Wendy Davis, who rocketed to political fame five years ago for filibustering limits on late-term abortions in the Texas senate, is reportedly up for the top job at Planned Parenthood, the organization that performs roughly one-third of all abortions in the U.S. each year, according to its own statistics.
Outgoing president Cecile Richards is set to depart the organization in May, and Politico reported earlier this week that Davis is “one of several Democratic women who are privately being discussed among Democratic operatives and donors as a potential successor.”
Asked by Politico whether she could envision herself running the group at some point, Davis declined to answer the question directly, but pivoted to praise their work. “Planned Parenthood and the mission of Planned Parenthood — the health care provided by Planned Parenthood — is always going to be part of the core of who I am,” she told the outlet. “I’m so proud that I’ve had an opportunity to travel all over this country and help Planned Parenthood affiliates to be successful.”
Davis, who was once dubbed “Abortion Barbie,” added that she’s “going to continue to do everything I can to stand for the work” of Planned Parenthood.
Shortly after rising to fame in 2013, Davis ran for governor. She won the Democratic primary, but went on to lose to Greg Abbott by more than 20 points in the 2014 election. Davis now leads Deeds Not Words, described as an “online engagement initiative” aimed at advancing feminist goals. She’s joined forces with Planned Parenthood regularly over the last five years.
Given Davis’ coy response to questions about replacing Richards, it’s probably fair to say she’s under consideration for the gig, and would be interested in accepting it.
Should that happen, the organization stands to attract even more ire given Davis’ heightened-profile and combative approach to abortion activism.
