Gov. Peter Shumlin said he phoned Wendy Davis, a state senator from Texas who led a 10-hour filibuster against a bill that would have limited abortions, strictly to congratulate her for her courage in standing up for reproductive rights.
Politico reported Friday that Shumlin, in his capacity as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, called Davis after she successfully derailed the bill. The DGA recruits candidates for gubernatorial races so the news added fodder to the speculation about whether Davis will run for governor in 2014.
At a news conference Monday, Shumlin said the conversation did not touch on the topic of a 2014 run. He said he called her simply to thank her for “standing up to these Tea Party zealots who want to dictate health care policy for American women.”
The Politico story mentions that Davis has expressed interest in running for statewide office. Shumlin said he didn’t broach the subject on the phone, but he did say, “I think Wendy Davis has a bright future in Texas, and God knows Texas needs Wendy Davis.”
Asked how much emphasis the DGA will put on Texas in 2014, Shumlin responded, “It’s too early to say.”
Hilary Niles contributed to this story.
