Democratic staffer says Wendy Davis will run for Congress

Former Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis (D) will run for Rep. Chip Roy’s (R-Texas) seat in 2020, a staffer for Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Texas) told the Austin American-Statesman.

“Wendy spoke to the congressman directly that she plans on running,” Vela’s press secretary Abigail Sheppard told the newspaper.

The district, which has historically gone to Republicans, is a top target for Democrats after candidate Joseph Kopser came within 3 points of flipping the seat in 2018. Kopser has already announced he will not seek the seat in 2020.

{mosads}Davis, who first made national headlines in 2013 for a 13-hour filibuster against anti-abortion legislation, was the state’s Democratic nominee for governor in 2014, losing to Gov. Greg Abbott (R) by about 20 points.

She said on the podcast “The Rabble: TX Politics for the Unruly Mob” in March that she was considering a run, saying, “Joseph Kopser gave a valiant effort [in 2018] — worked so, so hard and came very, very close. Can we do it for 2020?”

“I want to make sure that we have the ability to win it, and I believe we do,” she said. “And, I want to believe I’m the right person to help us do that.”

Davis is already attracting high-profile support for the bid, according to The Texas Tribune, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) set to co-host a meeting with Davis and potential supporters along with nine of the 13 Democrats representing Texas.

The invitation does not specifically identify Davis as a candidate or ask for donations, but says the event is “in support of her campaign for Texas CD21,” according to the Tribune.

Other members of Democratic leadership present will include House Majority Whip James Clyburn (S.C.), Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (N.M.), Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) and Caucus Vice Chairwoman Katherine Clark (Mass.), according to the Tribune.