Artur Davis

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Artur Davis
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 7th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Earl Hilliard
Born	October 9, 1967 (1967-10-09) (age 40) Montgomery, Alabama
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Single
Religion	Lutheran

Artur Genestre Davis (b. October 9, 1967) is an American politician who has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003, representing Alabama's 7th congressional district, a district created under the Voting Rights Act to be black-majority, and which includes the rural black belt. It encompasses the counties of Choctaw, Sumter, Greene, Perry, Hale, Dallas, Wilcox, and Marengo. It also includes parts of Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Pickens and Clarke Counties.

[edit] Life and political career

Davis was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and was raised by his mother and grandmother. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1990 and cum laude from Harvard Law School before returning to Alabama. At HLS, he was also the recipient of the Best Oralist Award in the esteemed Ames Moot Competition.

After working as an intern at the Southern Poverty Law Center and then as a civil rights lawyer, he served as an assistant United States Attorney.

In 2000, he ran for the House in the Democratic primary against 10-year incumbent Earl F. Hilliard. He criticized Hilliard for taking a trip to Libya in 1997 despite U.S. sanctions, but despite vigorous campaigning, Davis lost the 2000 election 58%-34%. In 2002 he ran again and was helped by the fact that Hilliard's district had been greatly altered in 2002 redistricting, adding many white voters in Birmingham and losing its share of Montgomery. Hilliard also had voted against a 2001 resolution expressing solidarity with Israel in its fight against terrorism. Davis received many contributions from pro-Israel groups. During the campaign Hilliard notably questioned whether Davis was "black enough" to represent the district. Despite these attempts to divide the African-American vote, Davis defeated Hilliard narrowly in the primary, which required a runoff in June. He won the runoff easily, assuring him of victory in November in the heavily Democratic district.

He was challenged in the 2004 primary by Albert Turner Jr., a son of a leader of Selma's "Bloody Sunday" march and in the 2006 primary by political new-comer Eddison Walters. He easily won the challenges 88%-12% and 90%-9% respectively. He has only faced Republican opposition once, in 2004; he won easily with 74 percent of the vote.

In the new Democratically controlled 110th Congress, Davis has been assigned to the Committee on Ways and Means. The stature of that appointment, and the difficulty of raising sufficient funds, has led Davis to postpone plans to seek statewide office in 2008, either challenging conservative Senator Jeff Sessions or running for Governor of Alabama. In January 2007, Davis said that he was still interested in running on a statewide ticket in 2010, either for Governor, or for Senate if Richard Shelby elects to retire.^[1]

[edit] House record

Davis is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and resides in Birmingham, Alabama. Known as a bipartisan legislator, he has earned praise from publications such as Roll Call and the National Journal. Davis was appointed to the Senior Whip Team for the Democratic Caucus of the 109th Congress and is the co-chair of the centrist House New Democrat Coalition, as well as the Southern Regional co-chair for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Congressman Davis has emerged as a leader on issues related to housing, education, and health care. As a freshman, he led the successful fight to reverse funding cuts for minority land grant colleges including Tuskegee University. As a second term member, Congressman Davis won a floor fight to restore funding to the HOPE VI program for renovating public housing; he persuaded over sixty Republicans to vote with Democrats to save HOPE VI. In 2005, the congressman was the lead Democratic sponsor of a bill establishing a national cord blood bank, which will widen the availability of blood transfusions for thousands of patients who suffer from diseases such as sickle cell anemia and diabetes. Davis' voting legislative record has been primarily focused on Social and Health issues, which remain an important issue in his district.

In 2007 he became the first Congressman outside Illinois to endorse Sen. Barack Obama for president in 2008.[1]

[edit] Committees and subcommittees

• House Committee on Ways and Means(24th of 24)
  • Subcommittee on Social Security
  • Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support
• Judiciary Committee
  • Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law
  • Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security

[edit] Electoral history

2006 General Election

2004 General Election

2002 General Election

[edit] Group ratings (2004)

• National Journal
  • Economic: 60% Liberal, 40% Conservative
  • Social: 64% Liberal, 35% Conservative
  • Foreign: 66% Liberal, 33% Conservative
• Americans for Democratic Action: 75
• American Civil Liberties Union: 70
• Chamber of Commerce of the United States: 71
• Christian Coalition: 33
• American Conservative Union: 24
• National Taxpayers Union: 12
• League of Conservation Voters: 64

[edit] See also

"30 Something" Working Group

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• U.S. Congressman Artur Davis official House site
• Artur Davis for U.S. Congress official campaign site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Frontline USA episode with information about Davis April 5, 2008