COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — House District 67 is a crucial seat in the state legislature and in Collin County.
Incumbent Jeff Leach has held that seat for 12 years and is going for a 7th term. And while he admits every race is different, this year's race truly is different. Jefferson Nunn and Makala Washington are running in the Democratic primary. And Daren Meis and Jeff Leach are running in the Republican primary. There may be four people vying for the seat, two Republicans and two Democrats, but it feels like there's a fifth person in the race: embattled Attorney General Ken Paxton.
"The nail in the coffin was watching the impeachment process all play out," said GOP challenger Daren Meis from Allen. "What the impeachment was was a catalyst," he said. Meis is being backed by Paxton.
Jeff Leach, who Gov. Greg Abbott is endorsing, is just one of several Collin County incumbents who voted in the House to impeach Paxton and currently have targets on their back.
"[Paxton is] intent on retribution and revenge. If he and his supporters wanna live their lives that way and run their campaigns that way, that's fine," said Leach.
Leach says he's not focused on Paxton but on the issues. Leach tells WFAA that securing the border, improving education, and providing more property tax relief, are his priorities.
WFAA asked Daren Meis if he was on the Paxton revenge tour.
"I don't think that's the case with me. The person we have now...we would have never sent him down there twelve years ago," said Meis who believes Leach has abandoned his conservative base.
Other candidates with Paxton's support include Keresa Richardson, Abraham George, Chuck Branch, and Wayne Richard.
"I believed during the impeachment trial that Paxton was corrupt, I believe now that he's a sophisticated criminal, I do," said Leach.
Meis says his focus is on the border and not just security, but accountability. He also says he wants to end Robin Hood and recapture, which redistributes money among school districts
Leach says he stands on his record and says most Collin County voters stand with him.
"When you're doing the right thing, people are coming for ya," said Leach.
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