Texas State Senator Wendy Davis Expected To Announce Governor Bid Today

Came to national prominence after filibustering abortion legislation

(Reuters) - Wendy Davis, the Texas state senator who staged a filibuster against sweeping abortion restrictions, is expected to announce plans to run for governor on Thursday, ending months of speculation.

The 50-year-old Democrat gained national attention when she talked for nearly 11 hours on the Texas Senate floor in June to temporarily block new restrictions on abortion.

Davis, a second-term state senator, saw her national profile skyrocket when her filibuster drew thousands of demonstrators to the state Capitol and played out in livestreams on websites across the United States.