelRosso}}|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=2,238,477|percentage=41.71}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change |candidate={{ubl|Matt Hackenburg|Tim McMaster}}|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|votes=51,611|percentage=0.96}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change |candidate={{ubl|Christina DiGiulio|Michael Bagdes-Canning}}|party=Green Party (United States)|votes=24,436|percentage=0.46}}
{{Election box candidate no change
| candidate = {{ubl|Joe Soloski|Nicole Shultz}}
| party = Keystone
| color = #501B68
| votes = 20,518
| percentage = 0.38
}}{{Election box total no change|votes=5,366,179|percentage=100.00}}
{{Election box end}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [https://www.governor.pa.gov/about/lieutenant-governor/ Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109070637/https://www.governor.pa.gov/about/lieutenant-governor/ |date=November 9, 2022 }} official government website
- [https://joshshapiro.org/austin/ Austin Davis for Lieutenant Governor] campaign website
- {{C-SPAN|134620}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-pa-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Marc Gergely}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member from the 35th district|years=2018–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=Matt Gergely}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=John Fetterman}}
{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania|years=2022}}
{{s-inc|recent}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Kim Ward
Acting}}
{{s-ttl|title=Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania|years=2023–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{Current Pennsylvania statewide political officials}}
{{Current U.S. Lieutenant Governors}}
{{Current U.S. State Senate Presidents}}
{{Lieutenant Governors and Vice-Presidents of Pennsylvania}}{{Pennsylvania State Senators}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Austin}}
Category:21st-century African-American politicians
Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Category:African-American state legislators in Pennsylvania
Category:Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Category:Lieutenant governors of Pennsylvania