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Keith Davenport (North Carolina)
From Ballotpedia
Keith Davenport (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent North Carolina's 6th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.
Davenport completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Keith Davenport was born in Rome, New York. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1973 to 1976. He graduated from Iver C. Ranum High School. His career experience includes working as an activist and ordained bishop.[1][2]
Elections
2026
See also: North Carolina's 6th Congressional District election, 2026
Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 6
Incumbent Addison McDowell, Beau Blair, Keith Davenport, Cyril Jefferson, and Joshua Hager are running in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 6 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Addison McDowell (R) | |
 | Beau Blair (D) | |
 | Keith Davenport (D)  | |
 | Cyril Jefferson (D) | |
| Joshua Hager (Independent) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2024
See also: North Carolina's 8th Congressional District election, 2024
North Carolina's 8th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Republican primary)
North Carolina's 8th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House North Carolina District 8
Mark Harris defeated Justin Dues in the general election for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mark Harris (R) | 59.6 | 238,640 |
 | Justin Dues (D) | 40.4 | 161,709 | |
| Total votes: 400,349 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Dan Bishop (R)
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Justin Dues advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 8.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Keith Davenport (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 8
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 8 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Harris | 30.4 | 24,764 |
 | Allan Baucom | 27.0 | 21,964 | |
 | John Bradford III | 17.8 | 14,458 | |
 | Don Brown | 10.5 | 8,519 | |
 | Leigh Brown | 9.6 | 7,845 | |
 | Chris Maples | 4.7 | 3,787 | |
| Total votes: 81,337 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Davenport in this election.
2022
See also: United States Senate election in North Carolina, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. Senate North Carolina
Ted Budd defeated Cheri Beasley, Shannon Bray, Matthew Hoh, and Michelle Lewis in the general election for U.S. Senate North Carolina on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ted Budd (R) | 50.5 | 1,905,786 |
 | Cheri Beasley (D) | 47.3 | 1,784,049 | |
 | Shannon Bray (L) | 1.4 | 51,640 | |
 | Matthew Hoh (G) | 0.8 | 29,934 | |
 | Michelle Lewis (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 137 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 2,378 | ||
| Total votes: 3,773,924 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Michele Parks (Independent)
- Marc White (Independent)
- Charles Roberson (Independent)
- Susan Gaddy (Independent)
- Brenda Rodriguez (Independent)
- Hayden Boyette (Independent)
- Barry Caulder (Independent)
- Kimrey Rhinehardt (Independent)
- Adrien Meadows (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cheri Beasley | 81.1 | 501,766 |
 | James Carr Jr. | 3.5 | 21,903 | |
 | Alyssia Hammond | 3.4 | 21,005 | |
 | Marcus Williams | 2.8 | 17,446 | |
 | Constance Johnson | 2.0 | 12,500 | |
 | Everette Newton | 1.6 | 10,043 | |
 | Chrelle Booker | 1.6 | 9,937 | |
 | Brendan K. Maginnis | 1.1 | 7,044 | |
 | Robert Colon | 1.1 | 6,904 | |
 | Greg Antoine | 0.8 | 5,179 | |
 | Tobias LaGrone | 0.8 | 5,048 | |
| Total votes: 618,775 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jenna Hamrick (D)
- Richard Watkins (D)
- Keith Davenport (D)
- Erica Smith (D)
- Jeff Jackson (D)
- Ava Edwards (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ted Budd | 58.6 | 448,128 |
 | Pat McCrory | 24.6 | 188,135 | |
 | Mark Walker | 9.2 | 70,486 | |
 | Marjorie K. Eastman | 2.9 | 22,535 | |
| David Flaherty | 1.0 | 7,265 | ||
 | Kenneth Harper Jr. | 0.9 | 7,129 | |
 | Jennifer Banwart | 0.4 | 3,088 | |
| Charles Moss | 0.4 | 2,920 | ||
 | Leonard L. Bryant | 0.4 | 2,906 | |
 | Benjamin Griffiths | 0.4 | 2,870 | |
 | Debora Tshiovo | 0.4 | 2,741 | |
 | Lee Brian | 0.3 | 2,232 | |
 | Lichia Sibhatu | 0.3 | 2,191 | |
| Drew Bulecza | 0.3 | 2,022 | ||
| Total votes: 764,648 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Rene Borghese (R)
- James Gaghan (R)
- Carlton Ellerby (R)
- Marty Cooke (R)
- Jon Warren (R)
- Len McBride (R)
Libertarian primary election
The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Shannon Bray advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. Senate North Carolina.
