The Democratic watch party at the Fort Worth Hilton grew steadily busier and more celebratory as Tarrant County Dems got their man, their man and, finally, their woman on Tuesday night.
Not to make light of other races, but local party members were particularly thrilled with the victory by Marc Veasey that will send him to the U.S. House, the re-election of President Barack Obama and the triumph of state Sen. Wendy Davis in a newly redrawn district after a long, messy campaign.
After Davis had addressed her cheering supporters,
concluding her remarks by telling them that "I will never give up on Texas, and I will never give up on you," she took a few minutes to meet with reporters.
Here's what she had to say:
"It was a very tight race. My congratulations to my opponent, Dr. Shelton, for the race that he ran. He obviously earned the respect of a lot of people in the community. I'm just very pleased that tonight I was given the opportunity to serve Senate District 10 once again.
"I hope the message that is sent is that we're fighting a fight that's worth fighting. That we're fighting one that resonates with people in our community, and it rises above everything else. It rises above partisanship, it rises above special interests, and it says that 'We the People' want to be the voices that are heard at the Texas Capitol and we are going to continue to elect someone who is willing to stand up and take on tough fights on our behalf.
"The things that we have been talking about I think are the things that Texans all over the state are concerned about. They want to make sure that their children have a good education and that they have an opportunity to continue to the economic vibrancy of the state of Texas. They want to make sure that healthcare for women is respected and restored. They want to make sure that their voices count as much as those that are well paid and well heeled in the walls of the Capitol. And I think our win tonight demonstrates that when you're willing to take on tough fights, the people in your community will reward you by restoring their trust and faith in you and returning you to office. And I hope that encourages others who are in office in the Texas Capitol to understand that it's a successful formula -- that taking care of the people who elect you to serve them and being true and honest to the mission that they ask you to serve is one that works.
"I was, of course, concerned when the early vote came in and we were a little bit behind from that and obviously didn't know what Election Day would bring, but I'm proud to say that many people came together today and restored our opportunity to return to Senate District 10."
-Patrick M. Walker