One of the few competitive races in North Texas is playing out in Collin County 鈥攖raditionally a Republican stronghold.
Democrat Mihaela Plesa is the incumbent in Texas House District 70. But Gov. Greg Abbott says Republican Steve Kinard can flip it. And since neither candidate can rely solely on their base for a win, they鈥檒l have to approach their campaigns differently.
Plesa and Kinard have been courting voters everywhere they can. Kinard went to a candidate forum at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano.
Plesa went to a Halloween fundraiser last week for local Democratic candidates. People decked out in spooky costumes gathered on a patio lit with string lights and jack-o-lanterns to hear from Democratic candidates.
Halloween is known for being scary. But Plesa told the crowd she鈥檚 not afraid 鈥� even though the Republicans have listed her district as a target this election.
鈥淚 said bring it, Greg Abbott, because we are not scared of you,鈥� she said.
Plesa was elected two years ago. She said things are different this campaign. Plesa has name recognition and a legislative record.
She was the first Democrat elected to the statehouse from Collin County in decades when she won. But the race was close. It was decided by about 850 votes.
Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University, said it鈥檚 not an accident the seat is competitive. Republicans shifted boundaries during redistricting to protect nearby Republican incumbents. Jillson said that leaves a few seats like House District 70 up for grabs.
It鈥檚 different campaigning in an area that鈥檚 more purple than solid red or blue. Jillson said it鈥檚 a balancing act.
鈥淵ou've got to be much more thoughtful, much more careful about what you what you say and where you go,鈥� he said.
Appealing to independent voters alone isn鈥檛 enough. The candidates still need to attract to their party鈥檚 base. For Kinard, that鈥檚 people at the Prestonwood Baptist Church forum like Darlene Workman.
鈥淗e鈥檚 conservative, he understands what faith, family and freedom are all about,鈥� Workman said about Kinard.
The candidate forum was nonpartisan 鈥擠emocrats and Republicans were invited. But most of the candidates present were conservative. The voters flocked to their tables before the forum.
Kinard鈥檚 table has red mini-footballs and Hershey鈥檚 Kisses to pass out to the kids and brochures for the adults.
Kinard is a local businessman. He lives in Richardson with his wife and three children.
鈥淚鈥檓 an entrepreneur and father first,鈥� Kinard said. 鈥淭hose are the discussions I have at doors. I don鈥檛 lead with, I鈥檓 the Republican guy.鈥�
He said he鈥檚 campaigning on things important to the community like crime and education. Kinard said those issues shouldn鈥檛 be partisan.
But he has taken stances that are popular among Republicans. Kinard said at the Prestonwood forum that he supports the state鈥檚 abortion ban. He also supports what Abbott refers to as school choice.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I鈥檓 fighting for, school choice is putting the control back at the community level,鈥� Kinard said.
Abbott鈥檚 education plan would鈥檝e allowed parents to use state funding for private school tuition. But it failed to pass last legislative session.
Plesa voted against Abbott鈥檚 plan. She said school vouchers would derail public school funding. Plesa told supporters at the Halloween fundraiser that the state already doesn鈥檛 spend enough on education.
鈥淲e have seen what defunding our public schools looks like, and it is on the horizon,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd that is why I鈥檓 such a fierce advocate for our public schools.鈥�
Plesa also urged the crowd to hit the streets to campaign for her and other Democrats on the ballot. Democrats in Collin County have been suggesting Plesa鈥檚 recent 鈥� and very narrow victory 鈥� may signal that the area is becoming more purple. Their hope is that other districts will soon follow.
Jillson said the state鈥檚 demographics are changing. He said that can open the door for Democrats in previously solid red districts 鈥攂ut it will be a while before the entire state flips blue.
鈥淭hat happens to a few seats in each election cycle, so it takes a while for those to accumulate into a Democratic threat to the majority in the Texas legislature,鈥� he said.
Kinard said he expects voters in the suburban district will make a U-turn back to the Republican Party. But Plesa said her bipartisan record in the legislature will pull voters in her direction.
Early voting ends next week. And the result from election day could signal a political shift for Collin County 鈥� something both parties hope will be in their favor.
Got a tip? Email Caroline Love at clove@kera.org.
Caroline Love is a corps member for 四虎影院.
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