Wendy Davis hinted at how she’ll handle the issue of abortion on the campaign trail in the conservative Lone Star State.
The Democratic candidate for Texas governor declared, “I am pro-life,” suggesting her stance on women’s reproductive rights doesn’t mean she doesn’t care about people or life itself.
“I care about the life of every child: every child that goes to bed hungry, every child that goes to bed without a proper education, every child that goes to bed without being able to be a part of the Texas dream, every woman and man who worry about their children’s future and their ability to provide for that future,” Davis said, according to The Dallas Morning News. “I care about life and I have a record of fighting for people above all else.”
Davis made the comments during a recent stop at the University of Texas at Brownsville.
“This isn’t about protecting abortion. It’s about protecting women,” Davis added, The Huffington Post reported. “It’s about trusting women to make good decisions for themselves and empowering them with the tools to do that.”
The Democrat became a political star practically overnight this summer after a marathon filibuster to block an anti-abortion vote in the state Senate. Her unwavering defense of women’s health care measures earned her many progressive followers throughout the country.
Her likely Republican opponent, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, has tried to portary Davis as a single-issue candidate.
Right-leaning Texas hasn’t had Democrat in the governor’s office since the 1990s.
Sarah Muller