[2] He reportedly spent a brief stint in the United States Navy, attaining the rank of Petty Officer, First Class after distinguished service in the Philippines.

Davis won the Republican nomination for governor in 1916, but was narrowly defeated by the Democratic incumbent, Moses Alexander.

During his tenure, funding was sanctioned for the establishment of the bureau of budget and taxation, plus a veteran's welfare program and a teacher's pension system.

Along with his political career, Davis stayed heavily involved with banking, even after he moved to Boise when he was first elected as governor.

During his term as governor, Davis organized a meeting in Salt Lake City for fifteen of the arid western states to discuss water issues.

Out of that meeting grew the Western States Reclamation Association, to provide a united voice for advice to the U. S. government on federally funded irrigation projects.

[2][4] Two months after Davis left the governor's office, he was appointed as a special assistant to the Secretary of the Interior, to supervise the United States Reclamation Service and served until 1924.

He then served from 1924 to 1932 as director of finance for the Interior Department,[5] and for a short time in 1931 as a special advisor to President Herbert Hoover.

[3] After his service with the federal government, Davis returned to his Idaho banking interests and also expanded his investments in mining ventures in the Northwest.