The Texas state senator whose filibuster of an abortion bill became a national phenomenon has a long history of persisting against tough odds . Wendy Davis -- the 50-year-old Democrat who stood and spoke for 13 hours Tuesday at the Texas Capitol -- went from being a teen mom to graduating from Harvard Law School . She began working after school at age 14 to help support her single mother and three siblings , according to her campaign website . `` By 19 , Wendy was a single mother herself , working two jobs to make ends meet in hopes of creating a better life for her young daughter . '' She pursued community college , then transferred to Texas Christian University . With the help of scholarships and loans , she graduated first in her class . She went on to graduate with honors from Harvard Law at the age of 33 . She also had a second daughter . While standing during the filibuster , Davis wore pink running shoes . It was unclear whether the color was chosen because anti-abortion Republican feminists have been referred to as `` pink elephants . '' In 2010 , former Alaska Gov . Sarah Palin spoke of a `` stampede of pink elephants , '' promising a movement of GOP women against abortion . Davis entered public life in 2008 , defeating a longtime Republican incumbent to enter the Texas Senate . Her district covers parts of Fort Worth and its suburbs . This week 's was not her first filibuster . Filibuster rivets online . She previously took on Gov . Rick Perry and the Republican majority , `` staging a filibuster and forcing a special session in her attempt to stop $ 5 billion in crippling cuts to Texas public schools , '' her website says . When she was running for the state Senate last fall , a Fort Worth Star-Telegram editorial described her as `` a successful attorney with a powerful personal narrative , '' but it pointed out she has legal clients that are public entities , such as Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and the North Texas Tollway Authority . Davis pledged to abstain on voting on some legislation that at least one client -- the tollway authority -- was expected to advance . The newspaper endorsed her candidacy last fall , calling her `` a tough fighter , a conscientious public servant and an able leader . '' Her politics , however , apparently inspired some critics to violence . Last year , firebombs were thrown at Davis ' office . She was not present at the time , and no one was injured . `` Thank you all for your expressions of support and concern , '' Davis said on Twitter at the time . `` My team and I are concentrating on moving forward and staying focused . '' With tens of thousands of new followers Wednesday as a result of her filibuster , Davis tweeted , `` Thanks to the powerful voices of thousands of Texans , # SB5 is dead . An incredible victory for Texas women and those who love them . ''
Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis wore pink running shoes during filibuster . She 's described as `` successful attorney '' whose clients include public entities . She was a teen mom who pursued education and attended Harvard Law School . Her office was firebombed last year .