# Wendy Davis for Governor of Texas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 5, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685 "2013-07-05T02:59:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/201 "2014-02-19T20:34:02Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Wendy Davis is a pretty hard right candidate. She’s even said now that she supports restrictions on abortion after 20 weeks. To her credit, she has a reasonably well thought out and nuanced stance on abortion rights and restrictions. Unfortunately for her, well thought out and nuanced positions are incompatible with the Republican and Democratic parties. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/202 "2014-02-19T21:00:13Z")
I’m encouraged that Wendy has some momentum behind her, but I’m not impressed with her as a candidate. She comes across as a generic politician following the standard script. “My opponent did something awful, so support me.” “Take back Texas”. “Only I care about your issues”, etc. However, I’ll vote for any non-Republican at this point. I’m just glad this time it’s not a totally forgettable candidate I’ll be throwing away my vote on. ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/203 "2014-02-19T21:31:22Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > She isn’t “hard right” for Texas. Farther to the right than I would prefer, but more liberal than any of the Republican hopefuls playing “More Conservative Than Thou” on political ads this primary season… Dear Og there are some truly cringeworthy ads airing right now. “Vote for me! I’m going to mention God six times in 30 seconds, I think abortions should be illegal, let’s draw and quarter the illegals, OBAMACARE, hey look at my gun collection! AND my five cute little kids eating dinner with little crucifixes around their necks! And… I drive a pickup! How can you NOT vote for me?” Where are they finding these guys? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/204 "2014-02-19T22:19:33Z")
> [@Sarabellum1976](#): > > Dear Og there are some truly cringeworthy ads airing right now. “Vote for me! I’m going to mention God six times in 30 seconds, I think abortions should be illegal, let’s draw and quarter the illegals, OBAMACARE, hey look at my gun collection! AND my five cute little kids eating dinner with little crucifixes around their necks! And… I drive a pickup! How can you NOT vote for me?” > > Where are they finding these guys? From what I’ve heard of Texas, you could find them in any bar. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/205 "2014-02-19T22:20:30Z")
> [@Sarabellum1976](#): > > …AND my five cute little kids eating dinner with little crucifixes around their necks!.. Sounds kinda Catholic to me! Let me hear how you pronounce “Jesus”. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/206 "2014-03-05T22:01:46Z")
[She’s got the nomination.](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/texas-democrats-nominate-wendy-davis-governor-22777051) ---
**Author:** ![Haunted\_Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/94ad74/32.png) [@Haunted\_Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted_Pasta)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/207 "2014-03-05T22:57:05Z")
[The Austin newspaper’s take on it](http://www.statesman.com/weblogs/first-reading/2014/mar/05/primary-tea-party-holds-sway-demswendy-davis-disar/) is pretty much that the primary was bad news for Wendy Davis and Democrats in general and good news for the Tea Party in Texas. As BG’s linked article noted, there was only one other Democratic candidate in the primary running against Davis. And in the Democratic stronghold of south Texas, he beat her. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/208 "2014-03-05T23:46:53Z")
> [@Haunted\_Pasta](#): > > [The Austin newspaper’s take on it](http://www.statesman.com/weblogs/first-reading/2014/mar/05/primary-tea-party-holds-sway-demswendy-davis-disar/) is pretty much that the primary was bad news for Wendy Davis and Democrats in general and good news for the Tea Party in Texas. As BG’s linked article noted, there was only one other Democratic candidate in the primary running against Davis. And in the Democratic stronghold of south Texas, he beat her. > [@](#): > > that Wendy Davis, whose campaign bragged about how much money they had raised, finished with less than 80 percent of the primary vote - the other 20 percent going to Ray Madrigal of Corpus Christi, who didn’t raise or spend a cent on the campaign, except perhaps to gas up his car to drive to Dallas for an editorial board meeting with the Morning News, and who actually beat Davis in some South Texas counties that are crucial to Democratic success, all seemingly on the strength of his Hispanic surname. Hm. Well, she could take a lesson and pick a Latino running mate for Lt. Gov. – or does she get to pick? How does it work in Texas? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/209 "2014-03-05T23:49:43Z")
