Keresa Richardson, a longtime grassroots activist, has just been sworn in to represent House District 61 in the Texas House after unseating incumbent Frederick Frazier in the Republican primary.
Motivated by the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton and concerns about the inefficiency of the Texas House, Richardson says her campaign and legislative goals are grounded in a desire to bring the focus back to the people of Texas.
“My husband and I have been behind the scenes as grassroots activists for decades, trying to get good people in office,” Richardson said. “I never thought I’d run myself, but watching the dysfunction and inefficiency during the impeachment proceedings inspired me to step up. If good people don’t step up, bad people will.”
Richardson has been struck by what she’s observed, particularly during the speaker’s race. “I’ve heard about the dysfunction, but actually seeing it was quite an eye-opener,” she said. “What surprised me the most was the role of lobbyists, the sheer number of them, and the influence they wield. I don’t like outsiders trying to tell Texas what to do—this is our home, and we need to defend it.”
Richardson plans to prioritize issues like education reform, property taxes, and infrastructure. A homeschooling advocate, she emphasized the importance of giving parents more control over their children’s education.
“I was homeschooling 25 years ago, back when it wasn’t cool,” Richardson said. “We need to give parental rights back to parents and provide them with real options. I wasn’t thrilled with the bills from the last session, so I’m hopeful we can deliver better legislation.”
Richardson also expressed deep concern over property taxes and their impact on senior citizens. “It breaks my heart that seniors, who’ve paid off their homes, can’t afford to pay the taxes on them,” she said. “We have to address that. We also need to tackle rising insurance costs, water issues, and the electric grid. There’s a lot Texas needs to get done.”
When asked how her constituents can hold her accountable, Richardson highlighted the importance of open communication. “I tell them at every town hall and meeting: I need to hear from them,” she said. “I’m not in this for ego or power. If they feel I’m not doing the job, they need to take me out. I don’t need this job, but I feel called to do it. This is a sacrifice of time, effort, and talent for my district and for Texas.”
Richardson emphasized that she and her fellow freshmen legislators are committed to making a difference. “The freshmen I’ve met are principled people who are here for the right reasons. We’re not power-hungry; we’re here to serve,” she said. “It’s never the wrong time to do the right thing.”
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