HARTFORD, Conn. — Longtime political reporter and former WTNH Chief Capitol Correspondent Mark Davis has died at the age of 76, the station confirmed. A fixture at the Connecticut State Capitol for decades, Davis earned a reputation as one of the most trusted and enduring voices in local journalism.
Davis began his broadcast career in Connecticut in 1980 as a radio talk show host before transitioning to television four years later, joining WTNH in 1984. Over the next 36 years, he would become a stalwart of political reporting, covering every governor from Bill O’Neill to Ned Lamont and building a legacy rooted in accuracy, professionalism, and public trust.
Known for asking the first question at nearly every press conference, Davis brought clarity and insight to complex state issues. His deep institutional knowledge and relentless commitment to informing the public helped shape the way politics was reported in Connecticut.
“Mark Davis provided the people of Connecticut with valuable news and information about what was going on in their state, giving them insight into their communities, their government, and their neighbors,” Governor Ned Lamont said in a statement. “He always acted with professionalism and integrity, and I have no doubt that he inspired a whole new generation of reporters… Mark Davis is a Connecticut icon.”
Davis’s career was marked by multiple honors, including three Emmy Awards, one for his coverage of the 1990 gubernatorial election and two more the following year for his reporting on the heated political fight over the implementation of a state income tax. He was also nominated for Best TV Anchor in New England.
Attorney General William Tong reflected on his early encounters with Davis, recalling the mix of nerves and admiration he felt as a new lawmaker. “As a new legislator now almost twenty years ago, it felt like giants roamed the Capitol halls. Mark Davis was a giant among giants,” Tong said. “Even when the questions were tough, he had a kind and breezy way about him… The passing of Mark Davis is a huge loss to the news and to the public’s access to information we all need for a functional and productive democracy.”
Davis was not only a skilled journalist but a respected colleague and mentor. Colleagues remember him for his fairness, his encyclopedic knowledge of state politics, and his unwavering commitment to the public’s right to know.
Mark Davis is survived by his wife, Betsy, and a legacy of public service through journalism that spanned more than four decades. Funeral arrangements and memorial details are expected to be announced by the family in the coming days.
His voice may be gone, but the mark he left on Connecticut journalism will endure.