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After Filibuster, a Star Rises in Texas After Filibuster, a Star Rises in Texas
(about 13 hours later)
NEW YORK — She comes from a key district in North Texas, has a slow twang, battle scars and ferocity of spirit, and after one drama-filled day in the bitter abortion fight in the Texas Legislature, Wendy Davis has become a national political star and charismatic new face of women’s rights.NEW YORK — She comes from a key district in North Texas, has a slow twang, battle scars and ferocity of spirit, and after one drama-filled day in the bitter abortion fight in the Texas Legislature, Wendy Davis has become a national political star and charismatic new face of women’s rights.
For 11 hours, in a midday-to-midnight filibuster, Ms. Davis, a Fort Worth Democrat, held forth on the floor of the State Senate last month against a Republican bill severely limiting abortion. Cheered on by a packed gallery and hundreds of other supporters in the halls of the Capitol in Austin (and thousands watching a live stream of the proceedings), the telegenic 50-year-old single mother of two was able to stop the bill — if only, as it turned out, for three weeks.For 11 hours, in a midday-to-midnight filibuster, Ms. Davis, a Fort Worth Democrat, held forth on the floor of the State Senate last month against a Republican bill severely limiting abortion. Cheered on by a packed gallery and hundreds of other supporters in the halls of the Capitol in Austin (and thousands watching a live stream of the proceedings), the telegenic 50-year-old single mother of two was able to stop the bill — if only, as it turned out, for three weeks.
She was an overnight sensation.She was an overnight sensation.
In short order, she pumped life into the moribund Texas Democratic Party, recharged the state’s women’s movement, raised nearly $1 million in two weeks for her re-election campaign and, not least, was beseeched by supporters and some in her party to run for governor in 2014, which might be a quixotic quest in a state that has not elected a Democrat to that office in 20 years.In short order, she pumped life into the moribund Texas Democratic Party, recharged the state’s women’s movement, raised nearly $1 million in two weeks for her re-election campaign and, not least, was beseeched by supporters and some in her party to run for governor in 2014, which might be a quixotic quest in a state that has not elected a Democrat to that office in 20 years.
Now, while she thinks about all that, Ms. Davis is going to Washington. She will be the host of two fund-raisers on Thursday. One, a $500-a-head breakfast at Johnny’s Half Shell, a restaurant on Capitol Hill, will feature House and Senate Democrats including Senators Kirsten E. Gillibrand of New York and Barbara Boxer of California. Later, she will be the host of a happy-hour fund-raiser, at $25 to $250 a person, at Local 16 in the hip U Street neighborhood.Now, while she thinks about all that, Ms. Davis is going to Washington. She will be the host of two fund-raisers on Thursday. One, a $500-a-head breakfast at Johnny’s Half Shell, a restaurant on Capitol Hill, will feature House and Senate Democrats including Senators Kirsten E. Gillibrand of New York and Barbara Boxer of California. Later, she will be the host of a happy-hour fund-raiser, at $25 to $250 a person, at Local 16 in the hip U Street neighborhood.
Ms. Davis already has the support of major players in the capital. Emily’s List, the two-million-member organization focused on electing pro-choice Democratic women, included the senator on a recent list of potential female presidential candidates and has declared a stake in her success, saying, “Emily’s List helped elect Wendy Davis to the Texas State Legislature in 2008, and supported her competitive re-election campaign in 2012.”Ms. Davis already has the support of major players in the capital. Emily’s List, the two-million-member organization focused on electing pro-choice Democratic women, included the senator on a recent list of potential female presidential candidates and has declared a stake in her success, saying, “Emily’s List helped elect Wendy Davis to the Texas State Legislature in 2008, and supported her competitive re-election campaign in 2012.”
Behind her ascent in the political arena is this network of powerful women, organizations and advocates, principally Annie’s List, a 10-year-old, Austin-based organization that, with about 6,000 donors and 26,000 supporters, recruits, trains and finances female Democratic candidates in Texas.Behind her ascent in the political arena is this network of powerful women, organizations and advocates, principally Annie’s List, a 10-year-old, Austin-based organization that, with about 6,000 donors and 26,000 supporters, recruits, trains and finances female Democratic candidates in Texas.
