State Rep. Austin Davis is a candidate for lieutenant governor. Here are five things to know about him.

State Rep. Austin Davis visited Philadelphia for the first time as a candidate for lieutenant governor on Friday, announcing his run with the city’s Democratic Party establishment and Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the only Democratic candidate for governor who has also endorsed his campaign.

The first-time lawmaker from western Pennsylvania is a relative unknown in the region, but Shapiro’s endorsement and concerted campaign efforts are likely to give him a gigantic advantage in the race for lieutenant governor.

Davis, who would become the state’s first black lieutenant governor if elected, says his working-class upbringing and diverse background make him the perfect candidate to join Shapiro on the ticket. “I’ve always believed that the people closest to the pain should be closest to the power,” he said at his campaign launch.

Here are some facts to know about Davis ahead of the Pennsylvania primary on May 17.

How did Davis start his political career?

Davis, 32, grew up in Mon Valley, an industrial center near Pittsburgh. He was a first-generation college student whose mother was a hairdresser and father was a union bus driver. He studied political science at the University of Pittsburgh and worked in county government before running for state representative.

In 2018, he was elected to represent the 35th District, which includes his hometown of McKeesport. He became the first black representative to lead the district and one of only four black representatives in the legislature to represent majority-white districts. Davis also chairs the Allegheny County House Democratic Delegation and is a member of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus.

Why did Shapiro support him?

Shapiro, a Montgomery County native, told The Inquirer that he chose Davis because “I wanted someone who brings a different life experience, who is diverse, who comes from a different part of the state than I do.” He said that with Davis serving as his deputy, “there will always be a voice in the room that will add to the conversation and help us achieve more for the good people of Pennsylvania.”

Davis said he believed he got the nomination in part because his working-class background would be beneficial to the governor’s office.

Shapiro didn’t have to endorse. Many gubernatorial candidates have chosen not to, but doing so gives him an opportunity to influence the race and assist the candidate he hopes to work with.

Who will he run with?

Davis’ running mate, state Rep. Brian Sims, announced his candidacy more than a year ago and has raised about $285,000 as of his final filing. Sims was also on the shortlist of candidates to endorse Shapiro.

Sims enters the race with a larger profile, having served in the Legislature since 2012 and been an outspoken critic of Republicans in the state Legislature. He has also helped Democrats statewide run for office. Some supporters of Sims, who would be the state’s first openly gay lieutenant governor, are furious that Shapiro has gotten involved, given that it would likely tip the scales.

Ray Sosa, a Montgomery County banker who ran for lieutenant governor in 2018, is also running on the Democratic side.

Republicans running for lieutenant governor include Clarice Schillinger, founder of the Back to School PA political action committee from Montgomery County, and state Rep. Russ Diamond from Lebanon County. More than a dozen GOP candidates are running for governor.

What does the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania do?

The lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania serves as the president of the state Senate and chairs the Board of Pardons, which examines applications for pardons to remove convictions from a person’s criminal record. The lieutenant governor also chairs the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council, which directs emergency management policy throughout the state.

But more often, the lieutenant governor serves as the governor’s deputy during public appearances and events. While the duties are confined, it’s a role that involves a spotlight and often grooms candidates for higher office. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman rose from small-town mayor to lieutenant governor and then to his current position as the frontrunner in the Democratic Senate primary.

Who lines up behind Davis?

Pennsylvania’s Democratic establishment has already rallied behind Shapiro, and so far that group is largely behind Davis. The announcement in Philadelphia on Friday was attended by Democratic City Party Chairman Bob Brady, several City Council members and state Rep. Donna Bullock, who is chairing Davis’s campaign.