News & Politics
February 28, 2023
Wendy Davis Returns to the Texas Capitol and a Whole New Political Landscape
Ten years after her historic filibuster, the former Democratic state senator will lead Planned Parenthood's political efforts
Wendy Davis
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Politics & Policy
May 11, 2022
Don’t Be Certain the Draft Decision Ending Roe Will Drive Texas Turnout
Democratic leaders have predicted that the leaked draft decision will get Texas liberals to the polls. History provides caution.
Politics & Policy
March 15, 2022
Wendy Davis Lost Her Fight Against Abortion Restrictions. A New Documentary Pretends She Won.
‘Shouting Down Midnight’ is a hagiography of the state senator that tries to impose a triumph narrative for Texas Democrats where none exists.
Politics & Policy
October 23, 2020
Can Chip Roy Hold Off the Democratic Shift in Suburban San Antonio and Austin?
The conservative incumbent has alienated members of his own party, leaving room for challenger Wendy Davis to pick off centrist voters in Texas’s Twenty-first Congressional District.
Politics & Policy
October 10, 2020
Wendy Davis Is a Feminist Icon. Chip Roy Is a Ted Cruz Protégé. What’s a Swing District to Do?
He’s as red as a rose; she’s as blue as the state flower. And now the two congressional candidates are locked in a throwdown in a district that is neither.
Politics & Policy
December 19, 2019
Bull Session: Remember the Alamo? And Wendy Davis? And That Peloton Ad?
Ever since 2014, the Alamo has become the locus of a notably less cinematic war, all raging around the controversial plan to renovate and redesign it.
The National Podcast of Texas
November 4, 2019
The Texas Tribune’s Evan Smith Celebrates 10 Years of Nonprofit Journalism
On this week’s National Podcast of Texas, the digital news startup’s CEO and co-founder discusses how a risky bet on covering Texas politics and public policy paid off.
The National Podcast of Texas
June 18, 2019
Royce Brooks: “Our Priority Is Making the Biggest, Best Run at Flipping Control of the State House”
On this week’s National Podcast of Texas, the executive director of Annie’s List discusses representational democracy in Texas and the debate over how progressive is too progressive.
The National Podcast of Texas
March 7, 2019
Wendy Davis: “The Midterms Were a Wake-up Call for Republican Leaders in Texas”
On the latest National Podcast of Texas, the 2014 gubernatorial candidate on her latest thinking about a potential run against John Cornyn, Beto O’Rourke’s future, and the status of the upcoming Sandra Bullock film centered on her filibuster.
Underdog: Beto vs. Cruz
October 19, 2018
‘Underdog: Beto vs. Cruz’ and the History of Democrats in Texas
In the second episode of the 2018 Senate race podcast, we explore how Texas turned red.
Film & TV
February 9, 2018
Dan Patrick Says He Will Block the Filming of “Let Her Speak” from the Texas Senate Chamber
”They’ve already disgraced it once. I’m not going to let them do it a second time.”
Film & TV
November 19, 2017
Leticia Van de Putte on ‘Let Her Speak’ and the True Story of the Filibuster
For the former state senator, accurate representation in the Hollywood biopic goes beyond historical accuracy.
Politics & Policy
June 27, 2016
The Long Tale Of HB2 Comes to a Close
Three years after Wendy Davis’s filibuster, Texas’s anti-abortion law is struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Daily Post
March 14, 2016
Wendy Davis And ‘Trapped’ Director Dawn Porter Talk Abortion, Television, And Davis’s Political Future
The former Texas gubernatorial candidate readies her second act at SXSW.
Politics & Policy
March 3, 2016
Whatever Happened To The ‘Unruly Mob’?
As HB2 lands at the Supreme Court, the activists on both sides that gathered at the Capitol in 2013 are still fighting their battles.
Politics & Policy
September 24, 2015
Wendy Davis Surfaces
In two recent interviews, the defeated Democrat discusses what went wrong in 2014.
Politics & Policy
February 26, 2015
The Future of Battleground Texas
As the organization marks its second anniversary, the real question is: does it have a future?
News & Politics
January 14, 2015
Roar of the Crowd
Readers respond to the January 2015 issue.
Politics & Policy
December 31, 2014
Wendy Davis’s Future
I was surprised to read that Wendy Davis intends to make another run at public office, as yet unspecified. Among other things, she has retracted her support for open carry. But it is hard to see what kind of future Davis has, particularly when Battleground Texas proved to be as
Burka Blog
December 16, 2014
How to Earn a Bum Steer Award
Step one: study Wendy Davis’s example.
Politics & Policy
December 11, 2014
Our Bum Steer of the Year
If you’re surprised by this year’s pick, you may be eligible for a Bum Steer Award of your own
The Stand Up Desk
December 10, 2014
And the Bum Steer of the Year Is . . .
Hey, Senator Davis! Congratulations! The results are in, and you and the Democrats won by a landslide!
Bum Steers
December 5, 2014
Bum Steers 2015
From arrogant announcers to zany zygotes—and everything in between—it was a banner year for the Bum Steers.
Politics & Policy
November 4, 2014
How Would a Bookie Handicap the Election Results?
After a year of campaigning, the first gubernatorial race in a generation not to feature an incumbent governor comes to a conclusion. Wendy Davis has been a clear underdog since the race started—so how would you set the spread?