“Senator Davis has a stellar record,” Annie’s List’s executive director, Grace Garcia, a 58-year-old native of San Antonio, Texas, said by phone from Austin. “We have been standing strong behind her since 2008, when we recruited her to run for the Texas Senate in a swing district seat held by a 20-year incumbent.”“Senator Davis has a stellar record,” Annie’s List’s executive director, Grace Garcia, a 58-year-old native of San Antonio, Texas, said by phone from Austin. “We have been standing strong behind her since 2008, when we recruited her to run for the Texas Senate in a swing district seat held by a 20-year incumbent.”
At that time, Ms. Davis, who had put herself through junior college, Texas Christian University and Harvard Law School, was serving in the Fort Worth City Council and practicing law. She won an uphill battle then and won another tough fight for re-election last year.At that time, Ms. Davis, who had put herself through junior college, Texas Christian University and Harvard Law School, was serving in the Fort Worth City Council and practicing law. She won an uphill battle then and won another tough fight for re-election last year.
This month, Annie’s List handed the senator $50,000 to help kick off her campaign for re-election next year. “It won’t be a cakewalk,” said Ms. Garcia, a former deputy in the Clinton White House and a senior adviser in the State Department under former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.This month, Annie’s List handed the senator $50,000 to help kick off her campaign for re-election next year. “It won’t be a cakewalk,” said Ms. Garcia, a former deputy in the Clinton White House and a senior adviser in the State Department under former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
As to all the talk about Ms. Davis’s possible candidacy for governor, Ms. Garcia seemed cautious.As to all the talk about Ms. Davis’s possible candidacy for governor, Ms. Garcia seemed cautious.
“I believe that Texas will be a better state if she were our governor,” she said. “But the important question is, is Texas ready?”“I believe that Texas will be a better state if she were our governor,” she said. “But the important question is, is Texas ready?”
Texas political experts suggest that Ms. Davis has little chance of winning the governor’s race, pointing to the Republicans’ strong record in the Lone Star State, their millionaire contributors and the fund-raising ability of the front-running Republican candidate, Attorney General Greg Abbott.Texas political experts suggest that Ms. Davis has little chance of winning the governor’s race, pointing to the Republicans’ strong record in the Lone Star State, their millionaire contributors and the fund-raising ability of the front-running Republican candidate, Attorney General Greg Abbott.
The Texas Tribune, a progressive online political publication, said “that 2014 is looking like yet another blowout for the Republicans, which means more dashed Democratic hopes of turning Texas blue, or even gaining a toehold.” The Tribune was alluding to Battleground Texas, a spinoff of the Obama 2012 campaign aimed00 at turning Texas, the second-largest state in the country, with a big haul of electoral votes, from Republican red to Democratic blue. The Texas Tribune said “that 2014 is looking like yet another blowout for the Republicans, which means more dashed Democratic hopes of turning Texas blue, or even gaining a toehold.” The Tribune was alluding to Battleground Texas, a spinoff of the Obama 2012 campaign aimed at turning Texas, the second-largest state in the country, with a big haul of electoral votes, from Republican red to Democratic blue.
Over the past few weeks, Ms. Davis has said that it was an honor to be mentioned as a possible candidate for governor but that she would be disappointed if Democrats did not field a serious candidate for that office, prompting some people to believe she might run despite the odds.Over the past few weeks, Ms. Davis has said that it was an honor to be mentioned as a possible candidate for governor but that she would be disappointed if Democrats did not field a serious candidate for that office, prompting some people to believe she might run despite the odds.
“She will be very strategic about looking at the landscape,” Ms. Garcia told me. “It may not be 2014.”“She will be very strategic about looking at the landscape,” Ms. Garcia told me. “It may not be 2014.”
Ms. Davis’s most powerful political benefactor, Amber Anderson Mostyn, a 42-year-old trial lawyer who is the board chair of Annie’s List, said in an e-mail last week: “When she was recruited by Annie’s List in 2008 to challenge a 20-year incumbent senator, I knew that Wendy had the strength and tenacity to win with Annie’s List’s support.”Ms. Davis’s most powerful political benefactor, Amber Anderson Mostyn, a 42-year-old trial lawyer who is the board chair of Annie’s List, said in an e-mail last week: “When she was recruited by Annie’s List in 2008 to challenge a 20-year incumbent senator, I knew that Wendy had the strength and tenacity to win with Annie’s List’s support.”
