Jo Ann Davis



Jo Ann Davis, a Republican, represented the First Congressional District of Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives 2000-2007. (map)

Iraq War
Davis voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Symbols of Christmas
In 2005, Davis introduced H. Res. 579 to the House of Representatives, expressing support for the use of Christmas symbols and traditions. When asked to extend the resolution to include Hannukah symbols and traditions, she refused. 

Bio
Davis was born June 29, 1950 in Rowan County, North Carolina. She attended Hampton Roads Business College and worked in real estate before she was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1996 and served until her election to the U.S. House.

In 2000, First District Congressman Herb Bateman, a 17-year incumbent, announced his retirement due to health concerns. He collapsed and died on September 11. Davis ran and won the Republican nomination to succeed him, despite governor Jim Gilmore endorsing her primary opponent. She went on to win easily in November.

Congressional career
The First is one of the most Republican districts in Virginia (it has been in Republican hands since 1977, and only the neighboring 7th District is considered more Republican), and Davis was reeelected unopposed in 2002 and 2004. Davis is staunchily conservative, especially on social issues. She says, "Issues that impact the family are the ones that concern me the most &mdash; the homosexual agenda, the need for pro-life legislation, for example. Families are the basis of our nation."

Davis is one of four Pentecostals in the 109th Congress. The others--all Republicans--are Todd Tiahrt of Kansas Tim Johnson of Illinois and Marilyn Musgrave of Colorado. She said in a 2004 interview, "I'm not a politician first; I'm a Christian who happens to be in politics. I feel very strongly that this is the path that God led me on. I see a lot of ways in Congress, in Washington, in which God is working. I think now more than ever we have a godly man in the White House and we have Christians in the House and Senate. I believe God is trying to move and it's time now that we pray and humble ourselves."

2006 elections
In 2006, the Democrats nominated Shawn Michael O'Donnell to challenge Davis in her November 2006 bid for reelection. In addition, Marvin Pixton III entered the race as an independent candidate. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Davis retained her seat.

Death at home
Rep. Davis died Saturday at her home in Gloucester, Va, from cancer at the age of 57. Davis was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and had a re-occurrence earlier this year. According to Davis’ office she had been receiving breast cancer treatment at Duke University and recently received positive reports on the condition. The week of October 1, 2007, however, her health took a turn for the worse.

President Bush praised Davis for her congressional service and said her “determination to fight disease is an inspiration to all of us.” House Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) praised Davis’s dedication to serving in spite of her illness.

Special election for seat
According to Virginia state officials, the successor to U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-Va.) will be chosen during a special election on a date set by Gov. Timothy Kaine (D). Virginia state law does not require Kaine to set the election date within a prescribed amount of time, however an aide to the governor said on October 7, 2007 that if Kaine decided not to call for a special election on Nov. 6, Election Day for state and local offices, it could not be held until 30 days later according to state law.

On October 23, 2007 Kaine announced the special election date to be December 11, 2007. Republicans running in the election include Davis' husband Chuck Davis, former state Del. Dick Black, state Del. Rob Wittman, businessman Paul Jost, conservative activist David Caprara and former Loudoun County Del. Sherwood Bowditch. The election was to use paper ballots because voting machines were not available so soon after the November elections and were needed to train workers for the Presidential primary in February.

Money in politics
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Committees and Affiliations

 * Trustee, Physicians for Peace

Committees

 * House Committee on Armed Services
 * Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces
 * Subcommittee on Readiness
 * House Committee on Foreign Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Middle East and Central Asia
 * Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Armed Services
 * House Defense Review Threat Panel
 * Subcommittee on Personnel
 * Subcommittee on Projection Forces
 * House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
 * Subcommittee on Intelligence Policy - Chair
 * Subcommittee on Terrorism/HUMINT Analysis and Counterintelligence
 * House Committee on International Relations
 * Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats
 * Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia

More Background Data

 * 2006 Virginia CD 1 Candidate List from VIS

Contact
DC Office: 1123 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-4261 Fax: 202-225-4382 Web Email Website

District Office- Fredericksburg: 4500 Plank Road, Suite 105-A Fredericksburg, VA 22407 Phone: 540-548-1086 Fax: 540-548-1658

District Office- Tappahannock: 508 Church Lane Tappahannock, VA 22560 Phone: 804-443-0668 Fax: 804-443-0671

District Office- Yorktown: 4904-B George Washington Memorial Highway Yorktown, VA 23692 Phone: 757-874-6687 Fax: 757-874-7164

Resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Articles

 * Jim Hodges, "Davis urges Rumsfeld's ouster. Rep. Jo Ann Davis says Rumsfeld should have heeded one general's strategy for Iraq." dailypress.com (Hampton Roads, VA), August 12, 2006.
 * "Republican lawmaker dies of breast cancer," Reuters, October 6, 2007.
 * "Virginia Rep. Davis dies after battling breast cancer," CNN, October 6, 2007.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Richmond Democrat