CHICAGO — Pennsylvania Gov. Austin Davis took the stage at the Democratic National Convention on its opening night as one of a group of state Democratic leaders who spoke about how Vice President Kamala Harris and the Biden administration have helped them get things done at the local level.
“I’m the proud son of a bus driver in Pittsburgh,” Davis said Monday. “My dad would come home every day and tell me how bad our roads and bridges were. President (Donald) Trump kept promising us Infrastructure Week. But he didn’t really care and it never happened.”
President Joe Biden and Harris “have united Democrats and Republicans to get this done,” Davis said. He pointed to reopening I-95 in Philadelphia after a crash that damaged the freeway in 2023 and repairing the Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh that collapsed in 2022.
“Right now, we’re repairing roads and bridges across Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh, the City of Bridges,” Davis said. “And Vice President Harris is looking to the future. She’s committed to keeping our infrastructure safe and modern.”
He appeared on stage with Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Sarah Rodriguez, Harris County Executive Lena Hidalgo of Texas and California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, who all shared stories of how Harris has impacted their communities.
“I’ve learned over the years that Kamala Harris is always calling, and she not only calls, she delivers,” Hidalgo said. “The same week she started her campaign, she was in Texas with FEMA right after Hurricane Beryl. Kamala Harris cares. She would never risk her life for politics.”
Davis, 34, of McKeesport, is the youngest and first black lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania’s history. He He worked as a senior adviser in Allegheny County government for former County Executive Rich Fitzgerald before being elected to the 35th District House seat in a 2018 special election. He was re-elected twice, and when he ran for lieutenant governor, Josh Shapiro, the only Democrat running for governor in 2022, endorsed Davis in the primary.
Davis entered politics after a friend was shot in his McKeesport district, and gun violence prevention remains a key part of his work in state government. He is also the father of a daughter, Harper, who turns 1 next month.
“When I think about the future, I think about my daughter Harper and all of America’s children. Investing in them means investing in our infrastructure,” Davis said. “That means replacing millions of lead pipes. That means ensuring clean air, clean water and safe roads and bridges not only for us but for generations to come.”
“This is the legacy that President Biden is leaving for our children. Let’s continue to build bridges to the future with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz,” he added.