Any Democrat running for statewide office in Texas faces a daunting challenge. Odds are not good, but that isn’t the point. Davis’ stunt made her name, and that may be good enough for now, start building the machinery, the infrastructure. Texas Dems have been the underdogs for so long, its gonna take some doing to build up, and the Republicans have entrenched themselves into the wood work. They will use every trick in the book, because they must not only beat her, they must totally clobber her, they must stifle that hope that is a-borning. Probably, they will win. Even next time. But change is coming to Texas, and you can’t sweep back the tide forever. This is a good step forward. There are good Hispanic candidates to be groomed, maybe better in the long run not to win and bring one of them along for next time. Still going to take a lot of hard work and there will be disappointments galore. If the election comes off totally free of polling place and vote count shenanigans, I’ll eat a cow pie burrito. So, most likely not this time, the Republican machine in Texas is awesome. But the tide is rising. _Vencer_fuckin’_remos_! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/210 "2014-03-05T23:55:01Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > …How does it work in Texas? Things don’t\* work\* in Texas, things _happen_ in Texas. Baja Oklahoma. ---
**Author:** ![Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambrosio_Spinola)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/211 "2014-03-06T00:26:36Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Hm. Well, she could take a lesson and pick a Latino running mate for Lt. Gov. – or does she get to pick? How does it work in Texas? The Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor is Leticia Van de Putte, who is Hispanic, but the two elections are distinct. Van de Putte ran unopposed in her contest. The Republican primary for the position has been a real freak show, with a runoff in May between the guy who currently holds the position and state Senator Dan Patrick. Van de Putte would probably rather campaign against Patrick, but I for one would rather have Dewhurst keep his job if it came down to it, so it’s one of those “careful what you wish for” things. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/212 "2014-03-06T02:35:19Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Hm. Well, she could take a lesson and pick a Latino running mate for Lt. Gov. – or does she get to pick? How does it work in Texas? I believe that in Texas the lieutenant governor is elected entirely separately from the governor. There have been recent examples of the government and the lieutenant governor being from different parties. Also, it is said that the lieutenant governor is actually more powerful than the governor. ---
**Author:** ![Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambrosio_Spinola)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/213 "2014-03-06T03:15:17Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I believe that in Texas the lieutenant governor is elected entirely separately from the governor. There have been recent examples of the government and the lieutenant governor being from different parties. Also, it is said that the lieutenant governor is actually more powerful than the governor. Correct on all counts, although Rick Perry was sort of an exception because he’s been Governor so long. The Lieutenant Governor is so powerful because of the traditional powers delegated to the position by the Texas Senate. If Dan Patrick is elected to the position, there has been some talk that the Senate might not give him all the traditional Lt. Gov powers, but talk is cheap. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/214 "2014-03-06T05:47:15Z")
Compared to many other states where the Lt. Gov. is much like the vice president and not much good for anything other than taking over if the Governor dies, or is injured severely or just up and leaves the country or whatever. That being said, the Governor of Texas still has a lot of power. It’s fair to say that the Lt. Gov of Texas is very powerful, but it’s debatable to say he’s “more” powerful than the Gov. They just have different powers, really. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/215 "2014-03-06T12:44:46Z")
Well, the people whom I’ve heard say that the lieutenant governor is more powerful than the governor also say that Texas’s governor’s powers are relatively weaker than other state governors (“weakest state governor among the 50 states,” or some such description). I have done no study of the question myself. I’m not even sure how they are measuring “power.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/216 "2014-03-06T15:38:26Z")
Here’s more on the job: [Governor of Texas - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_of_texas) ---
