Against most odds, Lupe Valdez on Sunday will jump-start her campaign for governor.

Organizers are expecting hundreds of people at her kickoff at 3 p.m. in Oak Cliff, at a former wax paper plant now known as the Tyler Station.

Valdez, who just left her post as Dallas County sheriff, has been excited, even giddy about running for governor.

"I think I'm going to win," she has told me on more than one occasion.

But in order to advance in the March 6 Democratic primary and then go on to beat Gov. Greg Abbott in the general election, Valdez has work to do.

She must build her name recognition outside of Dallas County, raise the resources necessary to compete against Abbott — who already has over $41 million in his campaign fund — and develop an engaging, coherent message for voters.

For Valdez, striking the right message is most important. She has to give Texans a reason to trust her. She needs more than a clarion call to dump Abbott, or by extension, President Donald Trump.

"I hope candidates running for governor will talk to voters about how they are going to increase opportunities for average Texans," said state Rep. Chris Turner, D-Arlington, who leads the Democratic House Caucus.

Turner said Valdez and her main opponent in the Democratic race, Houston businessman Andrew White, should prioritize issues like creating jobs, improving schools, making college affordable and having access to quality health care.

"You contrast the priorities Democrats are focused on with the misplaced priorities of Greg Abbott and other Republicans," Turner said.

Those GOP priorities, Turner said, include the new sanctuary cities law that allows law enforcement officers to check the citizenship status of residents during routine stops, and the failed proposal put forward by leading Texas Republicans to restrict transgender residents from using the restrooms of the sex they identify with.

But don't expect Valdez to delve into meaty issues, where she may differ with Abbott. The former sheriff is expected to spend the bulk of the primary touting her accomplishments as the first Hispanic, gay, female sheriff in Texas history. They include bringing the Dallas County jail into compliance with federal guidelines, restoring deputies' morale and avoiding major scandal or screw-ups.

During interviews after she announced she was running for governor, Valdez said immigration issues were "his issues," and she didn't want to discuss the sanctuary cities law or other areas where she may break with the incumbent.

That's a clear sign that Valdez wants to test her own star power before mixing it up with Abbott on controversial issues. It could also mean that she's not sure pounding Republicans on immigration policy, in a state that they have dominated for more than two decades, is a winning formula.

The problem for Valdez, however, is that she has to fire up her base, which includes mining Hispanic voters believed to be the key to Democratic Party success in future elections.

She will calculate those questions after the primary, where White, the son of former Gov. Mark White, could prove a formidable opponent.

White will have money and organization that rivals those of Valdez , who is currently running her campaign out of her home.

White's problem will be convincing the high number of minority and female voters in a Democratic primary that electing a conservative Democrat as their nominee is the way to go.

Valdez has an uphill fight to win the Governor's Mansion, but she'll help herself and Democrats by finding a perfect theme.