AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas House race in North Texas is one of a handful of races where Attorney General Ken Paxton has endorsed one Republican challenger and Gov. Greg Abbott has endorsed the Republican incumbent. That’s because the incumbent voted to impeach the attorney general but also voted to support the governor’s school choice plan. 

Freshman Rep. Frederick Frazier, R-McKinney, says his vote to impeach Paxton last fall over corruption allegations was a tough decision. 

“There’s no malice towards it. There was a constitutional duty to send that to the Senate,” said Frazier. 

Frazier is running for reelection. He faces political newcomer Keresa Richardson, who is endorsed by Paxton.

“There were just a lot of things wrong with that trial. And it brought to light a lot of a lot of corruption, a lot of problems within the Texas House,” said Richardson. 

Experts say Republican voters could be heavily swayed by Paxton’s influence in this race because Texas House District 61 is in Paxton’s home county, Collin. 

“These are ideological Republicans. They will defend people like Cruz or Attorney General Paxton because they see them as fighters,” said Cal Jillson, professor of political science at Southern Methodist University. 

Despite being targeted, Frazier is endorsed by Gov. Greg Abbott because of his vote to pass a plan that would allow families to use tax dollars toward private schools. 

“The most vulnerable need something else,” said Frazier. 

Richardson also supports what the governor calls his school choice plan. 

“I feel like it’s the parents’ responsibility to put that child in a place where that child will bloom and succeed,” she said. 

Both candidates want tighter border security and to decrease property taxes in Collin County, which has some of the highest property taxes in the state.

Frazier says his conservative voting record during his first term separates him from Richardson. 

“Getting down to business and passing this legislation as much needed for not only our constituents, but for the state was a priority. And it also proved that we could get it done. I don’t know if anyone else has been able to do that,” he said. 

Richardson placed first in the primary and says she’ll fight for Texans if elected. 

“We fight to close the border. We fight to protect children. We fight for lower taxes. We fight for each other,” she said. 

Richardson, along with other far-right Republican House members and candidates, signed a letter calling for less bipartisanship in the Texas House. If elected, experts suggest Richardson would bring the House further to the right and increase the polarization.