Berkshire County and Boston — On her Facebook page on Friday, December 26, State Rep. Leigh Davis (D – 3rd Berkshire District) announced that she will be running for reelection in 2026.
In February 2024, Davis, a Great Barrington resident and Washington, D.C., native, announced her candidacy for the seat long held by State Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli for 22 years.
In September 2024, in the Democratic primary, Davis defeated candidates Patrick White and Jamie Minacci.
Then, in November 2024, Davis defeated independent candidate Marybeth Mitts to win the general election.
She was sworn in at the State House in Boston on January 1.
“Serving as your State Representative for the 3rd Berkshire District is a privilege, and I’m grateful every day for the trust you’ve placed in me,” Davis wrote in her December 26 announcement. “This past year, my focus has been straightforward: making sure the Berkshires have a strong voice on Beacon Hill and pushing for real progress on affordability, housing, transportation, education, and access to care. Because this work matters — and because there is still so much to do — I am running for reelection in 2026.”
When she started at the State House during her first month, Rep. Davis filed 25 bills, including bills concerning emergency medical services, infrastructure needs, and eventually a bill to strengthen protections for youth against sexual exploitation.
In a previous interview with The Berkshire Edge in late January, Davis said, “I think that being a freshman, there are a lot of eyes on me right now.” “[But] the spotlight is not on me, it’s on the 3rd Berkshire District,” she said. “I will use the spotlight to the best advantage of the residents in the district. When I got here, I was told a lot of times that freshmen don’t file legislation during their first session. I’m going to buck that trend. I want to get out there, get my head down, and do the job.”
