Wendy Davis, the Texas state senator who found herself in the national spotlight after staging an 11-hour filibuster against her state’s 20-week abortion ban, is lacing up her trademark pink sneakers to run for one of two statewide offices in 2014.
“I can say with absolute certainty that I will run for one of two offices — either my state senate seat or for governor,” Davis said to a round of applause during a luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Monday afternoon.
If Davis ultimately does decide to run for governor, she could be pitted against current Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), who once dubbed the 50-year-old woman as a “bit of a problem.” But Davis doesn’t necessarily reciprocate that sentiment, as she’s already taking jabs at the once-presidential hopeful.
“I have three responses to that,” Davis said about the three-term Texas governor potentially running for president again in 2016 while poking fun at the infamous “three government agencies” gaffe he made during a 2011 GOP primary debate.
Davis added that while her district is drawn for a Republican, she’s more about finding solutions than touting partisanship.
“I do think that in Texas people feel like we need a change from the very fractured, very partisan leadership that we’re seeing in our state government right now,” she said.
In fact, Davis believes that the June filibuster gave her an opportunity to be a “voice” for the people of Texas.
“And it’s not just about reproductive rights, although that day was about reproductive rights,” Davis said. “It’s about the vacuum of leadership happening there. It’s about the failure of our state leaders who are currently in power to really be connected to what the families want to see.”
Her speech wasn’t all about reproductive rights for women, however. She also touched upon education issues, an issue that hits close to home given her history as an impoverished mother who put herself through community college, and then ultimately Texas Christian University and Harvard Law, in the hopes of giving her daughter a better future.
“While it wasn’t easy, in the Texas I grew up in, it was possible,” Davis said, referring to the academic and financial needs scholarships that the state provided for her while in school.
Although Davis didn’t wear her infamous pink running shoes Monday, she did don a bright pink jacket during her speech. When asked what her plans for her trademark footwear are, she said that she still runs in them but will keep them long after she’s done using them for sentimental purposes.
