Michael Davidson
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- For the American poet and editor of George Oppen's poetry, see Michael Davidson (poet).
Michael Davidson is a Republican politician formerly a Chairman of the California College Republicans and an unsuccessful candidate for Chairman of the College Republican National Committee.
[edit] Early Life to College
Michael Davidson was born on April 10, 1980 and grew up in Orange County, California and Fort Worth, Texas, where he graduated from high school. He attended the Cornerstone Honors Program at Tarrant County College and transferred to the University of California at Berkeley. He became a Senior Board Member of the Berkeley College Republicans, and in 2002 was elected Secretary of the California College Republicans. In 2003, after being elected Chairman of the California College Republicans, Davidson became an active player in the effort to recall Governor Gray Davis, and the campaign for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Davidson would be elected to a second term and Chairman, and raised over $150,000 for the organization.
[edit] Candidate for Chairman of the College Republican National Committee
After serving back-to-back terms as Chairman of the California College Republicans, he chose to run for Chairman of the College Republican National Committee. He was able to gain numerous high-level endorsements including those of Governors Schwarzenegger and Rick Perry of Texas, US Senators Richard Burr of North Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas, House Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas, House Appropriations Chairman Jerry Lewis, and House Rules Chairman David Dreier, and ten other Congressmen, he also garnered strong support from high level Bush-Cheney staffers, including National Political Director Terry Nelson and Deputy Campaign Manager Mark Wallace.
Davidson's opponent, then-CRNC Treasurer Paul Gourley was endorsed by then-Chairman Eric Hoplin and former two-term CRNC Chairman Scott Stewart. Gourley received early high-level support from Sen. John Thune whom Gourley ran the youth effort for his Senate Campaign in 2002.
As an anti-establishment candidate, Davidson lined up considerable support, including endorsements from twenty-four state federations of College Republicans, the sitting Second Vice Chairman and National Women's Outreach Director. In addition, Davidson was able to raise $200,000, which paid for a broad-based campaign.
