New group aims to promote GOP among Texas women

A new group is pushing to get Republican Party support among Texas women, an organization born out of a reaction to the gubernatorial campaign of Fort Worth Democrat state Sen. Wendy Davis.

The RedState Women PAC (RSW) launched Wednesday, and the group plans to “highlight the personal stories and experiences of women while also communicating the important role that Republican women play in the success of the Lone Star State,” a release states.

The group may tackle topics including education, health care and the economy.

“RSW represents a variety of life experiences and reflects the Texas spirit of strength and independence,” RedState Women Executive Director Cari Christman said. “From entrepreneurs to CEO moms who manage households, Texas’ women are influential to our state’s business success, social environment, and political arena. Clearly, the core principles of the Republican Party resonate with women in every part of our state. It’s our goal to reach women where they are, connect with them on a personal level and provide meaningful information they can use.”

Davis’ campaign responded with a reference to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, having campaigned with controversial rocker Ted Nugent. Nugent. said in a TV show that he had been in a relationship with an underage girl. Davis’ campaign also referred to its own accusations that Abbott has been against equal pay for women.

“After Greg Abbott alienated women voters by campaigning with an admitted sexual predator and taking a 62% pay raise while fighting against equal pay for women, it’s no wonder DC Republicans are hitting the panic button in Texas,” Davis campaign communications director Zac Petkanas said in a statement.

The organization sent out a video of Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick talking about her life growing up and campaigning as a single mom.
“In my case my daughter was born during my campaign and so whereas my opponents were spending the night on the road I was coming home from Dallas at 11 o’clock at night because I had to be home the next morning for my child before I started again,” Craddick said.

She also mentions being the second-youngest office holder in the state after U.S. Sen Ted Cruz, and the youngest Republican woman elected.

Craddick said men have less ego than women, and that women want to go in and solve a problem “and we don’t care who takes credit for it.”

There are about a dozen Republican women in the Texas House with more than 90 Republican representatives. The Texas Senate has 19 Republicans and three Republican women.

Texas Democrats have frequently attacked the Republican Party as waging a “war on women,” and the top two Democratic candidates for state government are women: Davis running for governor, and San Antonio state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte running for lieutenant governor.

Christman said she began dialogue about the idea of the group after Davis began her campaign.

“You began to hear [Texas women] say, ‘She does not speak for me,’” Christman said.

In the future, the PAC may support candidates financially as well, she said.
As to the controversial abortion regulation and restriction law that is effective but still before the courts, Christman said her group supports the statute.
“We are a prolife organization, so we support HB 2 and the measures,” Christman said. “We believe that it raised the stand of medical care for women.”