In 2008, he began a campaign to fill the seat of
U.S. Representative Roger Wicker, who had been appointed to the
United States Senate following the resignation of
Trent Lott. The initial
primary was a three-candidate race which resulted in a primary
runoff between Davis and former mayor
Glenn McCullough of
Tupelo. Davis won the runoff and thus became the Republican candidate in the
special election. In the initial special election on April 22 for
Mississippi's 1st congressional district, Davis paced second to Democrat
Travis Childers, but no candidate received a majority of the vote required to win the seat outright. Childers and Davis then faced each other in a May 13 runoff. Childers defeated Davis, 53.7 to 46.3 percent. Childers filled the seat until the
general election held on November 4, 2008, corresponding with the
Obama-McCain presidential contest. As the Republican nominee once more, Davis again faced Childers and again lost, 54 to 44 percent. == Expense abuse investigation ==