Wendy Davis, After Texas Filibuster, Goes to Washington
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Erich Schlegel/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Although Texas State Sen. Wendy Davis came up short in her fight against the state’s restrictive abortion bill, ever since her dramatic filibuster last month, she has emerged as a winner in other ways.
Davis has been basking in national attention after her 11-hour attempt to stop the bill on the floor of the Texas state legislature (the abortion bill passed last week during a special session) and the notoriety has also earned her a mountain of cash — nearly $1 million in donations. And next week she’s coming to Washington, D.C., to raise even more.
ABC News obtained an invitation for a happy hour fundraiser with Davis in Washington, D.C., Thursday, July 25. The event is being held by the Wendy Davis campaign at the U. St. restaurant Local 16, and tickets range from $25 to $250.
The Huffington Post reported on another fundraiser that Davis will attend with several Democratic U.S. senators, including Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., Al Franken, D-Minn., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. The fundraiser breakfast will be held at D.C.’s Johnny’s Half Shell with tickets going for $500.
Davis’ campaign released a statement earlier this week detailing the $933,000 of donations the state senator has already received from over 15,000 individual contributions between June 17 and June 30.
“I am grateful and humbled by the outpouring of support,” Davis said in the statement. “Texans from around the state have been generous with their contributions, enthusiastic with their support, and committed to joining me in the fight for the priorities of Texas families.”
Ever since Davis’ filibuster, rumors have been swirling about her potential interest in higher office, including running for governor, especially following Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s announcement that he would not seek a fourth term.
“Texans — and women all over the country — deserve leaders that care, that listen and that work to protect their interests,” Davis wrote in a Washington Post Op-Ed this week that seemed to hint at her ambitions for higher office. “The people’s filibuster demonstrated that Texans — and women everywhere — are ready and willing to fight back.”
But Davis’ fundraising numbers don’t match up to those of her possible competitor, gubernatorial candidate and current Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, who has raised nearly $23 million so far.
If Abbott wins the race, 2014 could mark the twentieth consecutive year of Texas electing solely Republicans to statewide office. The last Democrat to win a race in the Lone Star State was Bob Bullock in his reelection bid for lieutenant governor in 1994.
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