Wendy Davis, known for her 13-hour anti-abortion bill filibuster, is running for Congress
With the 2020 elections a little more than a year away, most potential voters are starting to think about who the next president will be. It’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement of the presidential race with so many candidates, but the congressional races have some equally impressive competitors. For instance, Texas Democrat Wendy Davis, who made national news for her passionate defense of abortion rights in 2013, is running for U.S. Congress.
As CNN notes, when Davis was a state senator in 2013, she tried to speak for 13 non-stop hours at the Texas State Capitol, in an attempt to block a ban on abortion after 20 weeks. Although she fell short of her time goal, her efforts helped run out the clock on the bill, and it ultimately failed to be passed that night. The moment catapulted her to national visibility, leading her to run for governor in 2014. According to the Houston Chronicle, despite raising almost $40 million in the gubernatorial race, she lost by 20 points.
Yesterday, July 22nd, Davis announced her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives seat for Texas’s 21st congressional district. She tweeted that she wanted to “be a voice for every Texan who feels forgotten by a broken political system.” A campaign video she shared features footage from her filibuster, including close-up shots of the pink tennis shoes she wore.
"I've learned that I'm at my best when I'm fighting for people," Davis says in the video. "And even in losing, we help shape the future. Because it isn't personal achievements or failures that create change. It's working together to fight for what matters."
I’m proud to announce my campaign for Congress in TX-21!
I’m running to be a voice for every Texan who feels forgotten by a broken political system. Time to make DC listen – will you stand with me? ✊ >> https://t.co/JD1wMnMvPe pic.twitter.com/Btlq6zI5tv
— Wendy Davis (@wendydavis) July 22, 2019
After Davis’s declaration, many who remembered her 2013 filibuster celebrated her new campaign.
THIS IS HUGE: Wendy Davis is running to take away a Congressional seat from NRA darling Chip Roy whose in a flippable seat in Texas. Watch her video and support her campaign! https://t.co/iyK4Lzhdxe
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) July 22, 2019
.@wendydavis is a spectacular example of what it looks like to lead with courage, perseverance, and so, so much heart. Proud to call her a friend. Unruly mob reunite! #TX21 https://t.co/tiVojM6bt4
— Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) July 23, 2019
A tireless champion for all Texans, I’m so excited to see my friend @wendydavis stepping up to serve again! #TX21 would would well served by her vision and leadership. https://t.co/L2xHz6UUGD
— Gina Ortiz Jones (@GinaOrtizJones) July 22, 2019
let's be clear about one thing twitter dot com – this has, and will forever be, a @wendydavis stan account. pic.twitter.com/bvtp4S3W7E
— Charlie Bonner (@CharlieKBonner) July 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/1153299948265455619
Y’all don’t understand – 13 year old me is so ready for this pic.twitter.com/FNYXG2nizn
— Alexandra (@AlexndraBrooks) July 22, 2019
According to the Associated Press, Davis will challenge Republican Representative Chip Roy, who won his seat in 2018 by less than three percentage points. Roy faced criticism in May when he temporarily blocked $19 billion in disaster relief. Given the narrow margin of his victory, it’s possible that Davis could defeat him in 2020, although she definitely has her work cut out for her.
We’re so excited to see Davis running for office again. Visit her website to learn more about her—or to donate to her campaign, if you’re so inclined.
