Update: Senator Davis, speaking at the National Press Club in D.C. today (8/5/13), stated that she will either run for her senate seat or for governor. She has ruled out lieutenant governor or any other race. According to Matt Angle, “a senior strategist for the Davis campaign,” she’ll decide before Labor Day. Monday, September 2nd.
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Senator Wendy Davis must run for re-election in 2014 if she wishes to keep her senate seat. If, instead, she decides to run for statewide office, either governor or lieutenant governor, that race would also take place in 2014.
It is my fervent hope that she decides to run for governor. She said, over the weekend in San Antonio:
“I’m working very hard in making that decision right now. Obviously, it will be an incredible honor to represent the state of Texas in office and I hope in just a few short weeks, to be able to deliver to the people a message, I’m hoping they’d love to hear.”
Everybody’s got an opinion on what she should do, but very few have an actual vote.
Here are a few blog posts and articles that summarize the various arguments about what she should, should not, might, or might not do.
Why Wendy Davis Needs to Run for Governor in 2014
Katherine Haenschen, Burnt Orange Report
I can give no summary better than the post title.
Wendy Davis for Lieutenant Governor? No.
Harold Cook, Letters from Texas
Again, the title gives it away.
Wendy Davis Hits D.C. Fundraising Trail
Austin American Statesman via Hispanic Business.Com
How much money she’d need to raise, and a quick blip about the Kinky Friedman factor.
[Confidential to Kinky: if you get in the way, you do not even want to know where Texas women will put your biscuits and your buns.]
What the Future May Hold for Wendy Davis
Charles Kuffner, Off the Kuff
Some good links, but also, of course, Kuff’s trademark analysis of election data.
You Don’t Raise an Army If You’re Not Going Into Battle
Jason Stanford, Behind Frenemy Lines
“No one in the history of this country has ever run for office because it was right for his or her family, but …”
I’m also one for reading tea leaves on Twitter. Last night, two state senators tweeted links to the BOR post:
I don’t know whether either of them has an inside scoop, but I also know that she’ll need strong support from her colleagues if she opts to run, so am glad to see it.
Speaking of Twitter, one x factor in all of this how to convert the energy of this summer’s orange tide into increased voter turnout. Tweets get the same number of votes as yard signs. While I don’t think the orange tide can do it alone, I do believe that it would be a major element in a successful campaign, both from a fundraising and a turn-out perspective.
Have you seen other good arguments or articles, pro or con? Do you think the recent publicity over sexism in the legislature will factor into the 2014 elections? Let me know so I can add them to the list.
nonsequiteuse 
It always comes down to money. If you ain’t got the money, honey, you’re wasting your time.
You are absolutely on point that increased voter turnout is necessary, both for a governor’s race and to make any dent in the stranglehold of the Republican Party.
Social media is indeed a vital component, especially to get out younger voters, who need to get their asses in the voting booth anyway. C’mon, people.
Also, true grassroots, pounding the pavement, is really important too, especially for those voters who feel disenfranchised for any number of reasons.
Certainly, it will have to be an exceptionally well-run campaign that engages multiple constituencies across multiple platforms while raising a dizzying amount of money from across the state & outside, too. But, in Texas, you don’t get it done if you don’t do it full throttle, all-out, and I think she can do it.