Wendy Davis campaign manager is replaced

Texas Senator and gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis speaks with the media Thursday June 5, 2014 at Woodlawn Lake Park. Davis spoke about her Republican opponent and issues like equal pay for women. Davis also showed her support for the San Antonio Spurs. less Texas Senator and gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis speaks with the media Thursday June 5, 2014 at Woodlawn Lake Park. Davis spoke about her Republican opponent and issues like equal pay for women. Davis also ... more Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 77 Caption Close Wendy Davis campaign manager is replaced 1 / 77 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN - State Sen. Wendy Davis on Wednesday said Karin Johanson, a Democrat with a national reputation, is being replaced with state Rep. Chris Turner as campaign manager in Davis' race for governor.

Turner, D-Arlington, “has spent nearly 20 years in Texas politics and has fought — and won — tough races in this state,” said Davis, D-Fort Worth.

Davis in a statement said Johanson, after “building one of the most competitive campaign organizations Texas has seen in decades..., has let me know that she believes it's time to hand off the reins of the campaign management for our final push toward Election Day.”

She called Turner “the right partner for the rest of this journey toward our victory on Election Day.”

Turner and Johanson will work together on the transition with staff, volunteers and supporters, Davis said.

Johanson said in a letter that she had suggested to Davis that she reach out to Turner to lead the campaign and said she is “proud of what we have all built in this campaign.”

“Now I'm going to go home and spend some time this summer with my 90-year old father and lose the pounds I gained from eating tacos for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Johanson said. ”But even from the sidelines I will still #StandWithWendy.”

Johanson, who joined the Davis campaign in late October, managed the campaign of U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who became the first openly gay member of the Senate and the first woman in Wisconsin to hold the post.

Johanson also is credited with helping Democrats take over the U.S. House in 2006, when she was executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

The campaign of Attorney General Greg Abbott, Davis' Republican opponent, was quick to highlight the move on Twitter as signifying big problems in Davis' camp. Abbott spokesman Matt Hirsch said in a tweet, “I YouTube'd Titanic song and then this happened. Thank you, Internet. cc: @WendyDavisTexas”

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