That is now changing. State Senator Wendy Davis has Democrats energized again in the state -- and for the first time in a long time, they are starting to believe they can win. And it's not just in Texas that the view is taking hold. National Democrats are beginning to believe also.
When Wendy Davis stood up on the floor of the Texas Senate for nearly 13 hours to block a radical anti-choice bill, I wanted to give her a Texas-sized high-five.
The next day I called Wendy to let her know that the whole country was cheering her on. I told her to keep fighting for all of us - and we would keep fighting for her.
Six months later, our champion Wendy is running for governor of Texas. She's not afraid of a tough fight, and neither are we.
The GOP knows that Wendy Davis is special, and they are scared that her victory in 2014 could turn the tide against Republican victories in Texas. National Republicans have already dumped an astonishing $21 million into her opponent's campaign war chest.
I know it sounds tough to overcome odds like that. But I want you to remember something: When I decided to run for the Senate, Scott Brown already had a $10 million in the bank, and Wall Street was ready to spend bazillions more to help him. Lots of people said we couldn't win.
But we out raised him, we out-worked him, and last November we won thanks to your incredible grassroots support.
Wendy has fought the failed leadership in Texas time and time again, no matter what the critics and skeptics say. That's what she'll keep doing throughout her campaign, and that's what she'll do as governor of Texas.
You may not know this, but I have a special place in my heart for Texas. I'm a University of Houston graduate, and I spent nearly ten years teaching first at UH and then at UT-Austin. We still have lots of family around the state – so I'm doing some very personal campaigning for Wendy.
The Texans I know want the same thing that all of us want: a fair shot and a level playing field to succeed.
That's what Wendy Davis is going to fight for each and every day as governor of Texas. Don't wait – make a contribution to her campaign right now.
Elizabeth
Senator Warren is serving her first term in the United States Senate, but her willingness to fight for ordinary Americans and take on Wall Street has made her very popular, and she is quickly becoming a leader of the national Democratic Party. This support from Senator Warren has to give Texas Democrats a boost.