When Democratic state Sen. Wendy Davis entered Salon C at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center on Sunday, the crowd rose to its feet.

After an outpour of applause from the predominantly liberal audience, Davis braced herself for the first question from Texas Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith, a question that many Texans have been asking since Gov. Rick Perry announced his resignation in July.

“So you’re gonna do this?”

Davis, the expected Democratic candidate for governor, sat down for a one-on-one conversation with Smith for the closing keynote of the Texas Tribune Festival. Although Davis would neither confirm nor deny the rumors of a 2014 campaign, she stated that she will announce her future plans this Thursday. 

“When you think about doing something this big, and that may seem improbable, you want to make sure you’re not doing something foolhardy,” said Davis.

During her conversation with Smith, Davis deflected numerous questions that pointed to her gubernatorial run and instead discussed her position on many different issues.

Despite being known for her famous 11-hour filibuster of abortion legislation in June, Davis made it clear that she is interested in engaging in a “broader conversation,” and that she plans to stand for more than just women’s rights.

“I don’t think [discrimination] is unique to gender,” said Davis. “I do think we have some real issues where Texans feel like the folks who have been representing them in leadership positions in Austin aren’t reflecting the things that they and their families value.”

The issue that Davis spoke most strongly about was public education.

“If we fail to come together and do the right things for public education and higher education, this wonderful story that we tell about the health and vibrancy of the Texas economy is likely to begin to crumble,” said Davis. “That’s something we all need to care about.”

Davis argued that self-interest, economic interest, and partisanship must be put aside to ensure that improvements in education create a strong workforce that can improve the economy. She also stated that if she is to run for governor, she will not raise taxes to fund education reform.

“I would certainly take a sales tax and property tax increase off the table,” said Davis.

But despite her multi-faceted platform, Davis is aware that she is seen by many conservatives as a single-issue “abortion Barbie,” which may pose a challenge for her if she chooses to run for office in a red state characterized by conservatism.

Davis, however, showed no signs of fear.

“We really talk about values, we don’t talk in a partisan frame,” she said. “I don’t think most people think through a partisan lens. And if people believe that you’re there, working hard for them and standing up for them, I’ve certainly had my share of people say to me, in my district back home, ‘I’m a Republican and I don’t agree with everything you do. But I agree you stand for what you believe in and that you fight for us, and that’s why I voted for you.’”

This message resonated with many audience members, including Joy Casnovsky, an Austin resident who attended the keynote and praised Davis’ lack of polarizing, political rhetoric.

“I think she does [have a shot at winning],” said Casnovsky. “She really appealed to people’s values and the values of what’s important for Texans as opposed to where they stand on the left or right of the spectrum.”

If Davis confirms a gubernatorial run on Thursday, she will likely face well-funded Republican candidate Greg Abbott, who has more campaign contributions than any candidate in Texas history.

Despite this monetary disadvantage, many Texans are still convinced that Davis sets herself apart.

“People want to feel like they’re going to be taken care of by someone who really cares about their issues, not someone who’s a businessman talking care of we’re not quite sure whose issues,” Texan Carl Lindemann said. “[Abbott’s] got a whole bunch of money, but money isn’t heart.”