Campaign themes
2026
Video for Ballotpedia
| Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released June 6, 2025 |
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Keith Davenport completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Davenport's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am an Air Force veteran with over 50 years of public service. I am a former police officer, former city council member and former mayor. The best way to describe me would be simply... "you won't find a more committed public servant than me". I guess you could say I got my calling into public service at the age of 8. Of course, I didn't know it then. Living in Washington DC in those days (early 60's) one of the perks was taking field trips to government buildings. One of those buildings, for me, was the White House. I'll never forget being taken from room to room and the usher describing the history of that ornate mansion. As we were walking down the main hallway, I remember the thick red ropes on either side of the hallway. On the far end were two young children watching us, watch them. We met John John and Caroline Kennedy. At the age of about 8, I was introduced to politics in a different way.
- The most important message would be, it's important to do the right thing for the right reasons. It's easy to do what you perceive to be right but it's only right when the cameras are on and everyone is watching. But, it's an altogether different and most meaningful thing, to do the right thing, when nobody is watching... just for the sake of doing the right thing.
- You won't find a more committed public servant than me.
- For me, it's not about money or power or position. It's about service. To me, that means giving of yourself for a season... offering your ideas... working to make our community and our nation better than when I arrived. Public service is only supposed to be a temp job... not a career, but an opportunity to serve.
Veterans Affairs, Homelessness and Poverty, Congressional Term Limits, Election Finance Reform and the promotion of quality and affordable healthcare. On the latter one, it's rare to hear the adjectives "quality" and "affordable" in the same breath, which is part of the problem. In an effective healthcare system, you cannot separate the two.
That is an interesting question and it goes back to my earlier comments about doing the right thing for the right reasons. Most of those that I have looked up to have already passed on including my Dad. Dad was a US Army veteran. Actually, he also served in the Air Corps and the Navy. I'm not sure how or when. I only learned of that a few years before he passed away. Dad was a man of honor and integrity. He taught me that character matters. Then there was my brother... he was my hero. Neil was the reason I joined the United States Air Force back in 1973 and became a police officer. There were others including two of my spiritual mentors... the late Pastor John Torres and the late Pastor Melvin Gillette who ordained me into the ministry back in the 80's.
Profiles in Courage by John Fitzgerald Kennedy
I'm a conservative, or better said, I'm a moderate Democrat. When I ran for Congress in Oklahoma as a Democrat years ago, my campaign manager was a lifelong Republican who had never supported a Democrat for anything. Go figure... he was my campaign manager and he had a label for me that fits... he called me "a man without a party".
Character matters. I'm a no nonsense person. I will work overtime to get the job done. Integrity. I've been called articulate. I'm not afraid to confront wrong or to speak truth to the political class that Senator Coburn alluded to. I will work harder than my staff. Typically, people that work for me have a hard time keeping up with me.
I can sum that up in one word... no matter how you spin it... it's about "service"... old fashioned public service.
I would like my legacy to be, that I served well.
On Friday, November 22, 1963, my classmates and I were out on the playground when our teachers began to gather us up and usher us into the auditorium. After sitting there for awhile, the principal gathered with other teachers on the stage. I noticed some were crying. That's when they broke the news... John Fitzgeral Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States had been assassinated in Dallas. That evening, I could not sleep. Mom had to give me some warm milk because it shook me up so badly. That weekend, that's all that was on television. When they were moving Lee Harvey Oswald out of the Dallas Police Building, as a 9 year old, I saw a murder live on television. I remember my Dad jumping up out of chair and yelling "he shot him". The following Monday was the funeral. I saw little John John Kennedy salute his Daddy. It was his third birthday.
I worked at a local five and dime store called "Hested's". I do not recall how long I had it. I was all of 15 years old.
Azusa Revisited. The book was written by a gentleman who was a witness to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles California back around 1904. The first time I picked the book up, I couldn't put it down.
I don't recall. there was some stupid song that i happened to hear on television yesterday and it took hours to get that stupid song out of my head.
