State Senator Wendy Davis confirmed her run for governor in Texas on Thursday after heavy speculation following her quick rise to national fame, the Chicago Tribune reported.
"Texas is a place where we aim high and we take big risks," Davis said to supporters at her rally outside Fort Worth. "We're builders, and doers, leaders, and dreamers. We love Texas, not only for how good it is, but for how great we know it can be."
Davis, 50, gained national attention in June after filibustering a bill in her state that aimed to outlaw third trimester abortions. Although the legislation ultimately passed, support for the second-term state senator continued and major organizations began funding her for a possible run for governor -- adding a total of $1 million to her campaign funds.
The hashtag #TeamWendy has been trending on Twitter ever since Davis' formal announcement on her own account.
"I'm in it. For Texas. #TeamWendy" she posted with a campaign photo.
The governor's seat is currently occupied by Republican Gov. Rick Perry who said he will not run for re-election and is also staunchly anti-Davis.
At the rally held at her former high school, Davis entered the stage as "This Girl is on Fire" by Alicia Keyes played in the background. She discussed her plan to focus on education and healthcare as anti-abortion protesters gathered outside.
The popular Texas lawmaker came from a humble, low class background, living in a trailer park, but studied her way to Harvard Law School.
"No matter where you start, no matter how you start, that place has nothing to do with how far you can go," Davis said. "God bless you all. God bless Texas."
The election is slated for November 2014. While support for Davis is strong, her likely opponent is Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott who has already raised $25 million.
"The stakes are incredibly high," Mark Jones, political science professor at Houston's Rice University, told the Guardian. "I can't think there is any real doubt whatsoever that she's going to lose. But how she performs could have dramatic consequences for the future of partisan politics in Texas and therefore the nation at large...If Texas turns blue, the presidency turns blue."
The last Democrat to win the race for governor in Texas was Ann Richards in 1990. Once she stepped down, GOP leaders have dominated the Texas legislature ever since.
