"Zuck Bucks" Ally Congressman Don Davis Poses Threat to Election Integrity
Davis consistently votes against election integrity, but this 2021 vote might have been the worst.
Congressman Don Davis (D-NC-01) regularly opposes measures to safeguard election integrity, but his vote as a state senator, in June 2021, against a bill aimed at prohibiting private funding of local elections disregards democratic transparency and fairness.
This decision, rooted in either ignorance or partisan loyalty, aligns him with a dangerous trend that threatens the foundation of democratic fairness.
The bill, SB 725, would have prevented deep-pocketed individuals or private entities from replacing local and state taxpayers in election administration funding. It aimed primarily at preventing a repeat of the 2020 election in which Mark Zuckerberg infamously showered counties with "Zuck bucks" under the guise of civic charity.
The bill passed the State senate with 28 votes regardless, but Gov. Roy Cooper (D) vetoed it. If Davis and just one other senator had supported it, the senate could have overriden Cooper's veto.
The Perils of "Zuck Bucks"
In 2020, Mark Zuckerberg funneled $420 million through leftist organizations like the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) to fund election administration across the United States. This influx of private money, as detailed by Restoration News, ostensibly addressed the increased workload from mail-in ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it created a moral hazard by allowing private entities to influence public elections. The funds disproportionately flowed to urban areas—often Democratic strongholds—enabling targeted voter turnout efforts that skewed electoral outcomes.
Some may argue this provides needed resources to struggling counties or potentially limits people's tax burden. But allowing this type of underhanded partisan campaign finance to continue could start a billionaire arms race for local election administration funding that would undermine the impartial role of tax dollars in funding election administration.
Additionally, as the record shows, most "Zuck bucks" did not flow to Republican-leaning counties that needed it more. Urban areas, where Democrats dominate, benefited disproportionately from these funds, enabling enhanced voter outreach and turnout operations. While some Republicans ignorantly accepted these funds, Democrats like Davis had a clear incentive to maintain this system.
Many states, recognizing this threat, passed legislation similar to SB 725 in 2021 and 2022 to ban private donations for election administration. Davis's decision ignored the risks of allowing private wealth to shape electoral outcomes, showing he aligns with those in his party who prioritize partisan advantage over democratic principles.
(RELATED: The Left’s Ridiculous Disinformation on Tainted Zuck Bucks)
A Pattern of Opposing Election Integrity
Davis’ vote against SB 725 is not an isolated incident but part of a consistent pattern of undermining election integrity. His record in the North Carolina State Senate and now in Congress reveals a troubling disregard for measures that ensure fair and secure elections:
- June 2021: While in the North Carolina State Senate, Davis voted against SB 326, which would have required state election officials to stop collecting mail-in ballots after Election Day. This measure aimed to prevent post-election tampering and ensure timely results. It marked an especially crucial vote because North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) Chairwoman Karen Brinson Bell had recently usurped the legislature's authority to implement a court settlement with Democrat lawyer Marc Elias, extending mail-in ballot counting from three days after Election Day to nine days.
- July 2013: Davis voted against HB 589, a bill that included provisions to end same-day voter registration and require in-person voters to present photo ID. These reforms would reduce fraud and enhance voter confidence, yet Davis favored lax standards that open the door to fraud and invite skepticism.
- March 2019: Davis supported SB 214, which exempted photo ID requirements for the 2019 election.
- April 2025: As a congressman, Davis voted against HR 22, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration. This bill addressed a critical vulnerability in ensuring only eligible voters participate, yet Davis opposed it. Interestingly, he voted for an earlier version of the SAVE Act but allowed the Democrat-controlled NCSBE to change his mind. This shows how vulnerable he is to party pressure even on issues where the Democrat Party leadership is woefully out of step with the overwhelming majority of the American public.
The Broader Implications
Davis’ voting record paints a picture of a politician more concerned with partisan advantage than with secure elections. His opposition to SB 725 and other election integrity measures suggests he aligns with Democrats who see private funding and relaxed standards as tools to shift the playing field. Although most Democrats pretend to oppose privatizing anything and rail against the influence of money on politics, Davis’ failure to support SB 725 betrays a willingness to let private interests meddle in public elections if it helps Democrats win.
Voters in North Carolina deserve representatives who prioritize election integrity. Measures such as requiring photo ID to vote, not counting ballots past Election Day, and ending same-day voter registration should not be partisan or controversial. Davis’s consistent opposition to these measures—especially his refusal to oppose private election administration funding—suggests he prioritizes big money in politics when it's convenient for his party. Voters should replace Davis next year with a representative who values democracy enough to support legislation to protect the vote and inspire in it.
(READ MORE: Congressman Don Davis Consistently Sides with Illegal Aliens over North Carolinians)