On May 7, 1974, while an off-duty police officer, I was beaten with a monkey wrench by three "guests" of the Retraining Group at Lowry AFB. The Retraining Group was one step before the federal penintentiary. They attacked me and nearly killed me. I suffered a traumatic brain injury which has resulted in slight stutter that shows up from time to time. I've struggled with it for 51 years.
Tradition. History. it's like a sceptre of sorts that is passed from one generation to another.
No. I think the only prerequisite to being effective in Congress is to have empathy for people's needs and the ability to comprehend those needs experientially.
We have many challenges facing us. Some of those challenges we have brought on ourselves and others have lingered for years. Those are some of those fixable problems that Senator Coburn alluded to. I guess the wisest way to look at it would to ask yourself and please pardon this analogy... I mean no disrespect... I love animals... what is the best way to eat an elephant? The answer is.. one bite at a time. Because of the depth and scope of the problems facing us we have to take care of a few housekeeping issues first and that will require passage of congressional term limits. Then we can get down to serious business. That business must include passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the United States Constitution and elimination of the debt ceiling which is nothing more than a negotiating tool that either party uses to force their agendas. It serves no other purpose today. Unless and until we implement those changes everything is moot.
I am a strong proponent of Congressional term limits. I have signed my pledge to propose and support Congressional term limits. I took it a step further and my pledge has already been released to the public... I indicated on the pledge that I will self limit. I will not seek to serve more than three 2-year terms in Congress. Career politicians serve only the needs of their party. The late Senator Tom Coburn, R-OK, once said, "WE HAVE FIXABLE PROBLEMS IN OUR COUNTRY, BUT WE HAVE A POLITICAL CLASS THAT DOESN'T WANT TO ADDRESS THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE THAN THEY ARE ABOUT SOLVING THE PROBLEMS. " He went on to say this... and this is most weighty... "Americans are looking for leadership." The real truth is... Americans really are looking for leadership, not lordship. Those who are consumed with power don't know the difference.
Yes. Abraham Lincoln
I have talked to a lot of veterans who have shared their stories. The thing I hear most often has to do with either their ability to receive quality healthcare or housing. The stories have been strikingly similar which is demonstrative of the need Congress must address.
I don't have one. I'm not really a joke teller.
To an extent. I don't believe in compromise to the point where I surrender my principles or if that compromise is contradictory to good morals and integrity. But, in order to negotiate there usually has to be some sort of give in order for the compromise to be effective. There is no blanket yes or no to the question. Every situation is different.
This is a question I would need to give some thought to. I have studied our budgeting process and have talked extensively about our nation's out of control public debt, as well as paying down our deficit to be honest... I haven't given much thought to the concept of raising revenue.
Follow the United States Constitution... no one is above the law in America.
Budget, Foreign Affairs, Veterans Affairs, Armed Services, Oversight and Government Reform
That's a big one for me. I don't believe we can serve our constituency if we're not also accountable to them, which of course requires transparency. That's one of the primary reasons why people don't trust politicians now. On the campaign trail, they'll promise the moon and couldn't deliver pizza. I'm a bit old fashioned and maybe a little late blooming but, my life's journey has taught me a few things. That includes the value of honor, of respect and of character. To me that means, I should be the same person in public, as I am when the doors are closed.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2024
Keith Davenport completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Davenport's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am the former Mayor of Brooksville, Oklahoma. I am a US veteran, having served as a police officer in the United States Air Force.
- We have reached a political juncture in America where the vast majority of Americans are tired of the tit for tat politics. I know I am. So, I'm runing to put substance behind the words. Serving in Congress is not a career choice but an opportunity of service.
- The very worst thing we can do is what we've always done in our selection process. Doing the same thing and expecting different results is ludicrous.
- I am a born again Christian and my faith in Jesus Christ is very important to me. While it is the basis of my world views, I won't use Congress as a platform for those views. Decisions regarding morality do not belong in the political spectrum. They should be adjuged at home or in the church.
