Wendy Davis (politician)
| Wendy Davis | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the Texas Senate from the 10th district |
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In office January 9, 2009 – January 13, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Kim Brimer |
| Succeeded by | Konni Burton |
| Member of the Fort Worth City Council from the 9th district |
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In office May 1, 1999 – January 8, 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Cathy Hirt |
| Succeeded by | Joel Burns |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Wendy Jean Russell May 16, 1963 West Warwick, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (2006–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Republican (Before 2006) |
| Spouse(s) |
Frank Underwood (m. 1982; div. 1984) Jeff Davis (m. 1987; div. 2005) |
| Children | Amber Dru |
| Alma mater |
Tarrant County College Texas Christian University Harvard University |
| Religion | Episcopalianism |
| Signature |  |
Wendy Russell Davis (born Wendy Jean Russell; May 16, 1963) is an American lawyer and Democratic politician from Fort Worth, Texas. Davis represented District 10 in the Texas Senate from 2009 to 2015. She previously served on the Fort Worth City Council.
On June 25, 2013, Davis held an eleven-hour-long filibuster to block Senate Bill 5, a measure which included more restrictive abortion regulations for Texas. The filibuster played a major role in Senate Democrats' success in delaying passage of the bill beyond the midnight deadline for the end of the legislative session, though it ultimately passed in a second session. The filibuster brought Davis national attention, leading to speculation about a run for governor. She subsequently ran for governor in 2014 but lost to Greg Abbott, 59–38 percent.
Wendy Davis was born Wendy Jean Russell in West Warwick, Rhode Island, the daughter of Virginia "Ginger" (née Stovall) and Jerry Russell. Her family moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 1973, when she was 11 years old. At the time, Jerry worked at National Cash Register. When Wendy was 13, her parents divorced. Her father quit his job to pursue work in community theater, leading his child support payments to dry up. Her mother, who had a ninth grade education, supported her four children by working menial jobs, including one at a Braum's ice cream shop.
At 14 years of age, Wendy was selling newspaper subscriptions for The Fort Worth Star-Telegram and working at an Orange Julius stand. When she was 17 and still in high school, she moved in with her boyfriend, construction worker Frank Underwood. In 1981, she graduated from Richland High School as a member of the National Honor Society. She married Underwood on January 24, 1982, and gave birth to her first daughter, Amber, later that year. When Wendy was 19, she and Underwood separated, and she continued to live in their mobile home with Amber. After several months, she moved in with her mother, and then eventually began living in her own apartment. Wendy filed for divorce from Underwood in December 1983, and it became official on May 22, 1984, when she was 21. She was given custody of Amber, with Underwood paying child support.
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