Davis worked as a government clerk, a high school teacher, executive director of the Greater Lawndale Conservation Commission, director of training at the Martin L. King Neighborhood Health Center, and executive director of the Westside Health Center before entering politics. He represented Chicago's 29th Ward on the Chicago City Council from 1979 to 1990.[5]
On December 6, 1995, Davis announced his candidacy for the 7th congressional district, adding his name to the already announced Democratic candidates, including Alderman Percy Z. Giles, Cook County Board of Commissioners member Bobbie L. Steele, Alderman Ed Smith, and Alderman Dorothy Tillman.[10] Five other Democratic candidates entered the race later: S. Mendenhall, Joan Sullivan, G. Winbush, Anthony Travis, and Joan Powell, making it the largest field of candidates for U.S. Congress in Illinois in 1996.[11] Davis lived a block outside the district, but was familiar in it.[12][13]
Davis ran on a progressive Democratic platform popular in the district. He was
single-payer health care, and some federal support for child nutrition and care.[12]
In early January 1996, the
FBI revealed its Operation Silver Shovel, which included an investigation into Alderman Giles.[14] What Operation Silver Shovel may have done to undermine Giles's chances for election are unclear as he was already lagging with a mere 3% among likely Democratic primary voters in a mid-December poll compared to Davis's 33%, Smith's 8%, Tillman's 7%, and Steele's 6%.[15] But Giles did have Mayor Richard M. Daley's support and that of other well-known area figures—some of whom continued their support during the controversy.[16]
On March 10, 1996, during a radio debate hosted by
WMAQ-AM, Tillman and Smith called for Davis to reject the endorsement of former alderman candidate Wallace "Gator" Bradley,[17] spokesman for convicted Gangster Disciples leader Larry Hoover.[16] "Why do you keep badgering me with this question?" Davis replied. "You got a problem with something? You're not going to catch me going around saying I hate Gator Bradley. ... I'm not in the business of disavowing individuals. The good Lord said he hated sin, but not sinners. I'm not hating Gator Bradley. I disagree with those who commit crime and those who'd use drugs, but you won't catch me going around saying that I hate Gator Bradley."[16] Davis never rejected Bradley's endorsement during the campaign, and after winning the primary claimed that Bradley's endorsement played no role in the outcome, though Bradley asserted the contrary.[18]
During the campaign, Tillman highlighted comments Davis made in an August 1970 issue of
Ebony: "[T]he white female often gives the black man certain kinds of recognition that the black woman often does not give him."[19] The Davis campaign countered that Davis was speaking as a psychologist in his role as a training director at a health center.[19]
Although Davis was fully promoted as a Democratic candidate, he also ran as a
In the March 20 Democratic primary, Davis received more votes than the two closest candidates, Tillman and Smith, combined.[11] The first five announced candidates all received more than twice as many votes as the five late-entering candidates, with none of the latter receiving more than 2,700.[11]
In the November 5 general election,
Republican Randy Borow and third-party candidates Chauncey L. Stroud (Independent), Toietta Dixon (Libertarian), and Charles A. Winter (Natural Law) with over 82% of the vote.[32]Davis with President Barack Obama
in January 2011
Davis watches as President Obama signs an executive order on July 26, 2012
Tenure
Davis expressed interest in replacing John Stroger on the ballot in the 2006 race for President of the Cook County Board.[33] Stroger's son Todd Stroger was ultimately selected.
In late 2008, Davis expressed interest in being President
scandal erupted.[34] In a December 31, 2008, New York Times article, Davis said that he turned down an offer from Blagojevich's representatives to appoint him to the Senate.[35] Instead, Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris.[36]
Davis ran for mayor of Chicago a second time in 2011, but withdrew before the election and endorsed Carol Moseley Braun.[37]
As the 15th most prolific traveler in Congress, Davis stirred up controversy by accepting a trip to
child soldiers. Davis said that he was unaware that the Tigers were the source of the trip's funding.[45]
Relationship with Louis Farrakhan
Davis has said that
anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks, is an "outstanding human being" and that "I personally know him, I've been to his home, done meetings, participated in events with him." In March 2018, Davis said: "The world is so much bigger than Farrakhan and the Jewish question and his position on that and so forth. For those heavy into it, that's their thing, but it ain't my thing."[46][47][48][49] Davis condemned Farrakhan's views later that month, saying, "So let me be clear: I reject, condemn and oppose Minister Farrakhan's views and remarks regarding the Jewish people and the Jewish religion."[50] He attended Farrakhan's Million Man March and was the only member of Congress to address the 20th anniversary of it.[51][52]
On November 18, 2016, Davis's 15-year-old grandson Javon Wilson was murdered while trying to break up a fight during a home invasion in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood.[86]
On March 30, 2017, Davis's 44-year-old son Stacey Wilson was found dead in his home. He was Javon Wilson's father.[87]
^"Chicago DSA endorsements in the March 19th primary election". New Ground. No. 45 (Mar-Apr 1996). Chicago chapter of Democratic Socialists of America. Archived from the original on 2009-03-09. And Danny Davis is certainly not foreign to Chicago DSA. From the very beginning, he has always been willing to help: appearing as a speaker with Michael Harrington, serving as a Master of Ceremonies without peer at the annual Debs - Thomas - Harrington Dinner.
^"U.S. Senate approves resolution" (Press release). Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. 2006-11-06. Retrieved 2008-12-31. Alpha Phi Alpha is an exceptional organization that deserves to be recognized and honored for all of its many great achievements. The fraternity has helped shape more than 175,000 young men into extraordinary leaders who contribute positively to their communities and the world.[dead link]