**Author:** ![Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambrosio_Spinola)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/217 "2014-03-06T16:28:04Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Well, the people whom I’ve heard say that the lieutenant governor is more powerful than the governor also say that Texas’s governor’s powers are relatively weaker than other state governors (“weakest state governor among the 50 states,” or some such description). I have done no study of the question myself. I’m not even sure how they are measuring “power.” I agree that it’s hard to quantify “power” in general. But in Texas, many of the things that other states’ governors can do are split from the office into the province of various other boards and committees. Take pardons, for instance. The Texas Governor can’t just pardon someone like some other executives can. Instead it requires a written recommendation from the Board of Pardons and Paroles before the Governor can do that. However, one of the powers of the Governor is that he or she gets to _appoint_ people to serve on these boards. By virtue of serving so long, Perry has had the opportunity to fill them up entirely with loyalists, so he can generally get what he wants even if he doesn’t unilaterally have the ability to do it. His direct control over the Legislature is pretty shaky, though, and his vetoes of bills can be overridden. The Lieutenant Governor has more or less complete control over the Texas Senate, including the ability to appoint committee chairs, assign bills to committees, and interpret the parliamentary rules. The Lt Gov can also cast votes and even act as a regular member of the Senate in some circumstances. So the position is considered so powerful since it has the ability to outright stop any bill if the Lt Governor doesn’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/218 "2014-03-06T18:10:05Z")
The _Houston Chronicle_ (from Dan Patrick’s home town) [had this to say](http://www.chron.com/opinion/recommendations/article/For-Texas-Lt-Governor-5194700.php) before the primary: > [@](#): > > Republican voters assessing the four lieutenant governor candidates in this spring’s primary should keep in mind a phenomenon we find curious, perhaps unprecedented. Republican officeholders during interviews with the Chronicle editorial board in recent weeks have expressed very firm views about the lieutenant governor’s race, and they’ve expressed those views with a simple, unequivocal statement: Anybody but Patrick. > > Frankly, we’ve been surprised by their comments. We’re well aware that state Sen. Dan Patrick is outspoken and controversial, but we were unaware of the depth of antipathy among his legislative peers and their grave concerns about his candidacy. > > The consensus seems to be that Patrick, elected in 2006, lacks the temperament to lead the Senate, which is the lieutenant governor’s chief responsibility. The former shock-jock sportscaster and current radio executive and talk-show host doesn’t play well with others, so to speak, whether Democrat or Republican. He’s perceived to be guided by ambition above all else (and that’s saying something when even fellow politicians are taken aback). Mind you, those are Texas Republicans who don’t want him as Lite Gov. From [the usual suspects](http://www.texasobserver.org/ascendancy-dan-patrick/) at the _Texas Observer_… > [@](#): > > …A lot of moderate Republicans—not that there are many left in office after last night’s drubbing—are uncomfortable with Patrick. They think he goes too far. Patrick made sure to poke those people in the eyes last night, saying he wouldn’t back down or lower his profile. “I will be the greatest ally Greg Abbott has ever had on the campaign trail,” he said. > > That might cheer some Democrats, who think that a Patrick victory would make the lieutenant governor race competitive for state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte—or even that his presence as a relentless ideologue in a statewide office will shift the terrain their way. But for those hoping for a Patrick victory, the best advice, after last night, is be careful what you wish for. A man who thinks he has God on his side is dangerous.’,'The Ascendancy of Dan Patrick’,'Dan Patrick’s success last night was a surprise to many—but not to him or his supporters, who saw it as part of God’s great majesty. At the very least, I’m looking forward to more vomit-inducing TV spots from Patrick. All this could easily be posted in the thread about “Demonizing Conservatives.” He’s the chief poster boy for Conservatism in Texas now… ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/219 "2014-03-06T20:14:27Z")
I don’t expect many tears from the typical SDMB poster, but I can’t help feeling a LITTLE sorry for David Dewhurst, who can’t seem to catch a break lately. In most states, he’d be regarded as a solid, mainstream conservatve Republican, but in the 2012 Senate race and now the 2014 Lieutenant Governor’s race, he (and pretty much ONLY he) has been beaten by Tea Party faves painting him as a liberal. Incidentally, I can’t help wondering if SOME voters heard that “sportcaster Dan Patrick” was wunning and thought it was Keith Olbermann’s old ESPN co-host. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/220 "2014-03-06T20:20:44Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I don’t expect many tears from the typical SDMB poster, but I can’t help feeling a LITTLE sorry for David Dewhurst, who can’t seem to catch a break lately. In most states, he’d be regarded as a solid, mainstream conservatve Republican, but in the 2012 Senate race and now the 2014 Lieutenant Governor’s race, he (and pretty much ONLY he) has been beaten by Tea Party faves painting him as a liberal. Yeah, not really. After the quasi-legal shenanigans during the Davis filibuster, I have little sympathy for him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685.md?page=12)