Progressive superstar Wendy Davis reported big fundraising numbers on Tuesday night, raising a million more than her Republican opponent in their high-profile gubernatorial match-up in Texas.
Davis raised $12.2 million in the last six months of 2013 from 70,000 individual donors.
These figures put Davis “way past the credibility threshold,” spokeswoman Rebecca Acuña told Politico. “They are huge, huge numbers showing there is so much support and momentum for her race.”
Davis’ fight for the governor’s office won’t be an easy one in the deeply red state; she’s up against Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott in the race to run the Lone Star state and he’s not far behind her in the fundraising.
Abbott raised $11.5 million in the same July to December time period, stressing that 97% of his contributions were from in state. He now has $27 million in his campaign coffers.
“This is a campaign by Texans, for Texans, and Greg Abbott is humbled and excited by the widespread support from across the state,” campaign manager Wayne Hamilton said in a statement, according to Politico.
Davis earned her progressive stripes this summer when she staged a nearly twelve-hour filibuster against abortion restrictions in pink sneakers, earning the praise of Democrats nation wide—including the president, who tweeted his support.
Her spokeswoman stressed that small donations—from all of Texas’ counties—made up the bulk of her haul.
Jane Timm