WASHINGTON — Former Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis has been hired as a lobbyist.
The Taylorville Republican will become a managing director for Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies. In his new job, Davis will provide counsel to the firm’s government relations clients.
In a news release from Cozen O’Connor, Davis said he would use his new job to carry on the work he did as a U.S. Representative,
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to work alongside my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to improve the quality of life for all Americans,” said Davis. “With Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, I’m eager for the opportunity to carry on my public policy work.”
Davis served five terms as a central Illinois congressman, before losing a primary election last year to fellow Republican Mary Miller.
Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies is a division of the Philadelphia-based Cozen O’Connor law firm. It describes itself as a bipartisan government relations practice that represents clients before the federal government in politically important state and local markets.
Its recent work has included lobbying for coronavirus relief funding for a transit agency in the Philadelphia area and a group representing children’s hospitals in California.
Davis was first elected to the U.S. House in 2012. He was chosen to take the place of Republican incumbent Tim Johnson, who announced his retirement shortly after winning his primary election.
Davis represented Illinois’ 13th congressional district, which had been redrawn by state lawmakers after the 2010 census to improve the chances of a Democratic victory. Nevertheless, Davis won the seat repeatedly, while emphasizing a commitment to bipartisanship. According to the news release announcing his new position, Davis’ focus as a legislator was on infrastructure, national security, health care and helping veterans and those serving in the armed forces.
That proved to be a disadvantage when congressional maps were drawn again following the 2020 census. Davis ended up in the 15th District with another GOP incumbent, the more conservative Mary Miller of Coles County. Backed with endorsement from President Donald Trump, Miller won 58% of the primary election vote, ending Davis’ tenure in Congress.