Dallas Sheriff Lupe Valdez announces run for governor as Democrat

Dallas Sheriff Lupe Valdez speaks during the last day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Thursday, July 28, 2016. Dallas Sheriff Lupe Valdez speaks during the last day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Thursday, July 28, 2016. Photo: Olivier Douliery, TNS Photo: Olivier Douliery, TNS Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Dallas Sheriff Lupe Valdez announces run for governor as Democrat 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN — Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez announced Wednesday she will run as a Democrat for governor of Texas.

The long-expected announcement that she will join a growing field of Democrats challenging incumbent Republican Greg Abbott came as Houston entrepreneur Andrew White confirmed he will announce his own run as a Democrat on Thursday.

"Opportunity in Texas ought to be as big as this great state, but it is out of reach for far too many, - that's why I'm running for Texas governor," Valdez said in a statement. "I'm a proud Texas Democrat. I believe good government can make people's lives better, and I intend to do just that."

Valdez resigned as sheriff as she filed as a candidate Wednesday in Austin. State law prohibits her from holding one office while running for another.

Earlier this month, Valdez had said she was "in the exploratory process" of starting a gubernatorial run. News reports last week had her on the verge of resigning her position as sheriff to run, but she delayed that formal announcement until Wednesday.

Valdez, 70, has been the Dallas sheriff for 12 years, after earlier careers as a prison guard, a Customs agent and a Department of Homeland Security investigator and supervisor.

Her announcement makes her the most prominent Democrat in the race after bigger names passed on trying to unseat Abbott and break a 22-year hold by Republicans on the Texas governor's mansion.

Valdez is the first female Democrat to enter the race and, if elected, would be the first Democrat to serve since Ann Richards served one term as governor in the early 1990s — the second woman in Texas history to hold the post.

Abbott won by a 20-point margin three years ago against former state Sen.Wendy Davis, whose abortion-rights stance in a legislative filibuster made her a national political star.

This year, with the Democratic Party widely expected to make Valdez its flagbearer in a gubernatorial primary field that is expected to include eight candidates, the party is putting its hopes on the one-time migrant farmworker, Army veteran and longtime law enforcement officer who is a lesbian.

Republicans have said they expect her positions on LGBT issues and her opposition to a newly enacted ban on sanctuary cities will make her an easy target for Abbott, who polls show riding a wave of popularity despite his support of several divisive issues including the bathroom bill.

Her candidacy caps months of uncertainty for Texas Democratic Party officials, who tried unsuccessfully to convince better-known candidates to run against Abbott.

Democratic Party officials said they feel confident Valdez can draw out Hispanic voters who are disgusted with discriminatory Republican Party policies on sanctuary cities and other issues.

White said Wednesday that he welcomes Valdez' candidacy because it will allow him and other Democrats to highlight Abbott policies that he says are out of step with those of most Texans, not just conservative-right GOP voters.

The conservative Abbott has no serious GOP primary challenger and already has more than $50 million in his reelection war chest, his campaign aides say.

After filing as a candidate at the party headquarters in Austin, Valdez said she was undaunted by Abbott's campaign fundraising edge or the fact the state has voted overwhelmingly Republican for more than two decades.

"I think we're going to raise whatever money's necessary," she said. "I don't believe that we need 40, 60, 90, bazillion dollars. Abbott may have the money — we're going to have the people."

Abbott's campaign had no immediate reaction to Valdez's candidacy. But hours after she announced, his campaign team announced that the Dallas Police Association had endorsed Abbott -- a notable law-enforcement group in Valdez' hometown.

Valdez dismissed the endorsement as not reflecting the view of the association's full membership.