State of South Carolina
Davis served as Chief of Staff to Governor Mark Sanford and as co-campaign-manager in both of Sanford's elections to the office of governor. He led the initiative by Sanford's office to pass South Carolina's charter school reform bill in the legislature. He has also been a member of the South Carolina State Ports Authority board and successfully led South Carolina's negotiations to build a deep water port with Georgia on his state's side of the Savannah River in Jasper County.
In the June 10, 2008 Republican primary election for the District 46 Senate seat, Davis defeated the incumbent senator Catherine Ceips, 56% to 44%, then went on to defeat Democrat Kent Fletcher in the general election November 4, 2008, winning 65% of the vote. Davis is currently assigned to the Agriculture and Natural Resources, Banking and Insurance, Education, Judiciary, and Rules Committees of the Senate.
Despite rumors Davis was considering a bid for governor in 2018, Davis decided against running, deciding to stay in the state Senate. After incumbent governor Henry McMaster was unable to win the Republican nomination in the June 12 primary, Davis endorsed McMaster's challenger John Warren, who is running as an outsider candidate with business and military experience, despite not having any political experience.
In 2024, Davis was among the state legislators appointed to serve on the Robert Smalls Monument Commission.
