James, this is a special moment — a historic moment — because Pennsylvania chose unity over division, love over hate, progress over extremism. Pennsylvania chose to elect the first Black Lieutenant Governor in our Commonwealth’s history.

And I am humbled.

From the bottom of my heart — thank you. I can’t even put into words what this moment means — and the message this sends to millions — throughout Pennsylvania and this nation. 

Throughout this campaign, I’ve crisscrossed this Commonwealth — and it’s been an honor to meet and to listen to Pennsylvanians in rural, urban, and suburban communities — and in communities across our state that are too often left behind. 

I saw people from all walks of life come together, from kids in North Philly and hard-working men and women in union halls, to church parishioners at Sunday masses and families at county fairs and picnics — no matter Republican, Democrat, or Independent — people came together, got off the sidelines, and made the choice to denounce hate and extremism and to unite behind a vision that would move Pennsylvania forward for everyone. 

They chose to stand by leaders who they know will work for them, and put them first.

As the son of a union bus driver and a hairdresser, I know what it’s like to come from a family that oftentimes had to get creative to make ends meet. 

It was because of a community that loved and cared for one another, a good public school and good teachers, and a union that allowed my father to make a living wage that allowed him to support our family, that a young Black kid from a small and old steel town too often overlooked by the powers in Washington and Harrisburg, was able to grow up to become the first Black legislator outside the city of Pittsburgh — and now the first Black Lieutenant Governor. 

But this is more than just my moment — it’s so much larger than that. 

This is a moment that defines us as a Commonwealth. That says to extremists, to those who sought to roll back women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights, and workers’ rights — to those who wanted to restrict our fundamental freedoms — that we won’t go back and we will never back down.

Most importantly, Pennsylvania has sent a message to young people across our Commonwealth — the next generation of leaders — that Pennsylvania will always be a place where all are welcomed and where all will have opportunities to succeed.

In the weeks leading up to this moment, I’ve thought a lot about my grandparents. One grandfather was a steel worker and the other was a railroad foreman for B&O railroad. Both of them came to Pennsylvania from the South to create a better life for our family, just like I’m sure many of your families. 

I don’t think my grandparents ever imagined that their grandson would be elected to the second highest office in this Commonwealth, but they fought to make sure that I had that chance. That I had the right to vote and that when I walked into a room — that my voice would not only be respected, but heard. They ensured that I had the opportunity to chart my own path and that I could be standing on this stage with you all right now.

I often say the people closest to the pain should be closest to the power.

That’s why I have a message for all the hardworking families across our Commonwealth. I say to you, that you are not alone, that I hear you and understand your worries, because I’ve lived them, and that as your next Lieutenant Governor — I will be your champion. 

I will make whatever sacrifices are needed — just like my grandparents did for me — to ensure that every child and family in this Commonwealth has opportunities to succeed — so that every generation that comes after can be better off than the one that came before. 

Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro and I are going to create an economy that works for everyone, to help working-class folks struggling with inflation, to make sure people have more money in their pockets. To make sure our kids have good schools, and that our working families have more opportunities to succeed. And because of you, starting tonight — we get to work on making those things a reality. 

Thank you.

Let’s get to work,

Austin Davis
Lieutenant Governor-Elect of Pennsylvania