Texas Matters is a Thursday evening series focusing on Texas political news while sharing information and strategies with the aim of taking back our state.
I apologize in advance--I had a meeting today that took longer than expected, so I wasn't able to put as much work into Texas Matters as I usually am. But I did want to briefly profile
an article that our own
PDiddie just put up over at his blog
Brains And Eggs. It is appropriately titled "It's not just about Wendy any more" and goes into detail about how a potential Wendy Davis run for the governorship--which we're all waiting very impatiently to see come to fruition--has really become much larger than Davis herself.
There has been much hand-wringing and (some bullshit) quantitative analysis regarding a Davis run. Full disclosure: I am not in the camp that thinks Davis does not have a chance. And the analysis profiled and expanded upon over at Brains and Eggs only reinforces my position that Davis should run. I really do believe she could potentially win this race, but the message here is that, even if she doesn't, a Wendy Davis candidacy is important to Democratic politics writ large here in Texas.
From The Week:
And regardless of whether she wins in 2014, Texas Democrats will be happy to have Davis at the top of their ticket, says Ross Ramsey at The Texas Tribune. They are mostly hoping that she has "some political magic, and that it's contagious" — that the presence of a relatively famous, beloved-by-Democrats candidate for governor will draw other credible candidates statewide and "attract voters who might influence other races below the statewide level."
Even if the hand-wringers are right that Davis barely stands a chance (I am much more optimistic, like I said), a Wendy Davis gubernatorial ticket is just the jump-start Texas Democrats need. A high-profile and popular candidate like Davis will, at the very least, increase turnout and make a difference on the local level and possibly in the legislature.
PDiddie adds this (I think quite accurate) analysis:
We're past the point of no return. For there to be any kind of immediate future for Texas Democrats, she can't take a pass. Davis bears the weight of the entire Texas Democratic Party, some of the burden of other beleaguered Democrats in southern states, and by extension a small portion of the national party's 2014 electoral prospects. That is one heavy lift.
As the saying goes, Democrats have to fall in love with a candidate (while Republicans just fall in line), and everybody loves Wendy. If she decides she's not going to go for it and run for re-election to her state Senate seat instead, all the helium screams out of her balloon. And everybody else's, for that matter. Greg Abbott's bank account, a red-ass exurban/rural Texas, and salivating Republicans holding smears at the ready are the least of her concerns now. She sets Texas back another decade -- not to mention her own political prospects -- if she won't pick up the gauntlet.
There is officially too much at stake for her, Democrats, the state of Texas, and (yes, even) the nation if she chooses not to make a bid for the governor's mansion. I just don't see her backing away from that fight. That's not who she is, not who she has demonstrated herself to be.
I expect Davis to announce that she will seek the governorship. I really can't envision any other scenario. But, of course, it is ultimately up to her, and we should respect any decision that she makes about her political future. But this situation really has become much, much larger than Wendy herself, and the stakes are higher and the consequences more long-term than the Governor's Mansion. That should be reason enough for us to be keeping our fingers and toes crossed for Wendy Davis to take that step into the race.
Texas Diary Round-Up (8/9/2013 - 8/15/2013)
Joan McCarter: Sebelius extends offer to Texas on Medicaid, Texas doesn't care (8/9/2013)
pipsorcle: TX-36: Democrat Michael Cole to Challenge Rep. Steve Stockman (8/9/2013)
pipsorcle: TX-01: Democrat Shirley McKellar to Challenge Rep. Louie Gohmert in 2014 (8/11/2013)
gf120581: TX-SEN: Tea Party wants Gohmert to challenge Cornyn (8/11/2013)
cordgrass: Maybe Texas will go blue and green (8/12/2013)
Hunter: Republican congressman: 'You could probably get the votes in the House' to impeach the president (8/12/2013)
Environmental Action: Fracking-Harmed Residents Confront EPA and Demand Reopened Investigation (8/12/2013)
News Corpse: Media Goes Silent As Texas Defends Constitutionality Of Racial Discrimination (8/13/2013)
RH Reality Check: How Having an Abortion in Texas Strengthened My Fight for Reproductive Rights (8/13/2013)
Hunter: Steve Stockman invites 'Obama' rodeo clowns to perform in his district (8/14/2013)
Got more Texas news stories or action alerts? Share them in the comments!
