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Sarah Davis (politician)

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Sarah Davis
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 134th district
In office
January 11, 2011 – January 12, 2021
Preceded byEllen Cohen
Succeeded byAnn Johnson
Personal details
Born (1976-05-18) May 18, 1976 (age 48)[1]
Charleston, West Virginia, US
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKent Adams[2]
ResidenceHouston, Texas
Alma mater
OccupationAttorney/Of Counsel, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker[2]

Sarah Davis (born May 18, 1976) is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives; she was first elected in the Tea Party wave of 2010.[2][3] Her district, the 134th, is located in Houston and includes The Galleria, Rice University, and the Texas Medical Center. Prior to her loss to Ann Johnson in 2020, Davis was the only pro-choice Republican in the Texas House.[4]

Davis won election to her fifth term in the House in the general election held on November 6, 2018, when she defeated Democrat Allison Lami Sawyer, 47,164 votes (53.2 percent) to 41,486 (46.8 percent). In 2018, she ran 1,028 votes behind her showing two years earlier.[5]

Political views

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Davis has served on multiple committees and is a former chairman of the House Ethics Committee. In her fourth-term election 2016, Davis polled 48,192 votes (53.6 percent) to defeat Democrat Ben Rose, who drew 38,958 (43.3 percent). Libertarian Gilberto "Gil" Velasquez Jr. received the remaining 2,831 votes (3.2 percent).[6]

LGBT policy

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Equality Texas gave Davis an “A+” on her scorecard for the 86th session, stating that she “was the only Republican in the legislature to co-author pro-equality bills — five in all. She also stood in solidarity with the House LGBTQ Caucus on the House floor and at public events.”[7]

In the 2018 election cycle, the Human Rights Campaign endorsed her. She was the only Republican to receive their endorsement.[8]

In the 82nd legislature, Davis received an "F" from Equality Texas for supporting Republican Wayne Christian's attempts to end LGBT resource centers on college campuses during a legislative session marked by major reductions in funding across the board due to the depressed state economy.[9] In the 83rd legislature, Davis received a "C" from Equality Texas.[9] When asked about performing same-sex wedding ceremonies, Davis said "I believe marriage is a religious sacrament, and the government should not force congregations to perform the ceremonies, However I do not oppose two consenting adults entering into civil unions."[10] In 2014, Equality Texas endorsed Davis while Davis was being challenged by another Republican, Bonnie Parker.[10]

Guns

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In 2015, Davis voted in favor of HB972, allowing guns on college campuses.[11] This law also allowed guns to be brought into the buildings and dorms of universities in Texas. In 2013, Davis voted in favor of HB1076, prohibiting the enforcement of federal firearm regulations concerning firearm capacity, registration, or background checks.[12][13] The bill did not become law.[13]

Davis has received the endorsement of the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) and the Texas State Rifle Association.[2] Davis authored a bill to reduce license fees for concealed carry licenses issued to retired military and law enforcement personnel.[2] In 2010, the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association both gave her an "A" on her position on gun rights.[14] She received an "A" grade and endorsement from the NRA-PVF in 2014,[15] but this fell to a "C" grade in 2020.[16]

Davis voted in favor of reducing the penalty for carrying a gun in a prohibited location, including a high school, college sporting event, a church, or a hospital. The penalty was reduced from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C misdemeanor.[17]

Education

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The 2011 state budget, voted for by Davis, cut $5.4 billion from public schools. The budget resulted in the elimination of 10,000 teaching positions and widespread cuts to pre-kindergarten programs.[18] In 2012, Davis claimed her vote on the budget did not reduce funding for public education. PolitiFact rated Davis' claim "Pants on Fire."[19]

In 2015, Davis opposed limiting pre-kindergarten class sizes to 18 and opposed ensuring that teachers met certain qualifications.[20] In that same session, Davis voted to table Amendment 4 on HB1 - meaning that the public education budget would be cut by $800,000,000.

