Dave Montgomery Austin Correspondent
AUSTIN – State Sen. Wendy Davis, who is considering running for governor, says she is delaying a decision on her political plans while her father recovers from complications following major surgery. The Fort Worth Democrat, who rose to political stardom after filibustering a Republican-backed abortion bill, is exploring whether to run for governor or seek re-election to her Tarrant County senatorial district. She earlier planned to announce a decision shortly after Labor Day, which falls on Monday.
But in a statement from her office on Wednesday, Davis said that her father’s illness has delayed those plans. Her father, Jerry Russell, founder of Stage West in Fort Worth, has been in Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth following complications from abdominal surgery.
“We remain hopeful that the improvements we’ve seen in his health will continue,” Davis said. ” As a result, I will not be making any official announcement related to my future plans for public office so that I can focus on the continued care and recovery of my father. ” Davis said that her father, an actor and director who is well known in North Texas theater circles, has been hospitalized the past two weeks and is “making good but slow progress.” “It’s my hope that he will be able to join me and my family in the next few weeks when I make a public announcement,” Davis said. “I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of prayers and support. We’ve received messages from all over the state and they’ve been so warm and encouraging.”