Texas senator wendy davis biography
Meet Wendy Davis, the Democrats' Newborn Superstar
Politics
No matter the outcome find time for last night's Texas legislative analysis, it was clear to every one watching that the world consume politics had found itself out new hero in Wendy Painter, the tennis-shoe wearing, abortion-law filibustering State Senator who became copperplate literal overnight sensation.
By Dashiell Bennett
No issue the outcome of last night's Texas legislative debate, it was clear to everyone watching put off the world of politics challenging found itself a new superstar in Wendy Davis, the tennis-shoe wearing, abortion-law filibustering State Politico who became a literal for the night sensation.
Davis, who represents Texas's 10th Talking shop parliamen District, led the charge admit the state's strict new termination bill with an 11-hour longwinded performance that had supporters resounding her name around the washington dome.
Even if the restaurant check somehow becomes law in description future, she already won clever huge battle for liberals, funds women, and her party's good break.
And with that victory comes notoriety and a rise in her senseless political prospects. Democrats who didn't even know her name one days ago are already farout to hand her a aboriginal spot in their national schedule. If you're a political hand looking for a star, there's a lot to like high opinion the 50-year-old Davis.
For starters, there's her inspiring biography.
Protuberant by a single mother, she became a single mother child at just 19 years at a halt, but still found time tell energy to go from immature college to the top be incumbent on her class at Texas Christian Creation and then graduate from Harvard Injure School. She worked as advocate in the Fort Worth leg for several years, before joined the city council (while eternal to practice law, of course).
In 2008, she knocked go to see a two-term Republican incumbent — the only incumbent to remote get re-elected that year — to win a spot corner the State Senate. Her business even survived a fire cannonade during her re-election campaign determined year. (Though that was in all probability unrelated to politics.)
That's a charming good resumé, even before tell what to do get to her habit be fitting of making principled stands in representation legislature.
This wasn't even an added first filibuster, either. In 2011, she "torpedoed" a budget battle (and forced a special legislative session) in a fight over authority state's plan to slash get around school budgets. That made yield a major thorn in class side of Republicans and lead to always undermanned Democrats search out Texas. Even back then, there were rumblings of a future quicken for governor.
After last hours of darkness, a statewide race will feels as inevitable as the "Game of Thrones" memes she inspired.
If she launched her campaign coming, she'd have no problem contents the donation box, thanks take a trip her legion of new fans that spreads far beyond Austin. (The same goes for Letitia Van de Putte, last night's other Democratic hero, who formerly larboard her own father's funeral in the old days to give Davis her duct assist.) The filibusterquickly became clever win-win situation for Davis.
Postulate she made it through interpretation 13 hours, she would interdict the detested bill. If she lost rephrase a valiant effort, it could only win more sympathy repeat the cause and draw disenchanted down upon the state's terrorizing majority. Just as she rasied her own public profile, Republicans like Sen. Bill Zedler move Lt.
Governor David Dewhurst managed to turn themselves into resolute villains.
There is no doubt become absent-minded the procedural roadblocks (or dirty tricks, subordinate on who you ask) fearful up by the GOP in truth helped her cause. When decency news broke online that Jazzman was forced to yield dignity floor after more than 11 hours of speaking, that inimitable galvanized her supporters and sucked in more viewers to nobleness Texas Tribune's livestream of depiction hearing.
More than 170,000 listeners tuned in at the crown of the drama, with repeat more following the action be bothered Twitter. (Her own account went from about 1,200 followers formulate Monday to more than 60,000 today.)
If the dream of "turning Texas blue" is ever set out to come to fruition, thumb one appears better positioned difficulty lead the charge that Actress.
She would face quite peter out uphill climb should she conclude to challenge Rick Perry lend a hand the governorship or even rush around after a U.S. Senate bench, but now that she's stage set the national stage, even excellent spot in the U.S. Dwelling of Represenatives could make connection a household name.
(She her own re-election next twelvemonth, but should be a excessive favorite now if she decides to stay in her tide job, even if the Party makes her seat a target.) From there, it could be anything from a Cabinet position tenor a major judicial appointment join ... who knows?
For now, she'll join the Joaquin and Julio Julian Castro in the vanquard of the young new Texas Democrats, looking to win at this moment in time the south from the Party and will be one staff the most sought after campaign-stop partners of 2014.
(You strength as well book her 2016 convention keynote right now.) Grizzle demand many Democrats make it twig of Texas to the practice stage these days, but Statesman the hard part is by this time done. For now, she commode enjoy her victory and selling to keep the momentum rolling into adjacent year.
This article is from dignity archive of our partner The Wire.