Crime

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Davis authored and passed a bill which strengthened the ability of prosecutors to pursue child pornography cases.[citation needed]

Health care

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Davis is the only pro-choice Republican in the Texas legislature and has earned the endorsement of Planned Parenthood in previous races.[21] In 2011, Davis voted against a bill to require physicians to conduct intra-vaginal sonograms, prior to even pharmaceutically induced abortions, citing her opposition to legislative interference in the doctor-patient relationship. Davis likened this legislation to the government takeover of the doctor-patient relationship by ObamaCare, and as a Republican who believes in limited government, personal freedom and individual responsibility, Davis said the government should not practice medicine. Davis voted for a bill that prohibits the state from funding facilities that perform abortions. In 2013, she voted against a bill that increases abortion facility requirements, regulates the administration of abortion inducing drugs, and prohibits abortions after 20 weeks of gestation. Davis stated at the time that the bill constituted a de facto ban on abortions and would not withstand constitutional scrutiny.[22] During the 2013 debate on the abortion restriction bill, Davis offered an amendment to the abortion bill which retained the 20-week ban, but which deleted the unconstitutional facility restrictions, and instead incorporated exceptions for cases of rape, incest, danger to the mother's life and severe fetal abnormalities.[23] The facility restrictions in the bill were found to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt.[24]

Other

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Davis has been named a "Fighter for Free Enterprise" by the Texas Association of Business. She voted to permanently exempt small businesses from paying the state margins tax. Davis voted to require drug screening of those seeking unemployment benefits. She voted to require photo identification to vote, voted to end sanctuary cities and she voted to fund increased border security.[citation needed]

Gubernatorial dispute

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After Davis clashed with Governor Greg Abbott in the 2017 summer special session, Governor Abbott gave his first endorsement of the 2018 election cycle to her primary opponent Susanna Dokupil.[25] Abbott has been an active and vocal opponent of Davis' campaign, even saying that Davis "completely disregards her very own constituents and puts her own personal, petty politics ahead of the greater good for the people of the state of Texas."[26]

Committee assignments[27]

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  • Appropriations
    • Subcommittee on Article II (Chair)
  • Calendars
  • Corrections
  • Economic Competitiveness, Select
  • General Investigating & Ethics (Chair)

Personal life

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Davis is a breast cancer survivor, and is married to Kent Adams.[2]

Electoral history

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Texas state house elections

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2010

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Texas primary election, 2010: House District 134[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sarah Davis 4,379 54.55%
Republican Bonnie Parker 3,648 45.45%
Majority 731 9.1% −36.43%
Turnout 8027 100% +2.74%
Texas general election, 2010: House District 134[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sarah Davis 25,955 50.68% +8.47%
Democratic Ellen Cohen (incumbent) 25,254 49.31% −6.15%
Majority 701 1.36% −9.56%
Turnout 51,209 100% −25.04%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing +8.47%

2012

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Texas primary election, 2012: House District 134[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sarah Davis (incumbent) 9,796 100% +55.29%
Majority 9,796 100% +90.9%
Turnout 9,796 100% +18.08%
Texas general election, 2012: House District 134[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sarah Davis (incumbent) 43,823 54.64% +3.96%
Democratic Ann Johnson 36,366 45.35% −3.96%
Majority 7457 9.29% +7.93%
Turnout 80,189 100% +56.59%
Republican hold Swing +3.96%

2014

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Texas primary election, 2014: House District 134[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sarah Davis (incumbent) 8,050 70.95% +16.4%
Republican Bonnie Parker 3,296 29.04% −16.41%
Majority 4,754 41.9% −49%
Turnout 11,346 100% +13.66%
Texas general election, 2014: House District 134[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sarah Davis (incumbent) 32,092 61.18% +6.54%
Democratic Alison Ruff 20,364 38.82% −6.54%
Majority 11,728 22.36% +13.07%
Turnout 52,456 100% −34.59%
Republican hold Swing +6.54%

2016

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Texas primary election, 2016: House District 134[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sarah Davis (incumbent) 13,858 59.48% −11.47%
Republican David L. Palmer 9,439 40.52% +11.47%
Majority 4,419 18.96% −22.94%
Turnout 23,297
Texas general election, 2016: House District 134[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sarah Davis (incumbent) 48,192 53.56% −7.62%
Democratic Ben Rose 38,958 43.30% +4.48%
Libertarian Gilberto "Gil" Velasquez, Jr. 2,831 3.15% +3.15%
Majority 9,234 10.26% −12.10%
Turnout 89,981 100% +71.54%
Republican hold Swing -7.62%

