Governor Greg Abbott has declared his fight over vouchers a win, but Texas Democrats are preparing to win enough seats in November to stop the governor’s top goal.
There are just over a dozen races to choose from, and according to House Representative Gina Hinojosa, only three more Democratic seats are needed to block the voucher distribution again.
“We need to elect about three more Democrats to the Texas House of Representatives to fight education vouchers and defend public schools in our neighborhoods,” she said.
One of those up-and-coming seats is the 66th Congressional District in Collin County, where Plano native David Carstens is challenging incumbent Rep. Matt Shaheen.
Who is David Carstens?
David Carstens has deep roots in Plano, Collin County. He is not just an author and filmmaker; he is a community-minded candidate committed to promoting inclusivity and collaboration in the Texas State House, his campaign website states.
Michelle H. Davis of Lone Star Left described Carstens’ campaign as “driven by a vision to bridge divides and foster a collaborative, forward-thinking environment in the Texas House of Representatives. As the election approaches, Carstens’ unique blend of creative prowess and devotion to his Texas roots could make him a key figure in changing the political dynamic in the 66th Congressional District.”
“What we are currently experiencing is that the party has a complete grip on power and is unable to govern itself,” Carstens noted at the start of his campaign, highlighting the current state of politics in Texas.
The focus of his campaign is on local issues such as education, health care and economic development.
As an educator himself, Carstens knows how important sustainable investments in public schools are.
“He is a staunch opponent of the private school voucher program, which he believes is cynically designed to further weaken our already underfunded public system,” his campaign website states.
The upcoming challenge: Matt Shaheen
Carstens faces a tough opponent in Matt Shaheen, a Republican incumbent known for his controversial views and polarizing rhetoric. Shaheen has been in office since 2014 and is a member of the Texas Freedom Caucus.
Over the course of his career, he has helped pass some of the state’s most conservative legislation, including efforts to restrict LGBTQ rights and dismantle environmental protections.
However, Shaheen’s recent vote in the Texas House of Representatives to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton has angered a significant portion of the Republican base and leaves him vulnerable to strong competition from Democrats this election cycle.
Collin County: A changing landscape
Collin County, once a Republican stronghold, is becoming a battleground as demographic shifts and rapid growth reshape the political landscape. According to The Lone Star Left, the county has shifted significantly to the left over the past two decades, with Donald Trump winning by just four percentage points in 2020, compared to a Republican lead of 49 percentage points in 2000.
HD66, which was a Trump district with a +7.9 vote following the last redistricting, is now seeing an influx of new, more diverse voters. In addition, the district has a high percentage of residents with four-year college degrees, a demographic that is increasingly leaning Democratic. This combination of factors makes HD66 a prime target for Democrats seeking to win the seat.
