Gilliam County DA Kara Davis wins Wasco County DA election

Kara Davis came to Gilliam County in 2023, after winning the election for District Attorney. Davis took over after longtime DA Marion Weatherford was elected as a Circuit Court Judge. Now, Davis is set to return to Wasco County after winning the primary election for Wasco District Attorney against sitting DA Matthew Ellis.

Davis narrowly defeated Ellis in the May primary election, and the vote was only certified last week. Davis won by just 160 votes and will take office in January of 2025.

Due to a tragedy in her family, Davis decided to move back to The Dalles to be with her parents and opted to run for district attorney.

"I really wanted to stay in Gilliam County for the duration of my term," Davis told The Times-Journal. But last August, her brother passed away in The Dalles.

"My parents are not doing well," she said, and being with them is her biggest priority.

Davis says that she is willing to continue prosecuting cases in Gilliam County, "until a suitable replacement that wants to be a member of the community can be found."

Kara Davis is from Wasco County and her family has deep roots there. Prior to moving to Gilliam County last year, Kara Davis was the Chief Deputy District Attorney in Wasco County, where she worked from January 2021 to January 2023.

Davis's experience in law goes back to 2003, when she was the Deputy District Attorney for Wasco County. Davis served as the Assistant Director for Intermountain Public Defenders for more than eleven years.

Davis says that moving to Condon had some challenges, specifically learning the family histories and the county's geography.

However, she quickly acclimated and became active in the Condon Elks Lodge, where she is an officer and sits on the Board of Trustees.

Davis says that she plans to stay involved in Gilliam County. "I am an officer at the Elks and will continue my membership," she says. "I have made some good friends and love this community."