2018

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Texas primary election, 2018: House District 134[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sarah Davis (incumbent) 8,081 56.31% −3.17%
Republican Susanna Dokupil 6,269 43.69% +3.17%
Majority 1,812 12.62% −6.34%
Turnout 14,350
Texas general election, 2018: House District 134[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sarah Davis (incumbent) 47,277 53.17% −0.39%
Democratic Allison Lami Sawyer 41,637 46.83% +3.53%
Majority 5,640 6.34% −3.92%
Turnout 88,914 100% −1.19%
Republican hold Swing -0.39%

2020

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Texas general election, 2020: House District 134
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ann Johnson 56,895 52.3% 5.47%
Republican Sarah Davis (incumbent) 51,960 47.7% −5.47%
Majority 4,935 4.6% −1.74%
Turnout 108,855 100% +22.4%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing +10.94%

References

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  1. ^ "State Rep. Sarah Davis District 134 (R-West University Place)". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Biography". sarahdavis134. Archived from the original on March 8, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  3. ^ "Ann Johnson Offers A Voice In Tune With Texas House District 134". Texas Liberal. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  4. ^ Kadifa, Margaret (March 1, 2018). "There's One Pro-Choice Republican in the Texas Legislature. Soon There Could Be Zero". Mother Jones. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Election Returns". Texas Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  6. ^ "Election Results". Texas Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  7. ^ "Equality Texas 2019 Legislative Scorecard" (PDF). www.equalitytexas.org. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  8. ^ "The Slate Of HRC-Endorsed Pro-Equality Candidates In the Lone Star State". www.hrc.org. 17 October 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-10-19. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  9. ^ a b "Equality Texas and the Dangers of 'Good Enough'". www.austinchronicle.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  10. ^ a b "Gay rights group backs Texas Republican". San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on March 8, 2014. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  11. ^ "Vote out state representatives who voted for campus carry". Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  12. ^ "Text of HB1076". Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Davis vote on HB1076". Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  14. ^ "Representative Sarah Davis's Special Interest Group Ratings". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  15. ^ "NRA-PVF | Grades | Texas". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ^ "NRA-PVF | Grades | Texas". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ^ "Summary of Amendments" (PDF). Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  18. ^ "Impact of 2011 Budget on Public Education". Project Vote Smart. 2012-09-27. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  19. ^ "Davis claim rated by politifact". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  20. ^ "Texas HB4 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature".
  21. ^ Rayasam, Renuka (14 April 2020). "The One Republican Lawmaker in Texas Who Supports Abortion Rights". Politico. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  22. ^ "Sarah Davis' Voting Records on Issue: Abortion". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  23. ^ "Abortion debate on HB 2 starts out with a bang". The Houston Chronicle. 9 July 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  24. ^ "Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt". Oyez. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  25. ^ "Gov. Greg Abbott endorses primary challenger to state Rep. Sarah Davis". 2017-11-13.
  26. ^ "At fundraiser, Abbott says Davis bill could have undercut Harvey response". 2018-01-12.
  27. ^ Representatives, Texas House of. "Texas House of Representatives". house.texas.gov. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  28. ^ "2010 Primary Elections". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  29. ^ "2010 General Election". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  30. ^ "Texas House of Representatives Elections 2012". Altius Directory. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  31. ^ "News App: The 2012 Election Brackets". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  32. ^ Houston Chronicle%5d%5d "Texas - Summary Vote Results". Retrieved March 7, 2014. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  33. ^ "Race Summary Report, 2014 General Election, Office of the Secretary of State". Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  34. ^ "Race Summary Report - 2016 Republican Party Primary Election". Secretary of State of Texas. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  35. ^ "Race Summary Report, 2016 General Election, Office of the Secretary of State". Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  36. ^ "Race Summary Report - 2018 Republican Party Primary Election". Secretary of State of Texas. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  37. ^ "Race Summary Report, 2018 General Election, Office of the Secretary of State". Retrieved September 11, 2020.
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