Wendy Davis delays announcement on plans

But The Texas Tribune reported Wednesday that Davis had postponed the announcement in order to tend to her father, Jerry Russell, who is in critical condition due to complications from abdominal surgery.

“I had hoped to make public my decision about that next week, but with everything that’s going on with my dad, I won’t be doing that,” she said to the Tribune. “It’s likely it will be late September before I do.”

Despite the delay, Texas Democrats are already making plans for Davis’s potential gubernatorial run in 2014.

Democratic operatives are combing the state to find a candidate to run on the ticket with Davis.

State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, (D) is at the top of the hypothetical short list. Van de Putte said she has been approached about running for lieutenant governor by some business leaders and Democrats, The Dallas Morning News reported, but added that she would not make a decision until Davis’s announcement.

“I’m not ruling it out, but right now I’m holding off on considering it until Wendy decides what she’s going to do,” Van de Putte said. “I’ll wait until then to consider how I can make the state more competitive.”