In reversal, Abbott backs Davis in bid for re-election
Less than two years after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott spent over $223,000 in a failed effort to defeat state Rep. Sarah Davis in a GOP primary, the Republican governor is now supporting her re-election.
On Tuesday, after no Republicans filed to challenge Davis as she seeks re-election next year, Abbott released a statement to the media declaring he is endorsing Davis this time.
“She is an effective leader for improving flood control and disaster preparedness,” Abbott said. “Representative Sarah Davis has proven her ability to deliver results that matter for her district and should be re-elected to the Texas House."
That is a striking divergence from his comments almost two years ago when he said Davis was “absolutely hostile” to his policies and should quit the Republican Party to run as a Democrat. Abbott endorsed Davis’s primary opponent, Susanna Dokupil, contributed over $223,000 to her campaign and appeared in ads for her. It didn’t work.
Davis defeated Dokupil by 12 percentage points in the primary and in November 2018 defeated Democrat Allison Lami Sawyer by 6 percentage points to win her fifth two-year term representing the 134th District, which includes West University Place, Bellaire and Southside Place.
Davis responded at the time that it was a “sad and pathetic failure of leadership” for Abbott to be working against fellow Republicans.
Davis filed for re-election last month.
“I am grateful for my time spent serving House District 134 and hope to continue to provide a voice for reasonable and responsible governing,” Davis said after filing.
At least three Democrats have filed to run against Davis in 2020. Educator Lanny Bose, attorney Ann Johnson and attorney Ruby Powers are all listed by the Texas Secretary of State as having qualified to run in a March 3 primary to see who will take on Davis.
Davis’s seat is expected to be one of the most heavily targeted by Democrats in 2020 as they seek to flip 9 Texas House seats held by Republicans. While Davis won her re-election, Democrats point to 2018 — when Democrat Beto O’Rourke won the majority in her district — as evidence that a
Democrat could prevail in 2020.
Abbott acknowledged in his endorsement statement on Tuesday that he and Davis have had their differences.
“State Representative Sarah Davis advocates for the needs and priorities of her constituents, and while we haven’t always seen eye to eye, we share the same commitment to bring people together to solve problems and improve the lives of all Texans,” Abbott said on Tuesday.
Abbott has also tried to patch things up with another fellow Republican he tried to defeat two years ago. In August announced he was endorsing Rep. Lyle Larson, a San Antonio Republican, for re-election. Abbott spent over $100,000 trying to defeat Larson in last year’s GOP primary.