Sharice Davids
Champion for Mental Health, Equality and Indigenous Rights
“We are all connected, and we all have a responsibility to lift each other up.”
Sharice Davids
Raised by a single mother who served the U.S. Army for twenty years, Sharice Lynnette Davids was born in Frankfurt, Germany, and is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation. Growing up in Kansas and working to get through college, Ms. Davids adopted a straightforward mindset: show up, do the work, leave people better than you found them. That philosophy has carried her through her entire career and led to her becoming a trailblazing changemaker.
Sharice Davids attended Haskell Indian Nations University and earned an A.A. from Johnson County Community College and a B.A. from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. At Cornell University, she earned her law degree. Her early career included working as an attorney, an entrepreneur, and a non-profit leader. Each of these roles showed her that there is often a disconnect between the needs of the community and the needs of institutional systems.
Ms. Davids became visible when selected as one of 16 White House Fellows, to participate in a highly competitive leadership program that places chosen individuals in senior roles across the federal government. In 2018, she made history as she and New Mexico’s Deb Haaland became the first Native American women elected to Congress. Serving Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives beginning January 2019, she has continued in her role to this day.
She is also the first openly LGBTQ person to represent Kansas in Congress. A powerful advocate for working families, she has often framed health care as non-partisan. She considers it a daily strain on families, as she had said: “Too many Kansans are affected by skyrocketing prescription drugs and medical expenses.” Emphasizing issues like caps on Insulin, Medicare drug negotiation, and surprise billing, she campaigns for reform for all Americans. “Folks in our community have a lot of daily pressures to deal with. Worrying about the rising cost of lifesaving medications shouldn’t be one of them.”
Not surprisingly, she advocates fiercely for Native American communities facing poverty, alcoholism, and violence. Having served as an attorney and a non-profit leader, Ms. Davids fully understands the systemic structures underlying these issues. Unlike some representatives, she arrived at Congress already fluent in the politics of sovereignty, business, and obligation.
Her deep understanding of the pain and suffering of Native children was reflected in her children’s book. She wrote it after learning that less than 1 percent of children’s books are about the Native population, reflecting on what it does to a child’s sense of scale in the world. “I think a lot of us feel invisible or small not seeing that sort of thing,” she said. With a desire to bring dignity and strength to Native youth, Ms. David’s autobiographical book teaches children to use their big voice, and shows that every person deserves to be heard and seen. “I have spent a decent amount of my life being the only person like me in the room.”
Democratic leaders meeting with President Biden.
A woman who has fought for what she believes in throughout her life, Sharice Davids is a huge fan of Bruce Lee. While at Cornell, she competed professionally in mixed martial arts. Through that practice, she learned mental toughness, discipline, the value of hard work, and resilience. She also learned strategic thinking and the power of grit, all of which have served her well in Congress.
Her advocacy focuses heavily on mental health, protection from discrimination, suicide prevention, and broader equality measures. Her signature legislation for LGBTQ+ is the Pride in Mental Health Act, which she has introduced and reintroduced for three years and has yet to pass. She also worked hard to gain funding for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline after it was cut in 2025. She supports core nondiscrimination laws and is Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus.
Meeting with constituents in Kansas.
Sharice Davids is a resilient trailblazer who grew from a military family, through first-generation college challenges, professional MMA fighting, tribal advocacy, and a White House Fellowship, to become a history-making Representative. As the first openly LGBTQ+ Native American elected to Congress, she blends quiet determination, strategic thinking, and pragmatic bipartisanship. Amplifying intersectional voices on issues like Native community development, mental health for LGBTQ+ youth, and affordable health care for working families, Representative Davies is a true changemaker. “I never dreamed of being the first Native American woman elected to Congress; I just dreamed of making a difference.”
Sharice Davids is an advocate for:
• Native people
• Equity and equality for LGBTQ+ people
• Mental health and suicide prevention
• Working families
Lessons from Sharice David’s Life:
You Define What Success Means. Sharice Davids did not have an easy childhood, moving frequently between bases with her single veteran mom. Her college path was difficult as she worked her way through school, transferred and finally earned a law degree from Cornell. Entering politics as an underdog and being one of the first LGBTQ+ members of Congress, she has forged her own way. She often says she realized she gets to decide what success means, not other people. As Ms. Davids has said, “We stood up and said that we welcome everyone, and that everyone deserves a shot to succeed.”
Listening to the stories of others builds connection. Frequent childhood moves taught Ms. Davids the power of listening to others’ stories as a way to build relationships. It was a transition for her, as she was sometimes in trouble for talking too much as a child. But listening paid off in her community work, in her law practice, and in Congress. In her book and speaking engagements, she says listening to constituents, tribes, and colleagues is key to effective service. “Strong alliances can thrive even where disagreements exist, but they cannot thrive where free and open communication is shut down.”
Adversity can yield great strength and growth. Sharice Davids repeatedly notes that tough experiences help you grow. And she should know. She endured MMA fights, lost out on appearing on The Ultimate Fighter, struggled with tribal economic issues, and overcame campaign challenges as a Native LGBTQ+ person. Representative Davis learned much through her difficulties, and her strength fueled her commitment to advocate for others. “I know that together we can and will help shape the future of this country for the better.”
Action Steps You Can Take:
Think about what success means to you, for you, without the influence of others. Write it down so you know exactly what you want to achieve.
Think about your typical day. Where you could talk less, listen more, and build greater connection
Make a list of hard challenges you have overcome. Then write down what you learned from mastering the struggle. Give yourself credit for your growth and courage.
