By Stephen Witt
Dr. Ayanna Davis, a veteran educator with 27 years of experience, is seeking to represent California’s 65th Assembly District in the 2026 election. Currently principal at LAUSD’s Kentwood Early Education Center and a Compton Unified School District Board trustee since 2022, Davis holds a doctorate from USC and has secured endorsements from eight major unions and term-limited Assemblymember Mike Gipson.
The 65th District encompasses over 503,000 residents across Compton, portions of Carson and Long Beach, and the harbor communities of Wilmington, San Pedro, and Harbor City. One of California’s most diverse districts—62.86% Hispanic or Latino and 19.87% Black—it faces significant challenges including housing affordability, environmental justice concerns, and healthcare access issues.
In a recent interview, Davis outlined education-focused policy priorities and a constituent-centered approach to governance.
Classroom Technology and Reading Fundamentals
Davis voiced strong support for policies requiring students to check cell phones during instructional time, citing research showing reduced distraction and decreased cyberbullying.
“I like the idea of children having to check their cell phones,” Davis said. “We’ve been keeping up with some research and data to say there’s less incidence of children being distracted, less incidents of cyber bullying.”
While acknowledging parental concerns about school safety, she noted schools have established communication systems. “For instructional purposes and for social emotional learning, I think it’s best when children do have their cell phones not in their possession during instruction time.”
As an early education specialist, Davis strongly advocated for returning to phonics-based reading instruction. “Absolutely,” she said. “Because I’m an early education specialist, we start off with a program [that] teaches phonemic awareness, and so that’s why I’m a great proponent for preschool for all.”
Restoring Vocational Trades
If elected, Davis would prioritize career and technical education programs. “I’m big on CTE career and technology and trades. I really want to bring back the trades in schools,” she said. “It should be mandatory that students have options. Although all students are capable, not all students are interested in going to college, but there’s very great jobs and trades that they can learn.”
Drawing on her own experience in wood shop and drafting classes, Davis explained how vocational programs helped guide her educational path. She also noted trades’ relevance in an AI-driven economy: “With AI, more stuff with your hands is gonna be the paid positions, maybe.”
Beyond education, Davis expressed strong interest in labor issues. “I would love to work in labor,” she said. “I’m big with labor and contracts and collective bargaining, make sure that people are living with decent wages and having retirement benefits, health care, health benefits.”
District Priorities
Davis identified job security, affordable housing, and healthcare as key district concerns.
“The concern is specifically in the district is keeping jobs, you know, keeping jobs with dignity,” she said. “And oh my gosh, we know affordable housing. That’s huge. We need to build more housing and infrastructure.”
Healthcare emerged as critical. “We’re looking at two of our county hospitals in that district are limited with funding, and we’re fighting to make sure that they stay open,” Davis said.
She pledged to protect education funding amid potential federal cuts. “I’m always going to look out for public education first, because we know that in this administration and federally looking at some cuts,” she said.
On charter schools, Davis emphasized her public education commitment while acknowledging parental choice. “I’ve been a public education person for all my career,” she said. “I do believe that the best is to make sure that we are properly funding public education, but I do recognize that parents have choices.”
Leadership Approach
Based on her principal experience, Davis described a collaborative, empowering leadership style. “I know how to utilize my staff and human resources,” she said. “The best thing that I can do is hire some people who have more expertise and knowledge in areas that I don’t.”
Davis characterized herself as stronger in constituent services than policy-making, though she’s developing the latter. “Having been a constituent services person my entire life, the muscle that I’m developing now is being mentored by Mr. [Gipson] and others in policy making,” she said.
On women’s health, Davis highlighted her interest in menopause legislation being pursued by a Bay Area Assembly member with support from actress Halle Berry. “Because I’m of the age, it’s very personal for me,” she said, noting middle-aged women’s health concerns often receive less attention.
Davis faces Democratic opponents Fatima Iqbal-Zubair and Myla Rahman in the June 2026 primary election.
