Davis, a Haywood County native who graduated from Tuscola High School and Western Carolina University before earning a law degree from Campbell, previously served as an assistant district attorney before spending 27 years as a district court judge. Since retiring from the bench — aside from brief stints as an emergency judge — he’s spent time serving as a court mediator and chairman of the Haywood County Board of Elections.

Davis previously ran for the state house in 2012, losing by just a fraction of a percentage point, and then lost in a 2018 bid to earn a seat on Haywood County’s board of commissioners.

He announced his General Assembly candidacy in a press release. In that release, he highlights the working-class culture of the counties he hopes to serve.

“[The] standard of living has been eroded over the last couple of decades because pro-wealth policies have led to stagnated wages while the cost of housing, healthcare, rent, child care and education have skyrocketed,” Davis said in the release. “Small businesses, which are the backbone of this country, are also struggling to pay their employees and provide good benefits for them. This has resulted in working men, women, couples and couples with children especially those under 50 having difficulty staying afloat to the point that they are angry and frustrated and don’t believe the system works for them.”

In the release, Davis also mentions Hurricane Helene, saying now is not the time to retreat in the face of persistent, lingering challenges.

“This is a time to advance and do the right thing for the people of our district and our state, and I will fight and be a voice for those who have been left behind,” he said. “Our parents and grandparents in time of crisis faced similar problems and sacrificed so that we could have a better future. We should do no less to make sure that those who come after us have every opportunity to realize their hopes and dreams and I pledge to you the people of this district that if elected I will work to make sure that is the case.”

At this time, there are no known challenges for Davis in the Democratic primary for the 118th district.

Pless is already facing a couple of challengers in his Republican primary in political newcomer Ken Brown and School Board Member Jimmy Rogers, both from Haywood County.

Pless, who had a brief stint as a Haywood County Commissioner, first secured his House seat in 2020 before winning reelection in 2022 and 2024.