If someone would have asked me that a week ago, I would have said emphatically "no". Despite her heroic filibuster, and the immense popularity she's gained from literally speaking up for her beliefs, I would have garnered that Texas is still too conservative and still too dominated by Republicans to elect a strong liberal candidate to the state's highest office (no Democrat has been elected governor in almost 20 years).
However, I am starting to reconsider that position. Why the change in opinion you ask? You may be thinking that Texas is deep red and that won't change in the upcoming election. That's what I believed too. But now, I'm not so sure. Please follow me below the fold as I attempt to explain why.
I remember the days when I voted for Ann Richards and had grown up with Democratic elected officials like Texas governor Mark White and senator Lloyd Bentsen. Little did I realize that with George Bush's defeat of Governor Richards in 1994, the political tide of my beloved state would turn so dramatically.
I grew up in Houston and attended The University of Texas in the late 80's to early 90's. As one of less than 3% of African American students on the campus at the time, I along with many of my classmates, experienced ostracism and outright racism. During this time however, I never felt politically alienated. I had grown up in Houston. The home of the formidable Barbara Jordan. While in college, I worked as a page and later as an assistant to a state representative from my district. I felt that my participation in politics mattered, that through the strong Democrats in my state, I had a voice.
In 1994, all of that changed. With George Bush's election and Rick Perry's terms, Republican majorities in both state houses, not to mention Conryn and now Ted Cruz, the words Texas and Democratic often seem oxymoronic.
Somewhat sheltered as a Houstonian, whose mayor is not only the first openly gay mayor of a major city, but also the only female mayor of the nation's 10 most populous cities (with Betsy Price, Republican mayor of Fort Worth, being next at number 16, btw), I do experience Democratic leadership. My state senator and state representative are also Democrats, and my congressional representative is a Democrat as well. However, too often, I feel that their voices are marginalized when in comes to "real" Texas politics. My elected officials always seem to be on the outside of the good ol' boys club headed by big business execs and suburban and rural conservatives.
With these thoughts, I ventured into an article published in the Texas Tribune about Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott's run for governor. Abbott, who has been Texas AG since 2002, is the Republican frontrunner. He's already raised $20 million for his campaign, and has the traditional conservative credentials regarding abortion and "big government". Confined to a wheelchair since an accident that left him paralyzed nearly 30 years ago, he describes himself as actually having a steel spine that he will "use ...to fight for you and Texas families every single day."
If you're a conservative Texan, what's not to love, right? A staunch conservative, career politician with a compelling story....
But I encountered something very unexpected when I began to read the comments. Not one was in support of Greg Abbott or his run. In fact, several commenters stated that they would support Wendy Davis should she decide to run.
Honestly, I don't know what to make of this. I don't know if Davis, or any other Democratic contender for that matter, has a chance. But I do sense that something is changing in the state. Perhaps it is the recent legislation limiting women's access to healthcare, including abortion. Or governor Perry's veto of the equal pay act. But, I do think that a fair number of Texans, have had enough. After nearly 20 years perhaps, just perhaps a Democratic contender has chance.