Congressman Don Davis Named as a Finalist in the Congressional Management Foundation’s 2024 Democracy Awards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) is the only freshman Member of the House of Representatives to be named as a finalist in this year’s prestigious Democracy Awards awarded by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF), in the category of Innovation and Modernization.  

"Being named a finalist for the Democracy Awards is not just an honor but a testament to the hard work and dedication of my entire office staff," said Congressman Davis. "I am committed to continuing our efforts to innovate and modernize, ensuring we serve our constituents in the most effective and responsive manner possible."

Fifteen House and Senate offices were honored as finalists in four categories: Constituent Service; Constituent Accountability and Accessibility; Innovation and Modernization; and "Life in Congress" - Workplace Environment. House and Senate personal offices nominated themselves using an online questionnaire, after which CMF interviewed offices and gathered documentation to assess the office's adherence to the established criteria. The winners will be selected in July by an external selection committee primarily comprised of former Members of Congress and congressional staff. The finalists and winners will be honored at a ceremony to be held in Washington, D.C. on September 26, 2024. 

“As a Democracy Award finalist, Rep. Davis’ office is clearly one of the best in Congress,” said Bradford Fitch, President and CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation. “This designation demonstrates that Rep. Davis has made a significant commitment to being the best public servant for his constituents. Rep. Davis and his staff are to be congratulated for not only being a model for his colleagues in Congress, but for helping to restore trust and faith that our democratic institutions can work,” he said.

CMF cited the following as reasons for selecting Rep. Davis as finalist for an award:

“The office of Representative Don Davis understands innovation and modernization are not the result of a single effort but a continuous practice. To this end, the team remains committed to exploring ways to enhance their office to serve constituents significantly through forward-thinking strategies. For example, the office uses web-based tools like Trello for project management and Microsoft Bookings for scheduling constituent appointments. These tools support initiatives like the Veterans History Project for the Library of Congress to ensure NC-01 veterans’ stories are gathered and preserved for future generations. Airtable software handles National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations requests, including details such as the requester, funding amount, project description, and status updates. Internal communication is streamlined by utilizing text message groups on iPhones for office departments, operations, and special events, enabling staff to stay connected.“

Details on the process and the history of the Democracy Awards can be found here https://www.congressfoundation.org/democracy-awards.