State Senator Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) will run for governor of Texas, Politico is reporting, based on confirmation from a Davis consultant.
“Sen. Davis has decided what she will do and she looks forward to making that announcement with her grassroots supporters on Oct. 3,” Hector Nieto said. He believes she will announce her candidacy next week.
Davis rose to national prominence when her filibuster temporarily delayed passage of a sweeping set of restrictions on abortion and women’s health. If she does run for governor to replace the current governor, Republican Rick Perry, she’ll likely face Republican state attorney general Greg Abbott.
Though Davis has become a progressive hero capable of raising money across the country, Abbott reportedly has $20 million in his war chest.
Republicans are acting as eager to see Davis — a former teen mom who graduated from Harvard Law School with honors — run as Democrats are.
Republicans & conservatives view Wendy Davis running for TX-GOV precisely the way Democrats & liberals view Sarah Palin running for AK-SEN.
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) September 18, 2013
However, Democrats have been plotting a long-term effort to turn Texas blue, after neglecting the state during presidential elections since 1992. If the state’s 38 electoral votes swung away from the GOP, the party would have a hard time ever winning the White House again.
Whites are already a minority in the state and Texas Latinos are voting at far below the average percentage seen in the rest of the nation. Over two million Latinos in Texas are not registered to vote. Another million mostly Latino registered voters don’t vote.
A recent poll found 57 percent of Latino registered voters said Democrats best represent their views on social issues and the economy.
If Davis can draw attention to the state while registering and activating new voters, her campaign could be a success even if she doesn’t win.
Photo: Alan Kotok via Flickr.com