Notably, she did not mention a possible Davis candidacy for governor. This is relevant because Ms. Mostyn and Annie’s List have been Ms. Davis’s biggest contributors.Notably, she did not mention a possible Davis candidacy for governor. This is relevant because Ms. Mostyn and Annie’s List have been Ms. Davis’s biggest contributors.
“I have always wanted Wendy to be my governor,” Ms. Mostyn said in an article in The New Republic magazine this month. “But I don’t want everyone to get carried away with the events of the day without the mathematics having changed.”“I have always wanted Wendy to be my governor,” Ms. Mostyn said in an article in The New Republic magazine this month. “But I don’t want everyone to get carried away with the events of the day without the mathematics having changed.”
Ms. Mostyn and her husband, Steve Mostyn, run a lucrative law practice in Houston. They have made millions on insurance litigation and rank among the biggest Democratic financial backers. They contributed $5.2 million in the 2012 cycle to super PACs, the independent political action committees, ranking 17 among top donors nationally, according to the Center for Public Integrity. Their contribution to super PACs is modest compared with donations from fellow Texans like Harold Simmons ($30.9 million) and the late Bob Perry ($23.5 million), both Republican patrons.Ms. Mostyn and her husband, Steve Mostyn, run a lucrative law practice in Houston. They have made millions on insurance litigation and rank among the biggest Democratic financial backers. They contributed $5.2 million in the 2012 cycle to super PACs, the independent political action committees, ranking 17 among top donors nationally, according to the Center for Public Integrity. Their contribution to super PACs is modest compared with donations from fellow Texans like Harold Simmons ($30.9 million) and the late Bob Perry ($23.5 million), both Republican patrons.
The Mostyns also seeded Battleground Texas with a $250,000 check, according to Texas Monthly. Battleground Texas got its footing early this year and is said to be searching for viable Democratic candidates to run for statewide office.The Mostyns also seeded Battleground Texas with a $250,000 check, according to Texas Monthly. Battleground Texas got its footing early this year and is said to be searching for viable Democratic candidates to run for statewide office.
Ms. Davis seems a likely candidate for a statewide run. But without the full-throated political and financial support of Ms. Mostyn, she could hardly make it.Ms. Davis seems a likely candidate for a statewide run. But without the full-throated political and financial support of Ms. Mostyn, she could hardly make it.
Whatever Ms. Davis decides to do next, her rise nationally could not have happened at a better time for women’s rights groups, which are facing hard-line conservatives in Congress and in state legislatures, a legacy of the 2010 midterm elections, which swept Tea Party candidates into office.Whatever Ms. Davis decides to do next, her rise nationally could not have happened at a better time for women’s rights groups, which are facing hard-line conservatives in Congress and in state legislatures, a legacy of the 2010 midterm elections, which swept Tea Party candidates into office.
“The 2010 election really changed the composition of many of the state legislatures, creating an environment where anti-choice restrictions are getting more traction,” said Julie Rikelman, the litigation director of the U.S. program of the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights. Her organization, along with Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, is considering a court challenge of the Texas abortion law, which bans abortions after 20 weeks and imposes strict health regulations on state abortion clinics.“The 2010 election really changed the composition of many of the state legislatures, creating an environment where anti-choice restrictions are getting more traction,” said Julie Rikelman, the litigation director of the U.S. program of the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights. Her organization, along with Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, is considering a court challenge of the Texas abortion law, which bans abortions after 20 weeks and imposes strict health regulations on state abortion clinics.
For Annie’s List, Wendy Davis has been a boon to its campaign to elect more women like Annise Parker, the mayor of Houston, and Mary Gonzalez of El Paso, the second openly gay State House representative.For Annie’s List, Wendy Davis has been a boon to its campaign to elect more women like Annise Parker, the mayor of Houston, and Mary Gonzalez of El Paso, the second openly gay State House representative.
“We’ve been ruled by Tea Party Republicans,” Ms. Garcia said. “We’ve been battling in red Texas for 10 years. For us, it’s a battle, district by district. I’m very hopeful we have reached a turning point.”“We’ve been ruled by Tea Party Republicans,” Ms. Garcia said. “We’ve been battling in red Texas for 10 years. For us, it’s a battle, district by district. I’m very hopeful we have reached a turning point.”