Joint Action Committee
for Political Affairs

Voting Record:

Rep. Susan Davis Democrat of California, District 53

Statistics

Party: Democrat
Born: 4/13/1944
Education: University of California, Berkley; University of North Carolina, Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)
Occupation: Social Worker, U.S. House of Representatives
Family: Married, Steve Davis; 2 children
Religion: Jewish
Political Career: San Diego School Board (1983-1992), California State Assembly (1994-2000), U.S. House of Representatives (2001 to Present)
Committees: Committee on Armed Services, Committee on Education and the Workforce

Why Your Support

One of 39 Jewish members of the U.S. Congress, Rep. Susan Davis is a friend of Israel and the pro-Israel community. She believes that direct talks are the only viable path to peace and she asserts that all regional leaders must return to the negotiating tables. At the same time, she supports a strong U.S. diplomatic role in facilitating a process that will result in security and peace in the region for all parties involved. She has an excellent record on all matters related to foreign assistance, Israel’s right to self-defense, joint ventures between the two allies and sanctions to thwart Iran’s nuclear agenda.

Congresswoman Davis is a resolute advocate for a woman’s right to choose. She believes passionately that women should have access to information regarding their options to allow for informed decisions regarding their personal health. While in the California State Assembly, she began her quest to improve women's access to physicians and reproductive health services, authoring a state law that would give women direct access to their OB/GYNs without requiring a referral from a primary care physician. In the new health care reform law, provisions that Davis introduced and advocated for have begun to be enacted. Davis is a member of the House Pro-choice Caucus.

Background

In 2000, Rep. Davis challenged three-term Republican incumbent, Brian Bilbray, in her first bid for the U.S. Congress. She won over 50 percent of the vote. After the 2000 census, the district was renumbered to the 53^rd. Since that first election, Davis was re-elected four more times without much difficulty. Congresswoman Davis is the first Democrat to represent the district for more than one term in over half a century.

The 53^rd district of California – which encompasses just over half of the city of San Diego and outlying areas as well – is decidedly Democratic having voted for President Obama in 2008 by a margin of 68 percent and re-electing Congresswoman Davis in 2010 by the same margin. The district is just over 50 percent white, encompassing a large Hispanic population (nearly 32 percent). Over 84 percent of the district has at least a high school education, while over 37 percent have graduated college. The median income in the district is just over $48,000 and poverty is at 10.7 percent.

About The Candidate

Congresswoman Davis resides in San Diego with her husband Steve, with whom she has two children and three grandchildren. Steve served as a doctor in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. After the couple was reunited in the United States, following her time at the University of North Carolina completing a Master’s in Social Work and his time serving in the army, they relocated to California. Congresswoman Davis served for years as a social worker in the San Diego area, devoting her time to her family as well as the local school board before she ran for a seat in the state assembly, and eventually the U.S. House of Representatives. In the mid-1960’s, she lived on a kibbutz in Israel. Having established roots there, Davis has since returned several times.