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Paul Davis (Kansas politician)

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Paul Davis
Minority Leader of the Kansas House of Representatives
In office
January 12, 2009 – January 12, 2015
Preceded byDennis McKinney
Succeeded byTom Burroughs
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives
from the 46th district
In office
January 13, 2003 – January 12, 2015
Preceded byTroy Findley
Succeeded byDennis Highberger
Personal details
Born (1972-07-12) July 12, 1972 (age 52)
Woodland, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
Shelley Rogers
​
​
(m. 2000; div. 2003)​
Stephanie Davis
​
(m. 2008)​
Children1
EducationUniversity of Kansas (BA)
Washburn University (JD)

Paul T. Davis (born July 12, 1972) is an American politician and lawyer. A Democrat, he represented the 46th district in the Kansas House of Representatives from 2003 to 2015, serving as minority leader from 2009 to 2015. Davis was the unsuccessful Democratic Party nominee in the 2014 Kansas gubernatorial election[1] and also ran a close campaign for Congress in Kansas's 2nd congressional district in 2018.[2][3]

Early life, education, and career

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Davis is the son of an elementary school teacher and a public administration professor at the University of Kansas.[4] Davis attended Lawrence public schools and graduated from Lawrence High School.[5] After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Kansas, Davis went on to obtain a Juris Doctor from Washburn University School of Law.[5] Davis and his wife, Stephanie, have a daughter who was born in 2010. Stephanie is a psychologist, specializing in the treatment of homeless veterans suffering from trauma.[5]

Davis was first elected to the House in 2003 when his predecessor, Troy Findley, left the legislature to join the staff of newly elected Governor Kathleen Sebelius. He became the House Minority Leader in 2008, and worked with moderate republicans to pass a budget.[5] Davis was an intern for former Kansas Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley and former Congressman Jim Slattery.[4] He is a partner in the Lawrence, Kansas, law firm of Fagan, Emert & Davis, LLC, which specializes in commercial litigation, family law, personal injury litigation, business and corporate law, federal and state criminal defense, Social Security Disability, real estate including foreclosures.[6]

Political career

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Kansas House of Representatives

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Davis was appointed to serve in the Kansas House of Representatives in 2002. He represented the 46th district until 2015 and served as minority leader from 2009 to 2015.[7] He was the Policy Chair for the House Democratic Caucus for three years prior to becoming minority leader of the Kansas House.[citation needed]

2014 Kansas gubernatorial campaign

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Main article: 2014 Kansas gubernatorial election

Davis ran for governor in 2014 against incumbent Republican Sam Brownback and Libertarian Keen Umbehr. Upon announcing his candidacy, Davis stated, "As Kansans, we believe we have a moral obligation to educate our children, reward hard work, build a strong middle class and cooperate with one another. These values are what make us Kansans."[8] Davis's bid was endorsed by over 100 Kansas Republican politicians.[9] One who did so was former Kansas Senate President Dick Bond.[10] His rationale for doing so was created by the state's fiscal difficulties brought on by Brownback's substantial tax cutting policies.[11][10] The organization Republicans for Kansas Values stated that their primary reason for the endorsement was not to elect a Democrat, but to defeat incumbent governor Sam Brownback.[12]

Davis was defeated by Brownback in the general election, 49.8% to 46.1%.[13][14]

2018 U.S. House campaign

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See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Kansas § District 2

Davis was the Democratic Party's nominee in the 2018 election in Kansas's 2nd congressional district. The seat was open following the retirement of Republican incumbent Lynn Jenkins.[15] Davis carried the 2nd district in 2014, when he lost a close contest for election as governor to incumbent Sam Brownback. The seat has flipped between parties repeatedly. It has been held by Democrat Jim Slattery, who stepped down to run for governor in 1994, and Republican Jim Ryun, who represented the district for six terms until he was unseated by one-term Democrat Nancy Boyda. Boyda, in turn, was defeated by Republican Lynn Jenkins in 2008. Jenkins declined to run for reelection in 2018.[16] Republican Steve Watkins narrowly defeated Davis in the general election in November 2018.[17]

Lobbying

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Davis registered as a lobbyist in the state of Kansas in December 2020 and represents clients including tobacco, private health insurance, and casinos.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Kansas legislators Past and Present-Paul Davis". Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  2. ^ Koranda, Stephen. "Davis Launches Campaign For Kansas' 2nd District Congressional Seat". Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  3. ^ "GOP newcomer Steve Watkins bucks polls to keep Kansas' 2nd District red". kansascity.
  4. ^ a b Cooper, Brad (October 7, 2014). "Democrat Paul Davis' life immersed in policy and politics". Kansas City Star. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d Davis seen as possible Democratic opponent to Gov. Brownback, Lawrence Journal World, Scott Rothschild, August 5, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  6. ^ Fagan, Emert & Davis. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  7. ^ Woodall, Hunter (August 15, 2017). "Kansas Democrat Paul Davis announces congressional bid, says he won't vote for Pelosi". Kansas City Star. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  8. ^ AP (September 17, 2013). "Democrat Paul Davis enters Kansas governor race". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  9. ^ Carpenter, Tim (July 15, 2014). "More than 100 GOP politicians endorse Democrat Davis for governor". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  10. ^ a b Public Official of the Year, 2000 Dick Bond, Governing Magazine, Alan Greenblatt, 2000. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  11. ^ A raft of Kansas Republicans announce their endorsement of Democrat Paul Davis for governor, The Pitch, Steve Vockrodt, July 15, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  12. ^ Lazar, Alex (July 15, 2014). "Over 100 Republicans Back Democratic Candidate For Kansas Governor". Huffington Post. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  13. ^ Brownback wins re-election
  14. ^ "Kansas Secretary of State 2014 General Election Official Vote Totals" (PDF). Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  15. ^ Carpenter, Tim (June 16, 2018). "Kansas Democrat Paul Davis leads all 2nd District candidates in campaign donations". Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  16. ^ Kansas congressional candidate who ran the Iditarod is having his honesty challenged, Anchorage Daily News, Roxana Hegeman and John Hanna (AP), October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  17. ^ Chilson, Morgan. "Steve Watkins wins tight race over Paul Davis in Kansas' 2nd Congressional District". The Topeka Capital.
  18. ^ "Kansas Secretary of State - Lobbyist Search Results - Client Listing". sos.ks.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
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Kansas House of Representatives
Preceded by Minority Leader of the Kansas House of Representatives
2009–2015 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Kansas
2014 		Succeeded by
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