Before speaking to hundreds of supporters Thursday afternoon, state Sen. Wendy Davis announced her intentions to run for governor in an email to media.
The Fort Worth Democrat later addressed the large group at Wiley G. Thomas Coliseum in Haltom City, where she graduated from high school.
“We’re here because we believe it’s time to give all Texans a voice in their future and in a place in Texas’ future,” Davis said amid chants of “Wendy, Wendy” from the crowd.
“We are all here because we love Texas and we it’s time for a leader who will put Texans first,” Davis said.
She touched on her education filibuster in 2011 that restored millions to public education and said every Texan deserves “the promise of a better tomorrow.”
“Texans deserve a leader who will protect this promise,” Davis said. “Texans deserve a leader who will keep it.”
While Democrats are eager for Davis to turn Texas blue, a new poll by Texas Lyceum, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group, shows half of voters haven’t decided whether to support her or Attorney General Greg Abbott, who’s the favorite for the GOP nomination.
Of the voters who’ve made up their minds, Abbott leads Davis by 29 percent to 21 percent.
The poll surveyed 800 registered voters from Sept. 6-20. It has a plus or minus 3.47 percentage points.
Davis has been a longtime supporter of the LGBT community.
After her announcement, Abbott released a statement:
“Once again, Texas Democrats are attempting to conjure support for California-style candidates that try to sell Obama’s liberal agenda and go against what makes Texas great. Nonetheless, we welcome Senator Davis to the race, and look forward to presenting the clear differences and debating the important issues that will preserve the economic miracle in Texas.”
For more on the race, see Friday’s Dallas Voice.
