Former Texas gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis endorsed Hillary Clinton at an event in Austin, helping Clinton rev up her feminist base.
While Davis has praised Clinton is the past, she made her endorsement official at a coffee and wine bar Wednesday night along with Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt.
“I know that Hillary holds Texas in a very dear place in Hillary’s heart,” Davis told supporters, adding that she was very happy to be involved in a campaign again and “very happy it’s not mine!”
Davis first rose to national attention in the media in 2013 when she wore pink sneakers throughout a 12-hour filibuster to temporarily block Texas statewide abortion restrictions. While Davis’ efforts made her a hero among feminists, the Texas legislature later overwhelmingly passed the abortion restrictions.
Davis lost the 2014 Texas gubernatorial race by more than 20 percentage points to Republican Greg Abbott.
“Texas voters delivered a clear message to Davis and her party platform by overwhelmingly rejecting her candidacy,” Texas GOP Vice Chair Amy Clark said in a statement in response to Davis’ endorsement. “Hillary Clinton can expect the same results in our state when the votes are counted in 2016.”
As Planned Parenthood has become an increasingly hot top in the 2016 primaries and Congress debates defunding the organization, an endorsement from Davis helps remind Democrats of Clinton’s pro-choice record.
“Put on your Wendy Davis filibuster tennis shoes and kick the hardest of glass ceilings!” Eckhardt added before reminding supporters that the Texas primary is a part of the crucial Super Tuesday vote.
