Paul Davis (Kansas politician)

Early life, education and career

Davis is the son of an elementary school teacher and a public administration professor at the University of Kansas. Davis attended Lawrence public schools and graduated from Lawrence High School. 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.

Davis has served as an intern to Kansas Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley and former Congressman Jim Slattery. He was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 2003, and became head of the House Democrats in 2008. He currently practices law with the firm of Fagan, Emert & Davis, LLC in Lawrence. He and his wife Stephanie, who works as a psychologist, have one daughter, Caroline.

Prior to his service in the Kansas Legislature, Davis worked as Assistant Director of Government Affairs for former Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius. He also worked as the Legislative and Ethics Counsel to the Kansas Bar Association and served as President of the Health Care Access Clinic Board of Directors and Vice President of the Arc of Douglas County Board of Directors. Paul is a graduate of Leadership Lawrence and a former member of the Leadership Lawrence Advisory Board.

Kansas House of Representatives

As leader of the House Democratic caucus, Davis served on the State Finance Council, Calendar and Printing Committee, Interstate Cooperation Committee, and the Legislative Coordinating Council. He also served on the House Insurance Committee. Davis was in charge of organizing activities of the caucus, streamlining legislative business, and uniting members on both sides of the aisle to accomplish goals for Kansas.

Committee membership

Sponsored legislation

Issue positions

Davis's answers to the Kansas State Legislative Election 2008 National Political Awareness Test are available. In the test Davis listed his legislative priorities as "Comprehensive energy policy that focuses on wind development and other renewable sources, Health care reform that improves the accessibility and affordability of health insurance, Tax reform that closes loopholes and provides a more fair tax structure."

Campaign finances

The top 5 donors to Davis's 2008 campaign:

2014 Kansas gubernatorial campaign

Davis ran for governor in 2014 against 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." Davis's bid had been endorsed by over 100 Kansas Republican politicians. 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. Davis lost in the General Election to incumbent, Sam Brownback.