Names in the News: Texas State Senator Wendy Davis

Texas State Senator Wendy Davis recently vaulted herself into the national debate regarding reproductive rights with her filibuster?of SB 5,?a bill before the Texas Legislature that would put substantial limits on the operations of abortion clinics. But her preeminence among Texas pro-choice legislators began long before she laced her now-iconic pink sneakers?and stepped out onto the Senate floor.

Davis, a second-term Democrat who represents Texas Senate District?10, based around Fort Worth, has previously won recognition for her efforts from groups such as the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, Texas Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Girls, Inc.? In addition, her fundraising totals highlight the degree to which Senator Davis was a favorite of pro-choice and women?s issue groups long before the controversy over SB 5, as her totals from those groups tower over the sums other candidates have raised.

Senator Davis received substantial support from pro-choice and women?s issue groups during her 2008 campaign and during her 2012 reelection. In 2008, Davis received $149,250 in campaign contributions from pro-choice and women?s issue groups, most notably $148,000 from Annie?s List, a group dedicated to electing progressive women to state office in Texas.?For her 2012 reelection campaign, Davis raised $434,599 from pro-choice and women?s issue groups, including $423,849 from Annie?s List and $10,000 from Emily?s List,?a national group focused on electing pro-choice women to office. In total, Davis has raised $583,849 from pro-choice and women?s issue groups, making such ideological groups her second largest source of campaign contributions.

TABLE 1: Pro Choice and Women?s Issue Group Contributions to Wendy Davis

Contributor	2008 Contributions	2012 Contributions	Total Contributions
Annie?s List	$148,000	$423,849	$571,849
Emily?s List	$1,000	$10,000	$11,000
Merfish, Sherry*	$250	$750	$1,000
TOTAL	$149,250	$434,599	$583,849

Davis? longstanding popularity with these groups is even clearer when her fundraising is viewed in context of the total giving of those groups. In 2008, one-fourth of the $574,974?total given by pro-choice and women?s groups to candidates in Texas went to Davis. In comparison, the next largest recipient received only $86,284, a gulf of more than $60,000. In 2012, Davis? close ties with these groups was clearer: the $434,599 she raised represented 42 percent of the total contributed in Texas by such groups ($1,040,282) and was four times larger than the sum raised by the second largest recipient.

These figures underscore two points. First, Senator Davis has had a close relationship with pro-choice and women?s issue groups long before her filibuster made that relationship national news. Second, pro-choice and women?s issue groups have been making substantial investments in candidates in recent Texas elections. As the table below illustrates, these groups have steadily increased their contributions over the course of the last four state elections. In contrast, Christian?conservative and pro-life organizations have consistently tapered out their contributions during the same time period.

TABLE 2: Contributions by Pro-Choice and Women?s Issue Groups versus Pro-Life and Christian Conservative Groups, to Texas State Candidates, 2006-2012

Election Year	Contributions from Pro-Choice and Women?s Issue Groups	Contributions from Pro-Life and Christian Conservative Groups
2006	$268,515	$148,604
2008	$574,932	$46,807
2010	$823,075	$42,148
2012	$1,040,282	$15,503
TOTAL	$2,706,804	$253,062

This report was posted on July 05, 2013 by Zach Holden.
Let us know what you thought! Click here and give us some feedback.

Source: http://www.followthemoney.org/press/ReportView.phtml?r=497

decathlon Honey Boo Boo Child Nathan Adrian London 2012 Synchronized Swimming London 2012 hurdles Taylor Kinney Beach Volleyball Olympics 2012