Wendy Davis (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wendy Davis
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| Member of the Texas Senate from the 10th district |
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| In office January 9, 2009 – January 13, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Kim Brimer |
| Succeeded by | Konni Burton |
| Member of the Fort Worth City Council from the 9th district |
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| In office May 1, 1999 – January 8, 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Cathy Hirt |
| Succeeded by | Joel Burns |
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Wendy Jean Russell
May 16, 1963 West Warwick, Rhode Island, U.S. |
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| Children | 2 |
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Wendy Russell Davis (born Wendy Jean Russell; May 16, 1963) is an American lawyer and politician. She is from Fort Worth, Texas. As a member of the Democratic Party, Davis served in the Texas Senate. She represented the 10th district from 2009 to 2015. Before that, she was on the Fort Worth City Council.
In 2013, she became well-known for a long speech, called a filibuster. This speech helped delay a bill in the Texas Senate. This event brought her national attention. She later ran for governor of Texas in 2014 but did not win. In 2019, she announced she would run for the United States House of Representatives in 2020. She lost that election as well.
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Wendy Davis's Early Life and Education
Wendy Davis was born Wendy Jean Russell in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Her family moved to Fort Worth, Texas when she was 10 years old. When she was 13, her parents divorced. Her mother worked hard to support Wendy and her three siblings.
High School and Early Family Life
Davis graduated from Richland High School in 1981. She was part of the National Honor Society. She had her first daughter, Amber, soon after. She later divorced her first husband. She then attended Tarrant County College and Texas Christian University (TCU). She received scholarships and grants to help pay for her studies.
Studying Law at Harvard
In 1990, Davis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from TCU. She then moved to Massachusetts to attend Harvard Law School. Her daughters stayed in Texas with her second husband. Davis flew back often to visit them. While at Harvard, she helped people in need at a legal clinic. She earned her law degree in 1993.
Wendy Davis's Political Journey
Wendy Davis has served in local and state government. She worked to improve her community.
Serving on the Fort Worth City Council
Davis first ran for the Fort Worth City Council in 1996 but lost. She ran again in 1999 and was elected. She served on the City Council for nine years. During this time, she focused on important issues. These included transportation, growing the local economy, and helping neighborhoods. She also worked on big projects like renovating Montgomery Plaza.
Changing Political Parties
While on the Fort Worth City Council, Davis sometimes voted in Republican primary elections. This was because municipal elections in Texas are non-partisan. This means a candidate's party is not listed on the ballot. She later became a member of the Democratic Party in 2006.
Serving in the Texas State Senate
In 2008, Wendy Davis ran for the Texas Senate. She ran as a Democrat and won a close election. She represented the 10th Senate district. She was re-elected in 2012.
As a State Senator, Davis was involved in many committees. She was the vice-chair of the Senate Select Committee on Open Government. She also served on committees for economic development, transportation, and military affairs. In 2009, Texas Monthly magazine named her "Rookie of the Year."
The 2013 Filibuster
In May 2011, Davis spoke for a long time to delay a budget bill. This bill would have cut money from public education. This type of long speech is called a filibuster.
In 2013, Davis performed another famous filibuster. She spoke for 11 hours to try and stop a bill from passing. This bill was about women's health. She tried to speak until midnight, when the special session of the Senate would end. Her goal was to prevent a vote on the bill. Many people in the Capitol building cheered for her. Even though the bill eventually passed in a second special session, her filibuster gained national attention. News outlets like The New York Times covered her story. Her pink sneakers, which she wore during the filibuster, even became famous!
Running for Governor of Texas
On October 3, 2013, Wendy Davis announced she would run for Governor of Texas. She won the Democratic nomination in March 2014. She was the first woman to be nominated for Texas governor by a major party since 1994. In the election on November 4, 2014, she lost to the Republican candidate, Greg Abbott.
Running for U.S. Congress
On July 22, 2019, Davis announced she would run for the United States House of Representatives. She ran to represent Texas's 21st congressional district. In the election on November 3, 2020, she was defeated by the incumbent, Chip Roy.
Wendy Davis's Political Views
Wendy Davis is known for her liberal political views. A study by a professor at Rice University found that she was one of the most liberal senators in Texas during her time in office.
Gun Rights
While on the Fort Worth City Council, Davis supported some rules about guns. These included rules for gun shows at city places. Later, she supported a proposed law that would allow people to openly carry guns in Texas. However, she also said that background checks and training should be required. After losing the 2014 governor's race, she stated that she was against open carry laws.
LGBT Rights
In 2000, Davis voted for a rule in Fort Worth that protected people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation. In 2014, she supported same-sex marriage. She also said that the Texas Attorney General should stop defending the state's ban on same-sex marriage.
Images for kids
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Wendy Davis
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Wendy Davis's signature
