Representative Jo Ann S. Davis

Jo Ann Davis (née Sides; June 29, 1950 – October 6, 2007) was an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007. A member of the Republican Party from Virginia, she represented the state’s 1st congressional district for four terms and was the second woman, and the first Republican woman, elected to Congress from Virginia. Her service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, and as a member of the House of Representatives she participated in the legislative process and represented the interests of her constituents in a district that was among the more reliably Republican areas of the Commonwealth.

Jo Ann Sides was born on June 29, 1950, in Rowan County, North Carolina. When she was nine years old, her family moved to Virginia, where she would spend the rest of her life and build her political career. She attended public schools and graduated from Kecoughtan High School in Hampton, Virginia. Following high school, she pursued business studies at Hampton Roads Business College, preparing for a career in the private sector before entering public life.

Before holding elective office, Davis worked in real estate, establishing herself professionally in the Hampton Roads region. Her experience in business and property transactions helped shape her views on economic and regulatory issues and provided a foundation for her later advocacy of tax cuts and restrained federal spending. In 1974 she married Chuck Davis; the couple had two sons and remained married for 33 years. A committed Pentecostal, she was one of four Pentecostals serving in the 109th Congress, alongside Todd Tiahrt of Kansas, Tim Johnson of Illinois, and Marilyn Musgrave of Colorado.

Davis entered elective politics in Virginia in the late 1990s. She was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1997 and was re-elected in 1999, representing her constituents in the state legislature and gaining experience in lawmaking and constituent service. Her tenure in Richmond helped position her for higher office when a vacancy arose in the United States House of Representatives. In 2000, Representative Herbert H. Bateman, the 72-year-old incumbent in Virginia’s 1st congressional district, announced his retirement because of health concerns; he died on September 11, 2000. Davis sought the Republican nomination to succeed him and, despite Governor Jim Gilmore’s endorsement of another candidate, won a competitive primary against four opponents.

In the November 2000 general election, Davis received 58 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Lawrence A. Davies and independents Sharon A. Wood and Josh Billings to win the 1st district seat. She took office in January 2001 and was subsequently reelected three times. In 2002 she was returned to Congress unopposed. She defeated independent challenger William A. Lee in 2004, and in 2006 she won a fourth term against Democrat Shawn M. O’Donnell and independent Marvin F. Pixton III. The 1st district, encompassing parts of eastern and coastal Virginia, was one of the more Republican-leaning districts in the state; no Democrat had won the district since 1977, and only the 6th and 9th districts were considered significantly more Republican, with the 5th district roughly comparable in partisan alignment. Unlike her predecessor Bateman, who was regarded as relatively moderate by Southern Republican standards, Davis was strongly conservative, particularly on social issues.

During her congressional service from 2001 to 2007, Jo Ann S. Davis contributed actively to the legislative process and to defense and veterans’ issues that were central to her district. In March 2001, the House passed her first piece of legislation, H.R. 1015, the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) Adjustment Act, which increased the amount of SGLI benefits paid to beneficiaries of members of the Armed Forces who died in the performance of their duty between November 1, 2000, and April 1, 2001. She secured $169 million (after authorizing $229 million) for construction on the Navy’s next-generation aircraft carrier, CVN-21, and obtained $47 million for the removal of a portion of the James River Reserve Fleet, commonly known as the “Ghost Fleet,” reflecting her focus on naval installations and maritime issues important to her coastal constituency. In 2002 she voted in favor of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution, aligning with the majority in Congress that supported military action in Iraq. She advocated tax cuts and argued that the federal government must rein in growth and spending. Within the House, she rose to become the ranking Republican on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence’s Subcommittee on Intelligence Policy, giving her a role in oversight of U.S. intelligence activities during the post–September 11 era.

Davis’s voting record and public positions earned her support from conservative and pro-business organizations and low ratings from many liberal and advocacy groups. She was endorsed by the Virginia Sheriff’s Association, the Peninsula Housing and Builders Association, the Virginia Society for Human Life, the NRA Political Victory Fund, and the Madison Project. For the 109th Congress she received a 93 percent rating from the National Federation of Independent Business and a 95 percent grade from the Family Foundation of Virginia, as well as an “A” rating from the NRA Virginia Political Preference Chart. Conversely, she received a 0 percent rating from the National Education Association, a 23 percent rating from the League of Conservation Voters, a 0 percent rating from the Children’s Defense Fund, and a 4 percent rating from the American Civil Liberties Union, underscoring her alignment with conservative positions on education, environmental regulation, social policy, and civil liberties.

In September 2005 Davis was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a partial mastectomy on July 5, 2006, at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The pathology report at that time indicated no further evidence of cancer, and Davis announced that she would return to work as usual. She continued to attend House sessions and carry out her duties until shortly before her death, even as her health challenges persisted. In 2007 she reportedly experienced a second bout with breast cancer, and her condition deteriorated rapidly in the week preceding her death.

Jo Ann Davis died on October 6, 2007, at her home in Gloucester, Virginia, while still serving in Congress. She was 57 years old. Her death made her one of the members of the United States Congress who died in office in the 2000s. She was survived by her husband, Chuck Davis, their two sons, and two grandchildren. Her career marked a milestone for women and for Republican representation from Virginia, as she was the first Republican woman from the state elected to Congress in her own right and served during a period of significant national and international events.