Bart Davis

{{Infobox officeholder

|image = 2017.11.10 USA Davis Photo Blue Suit.jpg

|caption = Official protrait, 2017

|name = Bart Davis

|office = United States Attorney for the District of Idaho

|term_start1 = September 21, 2017

|term_end1 = February 28, 2021

|president1 = Donald Trump
Joe Biden

|predecessor1 = Wendy J. Olson

|successor1 = Joshua Hurwit

|office2 = Majority Leader of the Idaho Senate

|term_start2 = December 1, 2002

|term_end2 = September 20, 2017

|predecessor2 = Jim Risch

|successor2 = Chuck Winder

| office3 = Member of the Idaho Senate

| constituency3 = 29th district (1998–2002)
33rd district (2002–2017)

| term_start3 = December 1, 1998

| term_end3 = September 21, 2017

| predecessor3 = John Hansen

| successor3 = Tony Potts

|birth_name = Bart McKay Davis

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1955|3|7}}

|birth_place=Rapid City, South Dakota, U.S.

|death_date=

|death_place=

|spouse=Marion Woffinden Davis

|children=6

|profession=Lawyer

|party=Republican

|education = Brigham Young University (BA)
University of Idaho (JD)

}}

Bart McKay Davis (born March 7, 1955) is an American attorney and politician who has been nominated to serve as the United States attorney for the District of Idaho. He previously served as the U.S. attorney from 2017 to 2021.{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Ruth|title=Sen. Bart Davis nominated as Idaho's new U.S. Attorney |url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/article158915399.html|access-date=17 August 2017|publisher=Idaho Statesman|date=June 29, 2017}} He previously served as a Republican member of the Idaho Senate, representing District 33 from 2002 to 2017.{{cite news|title=Idaho Senate Majority Leader Resigns to Serve as US Attorney|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/idaho/articles/2017-09-21/idaho-senate-majority-leader-resigns-to-serve-as-us-attorney|access-date=21 September 2017|agency=Associated Press |publisher=U.S. News & World Report|date=September 21, 2017}} He represented District 29 from 1998 to 2002. During his time in the Idaho Senate, he served as state senate majority leader.

Early life and education

Born in Rapid City, South Dakota, Davis was raised in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Davis received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Brigham Young University in 1978 and a Juris Doctor in 1980 from the University of Idaho College of Law.

Career

Following his graduation from law school, Davis began his legal practice in Idaho Falls. He is admitted to practice before the Idaho Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. In 1990, he was co-counsel with former solicitor general Rex Lee in Davis v. United States before the United States Supreme Court. Davis' parents were the petitioners in the case. Since 2001, Davis has represented Idaho as a commissioner on the Uniform Law Commission. He is a past chairman of the Council of State Governments.

=Idaho Senate=

In 1998, six-term incumbent Senator John Hansen did not seek reelection to the Idaho Senate. Davis ran for the open seat and was elected. He served as Majority Caucus Chair from 2000 to 2002, and from 2002 to 2017 has served as Senate Majority Leader.

=U.S. attorney=

== First term ==

In June 2017, President Donald Trump appointed him to become the next United States Attorney in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho.{{Cite news|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/jun/29/president-trump-nominates-bart-davis-as-us-attorne/|title=President Trump nominates Bart Davis as U.S. Attorney for Idaho|work=Spokesman.com|access-date=2017-09-13|language=en}} The Senate Judiciary Committee on September 7, 2017, approved his recommendation by a unanimous voice vote.{{Cite news|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/sep/07/senate-judiciary-backs-bart-davis-as-idahos-next-u/|title=Senate Judiciary backs Bart Davis as Idaho's next U.S. Attorney; sends nomination to full Senate|work=Spokesman.com|access-date=2017-09-13|language=en}} He was confirmed by United States Senate by voice vote on September 14, 2017.

On February 8, 2021, he and 55 other Trump-era attorneys were asked to resign.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/justice-dept-seeks-resignations-of-trump-era-us-attorneys/2021/02/08/f5b71648-6a88-11eb-a66e-e27046e9e898_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209142507/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/justice-dept-seeks-resignations-of-trump-era-us-attorneys/2021/02/08/f5b71648-6a88-11eb-a66e-e27046e9e898_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 9, 2021|title=Justice Dept. seeks resignations of Trump-era US attorneys|first=Michael|last=Balsamo |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 9, 2021 |access-date=February 11, 2021 }} On February 11, 2021, Davis submitted his resignation, effective February 28.{{Cite press release |title=U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis Announces Resignation After Serving the District of Idaho for More Than 3 Years |date=February 11, 2021 |publisher=United States Attorney's Office |location=Boise, Idaho |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-id/pr/us-attorney-bart-m-davis-announces-resignation-after-serving-district-idaho-more-3-years |access-date=February 26, 2021}}

