Reverend-activist launches mayoral campaign

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Rev. DeWayne Davis, a community leader and advocate for social justice, announced his candidacy for mayor of Minneapolis, promising a vision of leadership rooted in equity for all residents. Davis, the Lead Minister of Plymouth Congregational Church, is seeking to bring a transformative approach, emphasizing a government that actively works for everyone, particularly those most impacted by inequality.

In his campaign launch, Davis highlighted the themes that would define his run for mayor: dignity, opportunity, and safety. He said these values reflect the core of his life’s work and his vision for a Minneapolis where no one is left behind.

“This city should work for all of us,” he stated. “I want to get into the office to provide visionary leadership, be honest, work with the city council, and collaborate with the people of this city. This is a crucial time and we need to work together.”

Davis is the first challenger to Mayor Jacob Frey, who confirmed in November that he intends to run for re-election next year. Frey, elected mayor in 2017, has had a major falling out with the community over George Floyd’s murder by police, the preventable shooting of Davis Moturi, and multiple other issues.

Minneapolis’s history of police brutality and the city’s handling of social justice issues were key factors in Davis’ decision to run for mayor. He argues that the city’s response to the killing of George Floyd and subsequent unrest exemplified a lack of leadership and vision. Davis contends that the current leadership failed to offer a comprehensive and coordinated response, which contributed to ongoing issues of police violence and racial inequality.

“George Floyd’s death, to me, was the starkest example of the failure to see humanity in our law enforcement. They didn’t see his humanity and could not offer him the worth and dignity that God gave him,” Davis said. “In the face of years of police harassment and neglect our mayor and our city aren’t showing the kind of leadership that we need.”

Davis’ campaign is centered on the belief that city government has a responsibility to ensure that all people have access to the resources they need to thrive. His stance on issues such as affordable housing, health care access, and economic equality is deeply personal, shaped by his upbringing and his career in both ministry and political advocacy.

Davis’ path to a mayoral campaign is one shaped by a lifelong dedication to service and justice. Born in Sunflower County, Mississippi, one of the poorest counties in the United States, Davis is the 15th and youngest child of a Pentecostal preacher and his missionary wife. Growing up in a community that struggled with economic disparity and racial inequality, Davis learned early on the value of service and community building. His parents, despite their modest beginnings as sharecroppers, emphasized the importance of education and helping others. They also sent all their children to college, despite their limited resources.

“My parents modeled for me what it means to be in community. They never separated themselves from people who were living in poverty or simply didn’t have it as good as we did,” Davis said. “They were very intentional about being of service to others and had a clear view of people’s humanity. People would often come visit and leave with groceries out of our cupboard.”

Davis developed a keen awareness of the impact of thoughtful service and took it with him when he left home at 18 for college. After completing his studies at Howard University, Davis spent nearly two decades working on Capitol Hill, serving as a congressional staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives. There, he focused on issues like housing, health care, civil rights, and economic justice — work that would inform his ministry and advocacy in Minneapolis.

In 2012, after years of political work, Davis felt a calling to ordained ministry, leading him to serve as the Lead Minister of Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. His church role, alongside his experience as the Chaplain for the Minnesota State Senate, has positioned him as a trusted voice in the community, particularly when it comes to navigating complex social justice issues.

Davis’s move to Minneapolis was a significant chapter in his life, and it solidified his connection to the city. He and his husband, Kareem, a couple for more than 30 years, now call North Minneapolis home.

“This city is where I have found my footing and my purpose. That’s part of why I want to become mayor,” Davis explained. 

In speaking about his desire to run for mayor, Davis reflected on his personal connection to the city’s struggles. When he first moved to Minneapolis, he was struck by the inequality he observed, particularly in North Minneapolis, a neighborhood historically underfunded and neglected by city leadership.

“All of the disparities present here in Minneapolis I saw back home and I saw my parents trying to respond to it. When I became a minister what I discovered was that everyone I talked to was a person who was trying to live their lives in the here and now, and I saw the challenge of them doing that,” Davis said. “We have to see people’s humanity, hear their stories, and be in conversation. I’m running for mayor because I think we have lost that. Amongst all of this fighting and political clashing, I think we’ve lost sight of the fact that the decisions we make land on actual bodies.”

Davis has structured his campaign around the themes of dignity, opportunity, and safety — three principles he believes should define any government’s approach to its citizens. He argued that a city’s government must be an active partner in ensuring all people, especially those on the margins, can succeed.

“We have to determine what opportunities we make available and what opportunities we are going to make sure happen once we provide a foundation of support so people can live,” Davis said. “If people are turning to crime or substance abuse, it is because we have failed to honor their worth and dignity.”

Davis stressed that policy must recognize the humanity of those it impacts. His call for dignity extends beyond words; he believes the city must make real investments in people’s lives, especially through programs that guarantee housing, health care, and living wages.

In addition to economic opportunity, Davis’ platform advocates for comprehensive public safety reform. Drawing from his work co-chairing the Minneapolis Community Safety Work Group, which recommended changes to the city’s policing model, Davis aims to transform the current system of law enforcement into one that supports community safety through non-punitive measures.

“The government may sometimes be the only entity that can really bring to bear the kind of resources needed to sufficiently help people,” Davis said. “If you provide living wages, housing, and accessible health care you can ensure people go farther in their lives.”

As mayor, Davis plans to lead efforts to mitigate the unintended consequences of economic growth. He advocates for policies that simultaneously support business development while addressing economic inequality. He believes the city’s growth should not come at the expense of low-income communities and that economic development should be paired with investments in social supports for all residents.

“One’s advantage must not result in a loss for the other,” Davis said. “We can require companies to partner with us in making sure we mitigate the inequality that sometimes accompanies the kind of economic growth that we’re both trying to secure.”

He proposes that the city act as a central hub for bringing together all relevant service providers to address the systemic causes of these issues.

“Homelessness and substance abuse are the result of systemic failures at every level,” Davis said. “The city must leverage its power to bring together all providers and set a foundation for change.”