Donald G. Davis is an American politician serving in the North Carolina Senate, representing the 5th senate district since 2013. Davis was first elected to the post in 2008, representing Pitt, Wayne, and Greene counties. He was defeated for re-election in 2010, but ran and won a Senate seat for the newly redrawn 5th District in the 2012 election. Davis served as mayor of Snow Hill, North Carolina from 2001 until his election to the Senate. Elected at age 29, he was the youngest mayor in the history of Snow Hill. Prior to defeating incumbent Mayor R. Ben Rayford in the 2001 mayoral election, Davis served eight years active duty in the United States Air Force. From 2001 until his election to the Senate, Davis also taught sociology at East Carolina University, Pitt Community College, and Lenoir Community College.
Early life and education
Davis was born in the town of Snow Hill and attended Snow Hill Primary School and West Greene Elementary School. He attended public schools in Durham and Wake counties. In 1989, Davis graduated from McArthur High School in Irving, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences degree from the United States Air Force Academy. Davis earned a Master of Science in Administration degree with a concentration in general administration from Central Michigan University and a Master of Arts in Sociology degree with a concentration in social issues in regional development from East Carolina University. He also earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership degree with a concentration in higher education administration from East Carolina University. Davis has completed courses in the Commissioned Lay Minister Program through the New Hope Presbytery, Presbyterian Church United States of America.
Military career
Davis served eight years active duty in the United States Air Force. He had a regular commission and was promoted to the rank of captain. He completed selective assignments. Initially Davis was assigned to the United States Air Force Academy as an admissions advisor. He was reassigned to the 89th Airlift Wing as a services officer at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Davis served as chief of the Plans and Force Management Flight. He also administered the base mortuary program. Davis deployed to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware to administer mortuary services to the 33 victims of the CT-143 aircraft mishap involving the late Secretary of Commerce Ronald Brown. He was selected as the 89th Services Squadron “Company Grade Officer of the Year.” Davis served as an executive officer in a 900-person organization that was responsible for administering services to a military community of over 120,000 people with the responsibility of over $14 million in non-appropriated revenue and $7 million in appropriate funds. While at Andrews Air Force Base, he served as a protocol flight line duty officer. In this position Davis was responsible for coordinating presidential operations during the Clinton/Gore administration. He also provided services for various foreign heads of state, congressional delegations, and members of the United Nations. From 1998 to 2001, Davis served as an assistant professor of Aerospace Studies and commandant of cadets in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 600. He taught military history, national security affairs, and leadership courses. Davis was selected as the “Outstanding Instructor of the Year.”
Political career
Elected mayor in 2001, Davis also served as chairman of the First Congressional DistrictDemocratic Party. He filed to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in the First District in 2004, but then dropped out before the primary election. In 2005, Davis was reelected as mayor. On October 1, 2007, Davis announced plans to file for the North Carolina Senate District 5 seat. Davis was one of six Democratic candidates who filed for the seat held by retiring North Carolina Senator John Kerr, III. He was the leading vote-getter with 36 percent of the vote in the May 6, 2008 Primary Election. Short of the 40% margin required to avoid a second primary election, Kathy Taft of Pitt County called for a runoff. On June 24, 2008, Davis seized the Democratic nomination after obtaining 63% of the votes in the second primary election. Davis faced North Carolina RepresentativeLouis Pate, a Wayne County Republican, in the general election. On November 4, 2008, Davis was elected to serve as the next senator for the Fifth Senatorial District of North Carolina, with 53% of the votes. His term officially began January 1, 2009. In a rematch of the 2008 election, Davis was defeated for re-election by Louis Pate in November 2010. Davis ran unopposed in 2016. He faced Pitt County District Attorney Kimberly Robb in November 2018, and defeated her, gaining re-election.
