Danny Davis

Danny K. Davis is the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 7th congressional district, a position he has held since first being elected as a Democrat in 1996. Born in Parkdale, Arkansas, he moved to Chicago in 1961 after earning a Bachelor of Arts from Arkansas A.M. & N. College. He subsequently earned a Master’s degree from Chicago State University and a Doctorate in public administration from the Union Institute in Cincinnati. Before entering public office, Davis had a career as an educator, a clerk for the U.S. Postal Service, and a health administrator, notably serving as the executive director of the Westside Health Center. Davis's political career began in local government, where he served as an Alderman on the Chicago City Council from 1979 to 1990 and as a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from 1990 to 1996. In Congress, he has been a long-standing member of the House Committee on Ways and Means and a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. His legislative accomplishments include authoring the Second Chance Act of 2008, which provides support for the reentry of formerly incarcerated individuals, and securing federal funding for Predominantly Black Institutions to support under-resourced colleges serving low-income students.

Davis advocates for expanded healthcare access, having supported the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and expressed support for a single-payer healthcare system. On economic policy, he favors expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, and he has championed legislation to direct investment into economically distressed communities. His immigration platform includes supporting a pathway to citizenship for legal entrants and advocating for the humane treatment and federal support of migrants. Davis's environmental positions involve support for forest conservation and roadless area protection, while his foreign policy includes support for military and humanitarian aid to both Ukraine and Israel. He is also a consistent advocate for criminal justice reform, child welfare improvements, and racial equity initiatives.