Gray Davis
Gray Davis was overwhelmingly elected the 37th Governor of California on November 3, 1998, winning 58 percent of the statewide vote. Despite a wave of Republican victories across the nation in 2002, Davis was re-elected to a second term with 47 percent of the statewide vote. Even as the Recall election was being certified in November 2003, Gray Davis was praised for his statesmanlike and graceful transition, and for his leadership in overseeing the efforts to combat the most extensive wildfires in California history (consuming more than 750,000 acres).
Throughout his tenure, Governor Davis made education his top priority, signing legislation to strengthen California’s K-12 education system, increasing accountability in schools, and expanding access to higher education. These reforms led to the recent improvement in student SAT scores and to the improvement of student achievement scores for five consecutive years.
Governor Davis presided over California during a massive economic expansion that took California’s economy from the 7th to the 5th largest economy in the world. During the economic boom, he made record investments in California’s infrastructure, created four Centers of Science and Innovation on UC campuses, and expanded the state’s Healthy Families program to provide health insurance for an additional 1 million children. In response to the energy crisis which threatened the public’s safety and the state’s economy, Governor Davis utilized emergency powers to streamline the permitting process of power plants without compromising environmental standards. This allowed for the construction of 24 new power plants and added more than 9,000 megawatts of new electricity to California’s energy grid, which helped stabilize the energy market.
Over the course of 28 years in public service, Governor Gray Davis has become known for a quiet tenacity that has made him one of the most effective problem-solvers in California government. Prior to serving as Governor, Davis served one term as Lieutenant Governor from 1995-1999. During this period he focused on his efforts to keep jobs in California and encourage new and fast-growing industries to locate and expand in the state. State Controller (1987-95), State Assemblyman (1983-87) and Chief of Staff to Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. (1975-1981).
Shaped by his experience as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star, Gray Davis throughout his career fought to provide greater opportunities for the next generation of Californians.