Politics & Policy
October 21, 2014
A Voting Guide from the Hidalgo County Democrats Doesn’t Include Wendy Davis
Citing space concerns, the Hidalgo County Democrats in Precinct 4 say they had to be judicious about the candidates they put on the form.
Health
October 13, 2014
Does Wendy Davis’s Ad Cross the Line in Mentioning the Accident that Put Greg Abbott in a Wheelchair?
Davis's latest ad has caused a lot of controversy. Is she wrong in bringing up Abbott's accident?
Politics & Policy
October 12, 2014
Victims
Wendy Davis's new ad attacks Abbott for attacking "other victims"
Politics & Policy
October 3, 2014
Most of Texas’ Abortion Clinics Closed Overnight
New restrictions on clinics go into effect while courts handle appeal.
Politics & Policy
October 2, 2014
The Home Stretch
I’m not surprised that the race for governor has tightened according to the recent Lyceum Poll. This is a contest between two candidates who have the support of large constituencies that stretch far beyond Texas. Abbott is among the state’s most prominent attorneys and is no stranger to
Politics & Policy
October 1, 2014
Davis for the Win
The final debate in the 2014 governor's race is over, and the winner was clear-cut.
Politics & Policy
September 22, 2014
Weighing in on the Debate
Alas, I was out of the state for the Texas gubernatorial debate on Friday evening, but having watched the replay, I can’t say that I missed much. As debates go, I found it relatively low-wattage. Both candidates were articulate and reasonably polite to their opponents, though I thought Davis
Politics & Policy
September 16, 2014
Three Fights over School Funding
Democrats Wendy Davis, Leticia Van de Putte, and Mike Collier take on their Republican opponents over the 2011 cuts to public schools.
Politics & Policy
September 15, 2014
The Upside of Inertia
In his jobs plan, Greg Abbott opts for a minimalist aesthetic.
Politics & Policy
September 10, 2014
Wendy Davis, Public Relations, and the Political War
I was interested by Eric Bearse’s piece in the Quorum Report yesterday concerning Wendy Davis and abortion. Bearse wrote, among other things: “The reason Wendy Davis has never recovered politically from her abortion filibuster is she fought on turf where she couldn’t win. Outside of San Francisco and
Politics & Policy
September 9, 2014
A Fleeting Moment of Substance
On Thursday, Wendy Davis offered a good policy idea, which was forgotten by Friday
The Daily Post
September 8, 2014
Some Things Worth Considering About the Wendy Davis Abortion Reveal
The big news out of the gubernatorial campaign has got a lot of people talking—but is it anything worth saying?
Sports
September 4, 2014
It’s Come to This. Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis Are Bickering About Favorite Football Teams
Yesterday, Davis told a radio station that she's a Cowboys fan, which led the Abbott campaign to call her a flip-flopper, in one of the sillier press releases of this campaign season.
Politics & Policy
September 2, 2014
Weekend Wobbles
Two court rulings and a debate over a debate add up to a couple of headaches for Abbott.
The Daily Post
September 2, 2014
The Texas National Guard in the Valley Reached Out to a Local Food Bank While Waiting For Their Paychecks
It's unclear if any troops have used the charity resource, but it's bad optics surrounding the already controversial decision to send the National Guard to the border.
Politics & Policy
August 12, 2014
What the New Wendy Davis Ad Tells Us About Her Campaign
And the coverage of it by the media.
Politics & Policy
August 12, 2014
Abbott on the Attack
The attorney general takes a swing at Wendy Davis.
Politics & Policy
August 11, 2014
A Creepy Texas Story
Wendy Davis's first TV ad of the gubernatorial campaign is a fairly dark one
Politics & Policy
August 6, 2014
What Governor’s Race?
With three months to go until the general election, there isn't much reason to talk about the governor's race. It's over.
Politics & Policy
July 8, 2014
Asleep at the Switch
Wendy Davis is asleep at the switch again. The Obama administration has opened a new front on the battle over Medicaid expansion. By 2016, says the White House, states that have adopted expansion will have saved $4.3 billion. In addition, expansion states would have experienced 3.3 million annual physicians’ visits,
Politics & Policy
July 3, 2014
A Tale of Two Sisters
In highlighting their bond, Wendy Davis and Leticia Van de Putte are also calling out their Republican counterparts.
Politics & Policy
July 2, 2014
“Honey, Let’s Go Look for Dangerous Chemicals Tonight”
Wendy Davis wins a round over Greg Abbott.
Politics & Policy
June 26, 2014
A Year Later
A year after the filibuster that made her famous, Wendy Davis was defiant--but measured
Politics & Policy
June 20, 2014
Making the Pitch
Greg Abbott reaches out to Hispanic voters, at a moment when other Republicans are struggling to do so.
Politics & Policy
June 11, 2014
The Shakeup in the Wendy Davis Campaign
The Democratic nominee will have the money. Will she have the talent and the staff?
Politics & Policy
April 7, 2014
The Pre-K Wars
UPDATE: This post has been edited to correct errors related to the candidates’ position on pre-K and public education. I regret the error.Why does pre-K matter? The answer is that professional educators wouldn’t be so gung-ho about pre-kindergarten instruction unless they saw the huge value – both in terms of