Why Dr. Ayanna Davis Earned the Compton Chamber’s Endorsement for Assembly District 65
- Compton Chamber Admin
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
As the Compton Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Dr. Ayanna Davis for California’s 65th Assembly District, it is important for Chamber members and residents to understand who she is, what she has done, and what kind of representative she is likely to be in Sacramento.
This profile is designed to inform the community—not to promote a campaign—so voters can evaluate the professional record behind the endorsement.
What Is California’s 65th Assembly District?
California’s State Assembly has 80 districts, each electing one Assemblymember to represent about 500,000 residents in Sacramento.
The 65th Assembly District (AD-65) includes:
Compton
Carson
Willowbrook
Watts
North Long Beach
Harbor Gateway
Wilmington
Harbor City
San Pedro
With its mix of neighborhoods and industries, this diverse district requires focused, experienced leadership to address its education funding, workforce development, transportation, and housing needs.
Who Is the Incumbent — and Why Is the Seat Open?
AD-65 is currently represented by Assemblymember Mike Gipson, who has served since 2014. He is not running for re-election because he is seeking a seat on the California Board of Equalization, the state’s tax-oversight body—a common path for Assembly members who often pursue other statewide or regional offices before reaching their full 12-year term limit. As a result, this is not a term-limit situation, but a voluntary move that makes AD-65 an open seat for the 2026 election.”
Gipson is a major endorser of Dr. Davis, signaling that he views her as his preferred successor.
Compton Roots and Community Ties
Dr. Ayanna Davis was born and raised in Compton and still lives in Compton today. Her family purchased their home in the city decades ago, and she has remained rooted here throughout her career.
She is the mother of one adult son, Joshua, a family therapist.
Her long-term residency means her decisions are shaped by the same neighborhoods, schools, and economic conditions that affect Compton families every day.
Education and Professional Training
Dr. Davis’s academic background reflects deep preparation for public leadership:
B.A., Political Science — USC
M.A., Education Administration — CSU Dominguez Hills
M.A., Educational Leadership & Policy — CSU Northridge
Doctorate (Ed.D.), Organizational Change & Leadership — USC Rossier School of Education
This combination of governance, policy, and organizational leadership is highly relevant to state-level lawmaking.
What “Early Education Leadership” Actually Means
Dr. Davis spent decades working inside Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) as:
A classroom teacher
An administrator
A principal of early-education centers
Early-education centers are not daycare — they are public schools for preschool and early-elementary students, with credentialed teachers, curriculum, family services, and special-needs support.
She served as principal at:
Maxine Waters Early Education Center
Ethel Bradley Early Education Center
These are real, publicly funded campuses serving working-class families.
What “Preschool Equity” Means in Real Life
In California, preschool is not automatically protected the way K-12 is. When budgets tighten, districts often:
Close preschool classrooms
Lay off early-education staff
Convert preschool rooms into K-12 use
Reduce enrollment slots
That almost always hits low-income neighborhoods first.
When Dr. Davis’s bio says she was an “outspoken advocate for preschool equity,” it means she worked inside school systems to:
Keep early-education programs funded
Protect preschool classrooms from being eliminated
Expand access for families who otherwise would be left out
When she states to have helped open a “quality preschool in Watts,” it means a professionally staffed, publicly funded early-learning center was placed with her help and support in a low-income community where families lacked access.
That work involves:
Securing funding
Obtaining facilities
Hiring staff
Keeping programs open when cuts are proposed
Professional Advocacy Beyond Her Job
Dr. Davis didn’t stop at running schools. She was elected President of the Southern California Chapter of the California Association for the Education of Young Children (CAAEYC) — the state affiliate of the national early-education standards body.
This role means:
Representing early-education professionals
Advocating for funding, standards, and access
Engaging policymakers
She also received the 65th Assembly District “Unsung Hero” Award from the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) for behind-the-scenes advocacy protecting early-education programs, staff, and students.
That award is given to people who do the hard work inside institutions, not on a stage.
Labor Leadership and Workforce Experience
Dr. Davis has deep roots in organized labor:
As a teacher, she was a member of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA)
As an administrator, she serves as Vice President of Teamsters Local 2010, which represents Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA)
This union negotiates:
Salaries
Benefits
Staffing levels
Working conditions
Her vice-president role means she has real experience in public-sector budgeting, labor law, and workforce management — core responsibilities of legislators.
Compton Unified School District Governance
Dr. Davis serves as Trustee for Area B on the Compton Unified School District Board.
Trustees:
Approve the budget
Set policy
Decide how funding is spent
Hire the superintendent
This is a governing role, not ceremonial.
She also serves as the board’s Legislative Representative, meaning she communicates directly with state lawmakers and education agencies on behalf of Compton schools.
She entered office in 2022 after running unopposed, meaning no other candidate filed — so she was legally seated without a ballot vote.
Who Is Endorsing Her
Dr. Davis is supported by a broad institutional coalition.
Local Business Leadership
The Compton Chamber of Commerce has endorsed her. This is the collective voice of Compton’s business community through its elected board and executive leadership.
State & Local Leaders
Her endorsers include:
Assemblymember Mike Gipson
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas
California Treasurer Fiona Ma
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond
LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn
Compton Mayor Emma Sharif
Numerous current and former legislators and city officials
Labor & Workforce Organizations
She is backed by dozens of unions representing:
Construction trades
Healthcare workers
Port and logistics workers
Transportation workers
Educators and school administrators
Why This Matters for Compton and AD-65
Dr. Davis would arrive in Sacramento with:
Experience running public institutions
Deep knowledge of school finance
Labor-negotiation expertise
Early-education policy leadership
Strong ties to Compton
These are the tools that determine whether communities like ours receive investment, protection, and influence — or get left behind.