There are a number of issues that I am particularly passionate about. I'm running on a platform to push for passage of congressional term limits for all members Congress (2 six-year terms for US Senators and 3 two-year terms for members of the US House). I will self term limit even if the bill doesn't pass! The founding fathers did not intend for elected office to be a career choice, which does nothing but create a nearly unmovable, unfettered foundation of power and influence. Rather, serving in Congress was intended to provide opportunities for Americans to participate in our legislative process. You bring your ideas to Washington and then when your election terms are finished, you go home. A few other issues that I'm passionate about are the elimination of the debt ceiling which is nothing more than a tool that the parties use to force agendas. It's not about limiting anything because at the end of the day, they just raise the limit. To prove that fact, they have never lowered the limit! With an unsustainable public debt of $33 trillion, it is past time for passage of a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. The American people should be able trust those that we hire to serve us and not some hidden party agenda. Quickly... a few other issues include passage of a Gun Safety Day. I'll talk more about that on my campaign website. Climate change is not a political talking point... at least it shouldn't be. It's a scientific fact.
My Dad would be at the top of the list because he was a man of the deepest integrity and unquestionable honor.
Honor. I think everything is encapsulated in that character trait.
Do your job. It should never be about money, power or influence. It should be about one thing and one thing only... doing the right thing for the right reasons.
I did my job.
The date was November 22, 1963., I was all of 9 years old. We were out on the playground when teachers ushered us into the auditorium. We had no idea what was going on. I noticed some of the teachers were crying. After awhile, the principal announced that John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, had been assassinated in Dallas. That event, even at that young age, changed my life forever.
My very first job was a Hested's, a five and dime store back around 1969. I don't remember much about it. I may have worked the cash register and did some stocking in the store.
Silent Night by The Temptations
Tradition... honor... integrity... As a young child, I met John John and Caroline Kennedy when we took a field trip (I attended James A. Garfield Elementary School) to the White House back in 1963. That single event changed me. It created within me a deep love and respect for the traditions innate to service. That's what I see should be a reflection of the uniqueness of the House as an institution.... a commitment to service.
It's beneficial certainly. But, I don't think it is necessary. I think what is more beneficial and certainly necessary is having a heart for serving others. I don't think we can represent anyone effectively unless and until we can have, at the minimum, empathy for their plight. That's why I don't think a person who has always been wealthy can serve the vast majority of Americans. Most Americans are not wealthy! If I can feel your pulse, I have a better understanding of your needs and thus, how I can participate in helping fulfill them. That's what service is all about.
I think the greatest challenges facing us as a nation have to do with those who would try to circumvent and destroy the legitimacy of the single document that is the basis of who we are... the United States Constitution.
Yes for a single term. I also believe there should be limits to the number of terms... 3 two-year terms. I will term limit myself if legislation similar to H.J. Res. 1 does not become law.
I am a very strong supporter of congressional term limits because it inhibits the ability of that office holder or those office holders to concentrate power. Unfettered, absolute power corrupts absolutely!
Yes. John F. Kennedy
I've heard stories from people most concerned about student loans and the long-term impact those loans have upon students even after leaving school.
Yes. While compromise is necessary, it should not mean that you surrender your personal convictions or the matter of doing the right thing, just for the sake of compromise. There are times when compromise is nothing more than surrender. That's why my slogan is "for the right reasons".
The late Senator Tom Coburn (OK-R) once said, that Congress does not have a sound accounting process in place. Without some type of process of accountability including a balanced budget amendment, elimination of the debt ceiling and congressional term limits, Congress has essentially a blank check. Unfettered power has resulted in an unsustainable public debt, according to a report from the CBO a few years back.
The best way to answer that question is to state how the US House should NOT be using its investigative powers... to fulfill someone's political pipe dream. Congress has an obligation to serve the people of the United States not some hidden agenda of anyone!
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2022
Keith Davenport did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Candidate U.S. House North Carolina District 6 |
Personal |
Footnotes
Senators
Ted Budd (R)
Thom Tillis (R)
Representatives
District 1
Donald Davis (D)
District 2
Deborah Ross (D)
District 3
Gregory Murphy (R)
District 4
Valerie Foushee (D)
District 5
Virginia Foxx (R)
District 6
Addison McDowell (R)
District 7
David Rouzer (R)
District 8
Mark Harris (R)
District 9
Richard Hudson (R)
District 10
Pat Harrigan (R)
District 11
Chuck Edwards (R)
District 12
Alma Adams (D)
District 13
Brad Knott (R)
District 14
Timothy Moore (R)
Republican Party (12)
Democratic Party (4)
