Leigh Davis (Massachusetts politician)
Leigh Davis | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office January 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Smitty Pignatelli |
| Constituency | 3rd Berkshire (2025-present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Ithaca College National University of Ireland |
| Website | https://www.leighdavis.org/ |
Leigh Davis is an American politician serving as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 3rd Berkshire district. She is the first woman to hold the seat.[1]
Early life and education
Davis was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Her father, Lloyd Davis, was a senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), where he helped establish the agency’s first voluntary fair housing program and its first minority business enterprise program. He is widely recognized as a principal architect of the federal Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Her mother, Mary Kay Davis, served for many years as executive assistant to Sargent Shriver.[2]
Davis received a bachelor's degree from Ithaca College and a master's degree from National University of Ireland, Galway.[1]
She worked in Los Angeles as a film and television editor, and a member of the Motion Picture Editors Guild (IATSE Local 700). After eight years, she moved to Ireland, where she continued working in film before transitioning to academia. She became a tenured lecturer at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, where she was a member of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) and later served as the Department Chair of the Institute's Film and Television program.[2]
Davis now lives with her three children in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Political career
In 2013, Davis became a member of the Great Barrington Finance Committee. She was elected to the selectboard in 2019, where she served two terms as vice chair. In addition to her selectboard membership, she was the chair of the Housing Subcommittee and vice chair of the Economic Development Committee.[1]
In September 2024, Davis won the Democratic primary against opponents Patrick White and Jamie Minacci. In November 2024, Davis was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives after defeating opponent Marybeth Mitts in the general election.[3]
In 2025, Davis was named one of MassLive's politicians to watch[4] and was also featured in The Boston Globe as one of five new lawmakers to watch.[5]
Davis represents the towns of Alford, Becket, Dalton, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington, and West Stockbridge in southern Berkshire county.[1]
2025-2026 Committees
Source:[1]
- Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
- Joint Committee on Election Laws
- House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability
- House Committee on Climate Action and Sustainability
Davis is also a member of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators[6] and the Massachusetts Black and Latino Caucus.[7]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Representative Leigh Davis". malegislature.gov. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ a b "About Leigh | Massachusetts State Representative Leigh Davis". Elect Leigh Davis. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- ^ "Leigh Davis". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Micek, John L. (March 20, 2025). "Leading Massachusetts: Politicians to watch in 2025". masslive. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- ^ Huynh, Anjali (December 29, 2024). "Here are five new lawmakers joining the Massachusetts Legislature - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ "Caucus Members". Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- ^ "Members". MA Black and Latino Caucus. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
External links