== Second term ==

On April 1, 2025, his nomination was sent to the United States Senate.{{Cite press release |title=Nominations Sent to the Senate |date=April 1, 2025 |publisher=The White House |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-8f2a/}} His nomination is pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee.{{Cite web |date=April 1, 2025 |title=PN60-7 — Bart McKay Davis — Department of Justice |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/119th-congress/60/7 |access-date=April 2, 2025|website=congress.gov}}

= Redistricting =

Senator Pro-Tem Chuck Winder appointed Davis to Idaho's Independent Redistricting Commission.{{Cite web|last=Harris|first=Senator Mark|title=Senate Pro-Tem Chuck Winder Appoints Senator Bart Davis to the 2021 Reapportionment Commission|url=https://www.hjnews.com/montpelier/senate-pro-tem-chuck-winder-appoints-senator-bart-davis-to-the-2021-reapportionment-commission/article_e7444f3f-b7ea-5647-b18e-85af10dcf91b.html|access-date=2021-08-09|website=The Herald Journal|date=July 16, 2021 |language=en}} Davis served as co-chair of the commission.{{Cite web|title=2021 – Idaho State Legislature|url=https://legislature.idaho.gov/redistricting/2021/|access-date=2021-09-05|language=en-US}}

Personal life

He married Marion Woffinden Davis in 1976 and together they have six children.

Writing

Bart Davis, Kate Kelly, and Kristin Ford, Use of Legislative History: Willow Witching for Legislative Intent, 43 Idaho College of Law Review 585 (2007).
Bart Davis, Idaho's Messy History with Term Limits: A Modest Response, 52 Idaho College of Law Review 463 (2016).

Electoral history

class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"

|+ District 29 Senate - part of Bonneville County

!|Year

!|Candidate

!|Votes

!|Pct

!|Candidate

!|Votes

!|Pct

!|Candidate

!|Votes

!|Pct

1998 primary{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/candidat/98prrslt.htm |title= Idaho Primary Election Results: May 26, 1998 |author= Cenarrusa, Pete |author-link= Pete Cenarrusa |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120501063821/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/candidat/98prrslt.htm |archive-date= May 1, 2012 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |2,120

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |57.4%

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Brenda Bergener Heaton}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |1,573

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |42.6%

1998 general{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/98result/98gnrslt.htm |title= Idaho General Election Results: November 3, 1998 |author= Cenarrusa, Pete |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120501062029/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/98result/98gnrslt.htm |archive-date= May 1, 2012 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |5,148

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |56.0%

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|Edith Stanger}}

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |4,044

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |44.0%

2000 primary{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/2000rslt/primary/tot_leg.htm |title= May 23, 2000 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Cenarrusa, Pete |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120501063829/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/2000rslt/primary/tot_leg.htm |archive-date= May 1, 2012 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |3,122

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |100%

2000 general{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/2000rslt/general/tot_leg.htm |title= November 7, 2000 General Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Cenarrusa, Pete |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120501064347/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/2000rslt/general/tot_leg.htm |archive-date= May 1, 2012 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |8,343

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |73.8%

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |{{nowrap|Kenneth Walton}}

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2,959

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |26.2%

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |{{nowrap|Rue Stears}}

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |0.0%

class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"

|+ District 33 Senate - part of Bonneville County

!|Year

!|Candidate

!|Votes

!|Pct

!|Candidate

!|Votes

!|Pct

2002 primary{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/results/2002/primary/tot_leg.htm |title= May 28, 2002 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Cenarrusa, Pete |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120501063904/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/results/2002/primary/tot_leg.htm |archive-date= May 1, 2012 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |3,140

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |100%

2002 general{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/results/2002/general/tot_leg.htm |title= November 5, 2002 General Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Cenarrusa, Pete |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120501064322/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/results/2002/general/tot_leg.htm |archive-date= May 1, 2012 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |7,004

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |59.2%

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|Ellie Hampton}}

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |4,831

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |40.8%

2004 primary{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/RESULTS/2004/primary/tot_leg.htm |title= May 25, 2004 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Ysursa, Ben |author-link= Ben Ysursa |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120501064554/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/RESULTS/2004/primary/tot_leg.htm |archive-date= May 1, 2012 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |1,794

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |69.8%

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Kenneth Walton}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |778

