Austin Davis inaugurated as Pa.’s first Black lieutenant governor

Former state Rep. Austin Davis, D-McKeesport, was sworn in as Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor Tuesday, becoming the state’s first Black person to hold that position.

Davis was inaugurated alongside Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, in Harrisburg. Davis is succeeding John Fetterman, who was recently sworn in as Pennsylvania’s newest U.S. Senator.

“Today we are sending a message to the next generation of leaders — young people across our state, and especially Black and brown young people — that Pennsylvania has and will always be a place where all are welcomed and where everyone has the opportunity to succeed,” said Davis in his inaugural remarks made in front of the State Capitol.

Davis, 33, also became the youngest lieutenant governor to currently serve in the nation.

A native of McKeesport, Davis was raised by his father, a union bus driver, and his mother, a hairdresser. He said throughout his campaign that his parents’ work ethic inspired him to run, and that he owed a large part of his success to labor unions.

Charlotte Jones, one of Davis’ former computer science teacher in McKeesport Area School District, said she is so proud that Davis was inaugurated as lieutenant governor. She said she remembers Davis having tenacity and was always honorable.

“I worked in the McKeesport Area School District for 48 years, and to see a student work that hard and be that successful just makes my career worthwhile,” said Jones.

He became the first person in his family to graduate college and went on to work for Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. He also served as vice chairman of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee for about five years, but resigned in 2020 following controversial endorsements from the committee that spurned a Black incumbent on other progressive elected officials.

In 2018, he won a special election to become the first Black state representative of the 35th state House district, which includes McKeesport and its surroundings.

Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governors have come under criticism by some for being a redundant position, but they are obligated to fulfill the roles of governor if the governor steps down or is incapacitated for health reasons. They also chair the state’s Board of Pardons and preside over the state Senate.

Davis will also serve as a member of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council, a member of the Military Base Community Enhancement Commission and chair of the Local Government Advisory Committee.