San Antonio-area Democrats Wendy Davis and Gina Ortiz Jones are among 27 Texas candidates endorsed by former President Barack Obama ahead of November 3 election. Obama’s announcement was released on August 3.
Obama endorsed a total of 118 candidates in 17 states, including five Democratic Senate challengers and more than four dozen state legislative candidates.
“I’m proud to endorse this diverse and hopeful collection of thoughtful, empathetic, and highly qualified Democrats. Together, these candidates will help us redeem our country’s promise by sticking up for working class people, restoring fairness and opportunity to our system, and fighting for the good of all Americans — not just those at the top,” Obama wrote in his announcement.
Davis is running for Texas’s 21st congressional district, which includes a part of northeast San Antonio. Davis represented District 10 in the Texas Senate from 2009 to 2015. In June of 2013, she conducted a 13-hour filibuster against a state senate bill which would have made the state’s abortion laws more restrictive. In 2014, she ran unsuccessfully for governor of Texas against Republican Greg Abbott.
Wendy Davis (Courtesy photo via Davis campaign)
Davis’ leading opponent in the November race is Republican incumbent Rep. Chip Roy. Others running for the seat are Thomas Wakely of the Green Party and Arthur DiBianca of the Libertarian Party.
After the announcement of the endorsement, Davis posted on Twitter, “I am honored and humbled to be among the list of Democrats endorsed by former President Barack Obama! This election is too important to sit out — and I’ll need your support to win in November.”
Obama’s endorsement of Jones comes on the heels of the endorsement she received from former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg on May 13.
The Texas 23rd congressional district encompasses parts of western San Antonio and stretches across the southwestern portion of Texas all the way to El Paso.
Jones is a native of San Antonio, an Air Force veteran, a former member of the National Intelligence community, and an out lesbian. In 2018, she challenged Republican Rep. Will Hurd for 23rd Congressional District seat but lost the race by less than 1,000 votes. In 2019, she announced she would once again run for the seat.
Gina Ortiz Jones (Courtesy photo)
Jones’ challengers in the race include Beto Villela of the Libertarian Party and Steven Sanders, an independent. The Republican candidate in the race has yet to be determined pending a recount. It will be either Tony Gonzales or Raul Reyes, Jr.
“I’m so honored to be endorsed by President Barack Obama!,” Jones wrote on Twitter. “There is so much at stake in our fight for quality, affordable health care, good jobs, and an economy that works for everyone. Help share the good news and join our campaign to flip #TX23!”
Following is the full list of Obama’s Texas endorsements:
Sima Ladjevardian, U.S. House, Congressional District 2
Lizzie Fletcher, U.S. House, Congressional District 7
Adrienne Bell, U.S. House, Congressional District 14
Wendy Davis, U.S. House, Congressional District 21
Sri Preston Kulkarni, U.S. House, Congressional District 22
Gina Ortiz Jones, U.S. House, Congressional District 23
Candace Valenzuela, U.S. House, Congressional District 24
Colin Allred, U.S. House, Congressional District 32
Erin Zwiener, State House, District 45
James Talarico, State House, District 52
Keke Williams, State House, District 54
Angela Brewer, State House, District 64
Sharon Hirsch, State House, District 66
Jeff Whitfield, State House, District 92
Joe Drago, State House, District 96
Elizabeth Beck, State House, District 97
Jessica González, State House, District 104
Terry Meza, State House, District 105
Joanna Cattanach, State House, District 108
Brandy Chambers, State House, District 112
Rhetta Andrews Bowers, State House, District 113
Celina Montoya, State House, District 121
Natali Hurtado, State House, District 126
Gina Calanni, State House, District 132
Ann Johnson, State House, District 134
Jon Rosenthal, State House, District 135
Akilah Bacy, State House, District 138
