Gray Davis

Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis Jr., born on December 26, 1942, is a distinguished American attorney and former politician who made history as the 37th governor of California. His tenure spanned from 1999 until his recall in 2003, making him only the second state governor in U.S. history to face such a fate, following Lynn Frazier of North Dakota.

A member of the Democratic Party, Davis holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Stanford University and a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School. His commitment to public service was exemplified during his time as a captain in the Vietnam War, where he was awarded a Bronze Star. Before ascending to the governorship, he held several significant positions, including chief of staff to Governor Jerry Brown, California State Assemblyman, State Controller, and the 44th lieutenant governor of California.

During his governorship, Davis prioritized education, allocating eight billion dollars more than required under Proposition 98 for K-12 education in his first term. He also took bold steps in environmental policy by signing the nation’s first state law mandating automakers to limit auto emissions. His administration faced challenges, particularly regarding the handling of the Williams v. California lawsuit, which highlighted disparities in educational opportunities for students in under-resourced schools.

Despite starting with strong approval ratings, Davis's popularity waned due to the California electricity crisis and the subsequent budget crisis following the dot-com bubble burst. On October 7, 2003, he was recalled, with fifty-five point four percent of voters supporting his removal. He was succeeded by Arnold Schwarzenegger on November 17, 2003. Following his political career, Davis transitioned to academia, serving as a lecturer at the UCLA School of Public Affairs and practicing law at Loeb & Loeb.