Davis: “Why I Stood Down”

Prince George’s Delegate Derek Davis Shares Heartfelt Comments On His Decision To Step Away From The Opportunity To Become Speaker Of The House

By Raoul Denis and D. A. Phillips

In a voice that was strong and clear yet filled with emotion, Prince George’s Delegate Derek Davis (D- District 25, Prince George’s County) shared the rationale for his decision to step away from an opportunity to become Maryland’s Speaker of the House at a July 10 meeting of the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable (video above). It was the first time the delegate publicly explained the details of his decision and the heat of the political moment that led to it.

Davis was eligible for and sought the position of Speaker of the House when Hon. Michael E. Busch, known affectionately as “Coach” died April 7, vacating the position he held for over 16 years at age 72. He’d been Maryland’s longest-serving speaker.

Had Davis won the seat, the move would have put the county in a valuable position within the state for years to come.

Candidates for Speaker included Maggie McIntosh (D-District 43, Baltimore City) and Adrienne A. Jones (D- District 10, Baltimore County).  Davis, also eligible, represented the third hopeful in the political nail-biter.

Just moments away from the final vote, on May 1, Davis announced that he would step out of the race and directed his votes toward Jones, who won the seat to become the first African American woman to gain the position. It was an unexpected move that sent shudders through Maryland circles of political leadership.

It was a turn of events that stunned – and disappointed – a number of leading Prince Georgians.

Davis addressed the matter with the GPGBR after providing a brief report recapping the gains of the legislative session.

“I had the votes,” Davis said. “But I knew that it would be a constant struggle and that would not be good for the first African American Speaker of the House or for the people. In the end, it’s not about me.”