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |30.2%

2004 general{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/RESULTS/2004/general/tot_leg.htm |title= November 2, 2004 General Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Ysursa, Ben |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120501062423/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/RESULTS/2004/general/tot_leg.htm |archive-date= May 1, 2012 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |12,380

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |100%

2006 primary{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2006/primary/tot_leg.htm |title= May 23, 2006 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Ysursa, Ben |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120501064542/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2006/primary/tot_leg.htm |archive-date= May 1, 2012 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |1,950

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |70.6%

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Kenneth Walton}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |811

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |29.4%

2006 general{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2006/general/tot_leg.htm |title= November 7, 2006 General Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Ysursa, Ben |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120501064151/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2006/general/tot_leg.htm |archive-date= May 1, 2012 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |6,985

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |60.0%

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|Neil Williams}}

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |4,655

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |40.0%

2008 primary{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2008/Primary/tot_leg.htm |title= May 27, 2008 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Ysursa, Ben |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120501063707/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2008/Primary/tot_leg.htm |archive-date= May 1, 2012 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |1,495

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |74.7%

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Kenneth Walton}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |507

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |25.3%

2008 general{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2008/General/tot_leg.htm |title= November 4, 2008 General Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Ysursa, Ben |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120616143914/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2008/General/tot_leg.htm |archive-date= June 16, 2012 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |9,456

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |64.8%

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|Neil Williams}}

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |5,136

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |35.2%

2010 primary{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2010/Primary/tot_leg.htm |title= May 25, 2010 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Ysursa, Ben |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120522002826/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ELECT/RESULTS/2010/Primary/tot_leg.htm |archive-date= May 22, 2012 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |3,173

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |100%

2010 general{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2010/General/tot_leg.htm |title= November 2, 2010 General Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Ysursa, Ben |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120501063900/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2010/General/tot_leg.htm |archive-date= May 1, 2012 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |6,764

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |66.5%

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|Neil Williams}}

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |3,411

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |33.5%

2012 primary{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2012/Primary/tot_leg.htm |title= May 15, 2012 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Ysursa, Ben |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121119193944/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2012/Primary/tot_leg.htm |archive-date= November 19, 2012 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap| Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |2,719

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |74.7%

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Brian Schad}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |921

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |25.3%

2012 general{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2012/General/tot_leg.htm |title= November 6, 2012 General Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Ysursa, Ben |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160615195017/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2012/General/tot_leg.htm |archive-date= June 15, 2016 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap| Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |13,809

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |100%

2014 primary{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2014/Primary/legislative_totals.html |title= May 20, 2014 General Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Ysursa, Ben |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141108053333/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2014/Primary/legislative_totals.html |archive-date= November 8, 2014 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |3,635

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |100%

2014 general{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2014/General/legislative_totals.html |title= November 4, 2014 General Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Ysursa, Ben |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220093000/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2014/General/legislative_totals.html |archive-date= December 20, 2016 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |8,365

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |100%

2016 primary{{cite web |url= https://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2016/Primary/legislative_totals.html |title= May 17, 2016 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Denney, Lawerence |author-link= Lawerence Denney |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220092827/http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2016/Primary/legislative_totals.html |archive-date= December 20, 2016 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |2,392

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |100.0%

2016 general{{cite web |url= https://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2016/General/legislative_totals.html |title= Nov 8, 2016 General Election Results: Legislative Totals |author= Denney, Lawerence |publisher= Secretary of State of Idaho |location= Boise, Idaho |access-date= March 26, 2017 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161221144543/http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/results/2016/General/legislative_totals.html |archive-date= December 21, 2016 }}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|Bart Davis (incumbent)}}

|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |11,848

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |70.6%

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |{{nowrap|Jim Francis (W/I)}}

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1,575

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |11.7%

References

External links

[https://www.justice.gov/usao-id/meet-us-attorney Biography at U.S. Department of Justice]
[https://legislature.idaho.gov/legislators/membership/2017/id81/ Idaho Legislature - Senator Bart Davis] - official government site

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Idaho Senate
from the 29th district|years=December 1, 1998–December 1, 2002}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Idaho Senate
from the 33rd district|years=December 1, 2002–September 21, 2017}}

{{s-ttl|title=United States Attorney for the District of Idaho|years=2017–2021}}

Category:1955 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century members of the Idaho Legislature

Category:Brigham Young University alumni

Category:Idaho lawyers

Category:Republican Party Idaho state senators

Category:Latter Day Saints from Idaho

Category:Politicians from Idaho Falls, Idaho

Category:Politicians from Rapid City, South Dakota

Category:United States attorneys for the District of Idaho

Category:University of Idaho alumni

Category:University of Idaho College of Law alumni