In fast-growing Collin County, three Republicans are vying for a new Texas House seat

The new Texas House District 61 includes several Collin County boomtowns that have seen an influx of Californians and other newcomers in recent years. Now one of those North Texas transplants, Navy reservist and businessman Paul Chabot, is running in the Republican primary for the seat against two native Texans. Chabot had two failed bids for Congress in California before moving to Texas and founding a moving company to help fellow conservatives seek political refuge away from liberal states and cities. Chabot has since expanded what the company, Conservative Move, offers: Instead of helping folks flock to Texas, he now generally helps people move from blue states to red states. He’s in the race with former McKinney City Council member and U.S. Marshal Frederick Frazier, who received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, and accountant and former Richardson ISD trustee James Herblin. The winner will face businesswoman Sheena King, who’s unopposed in the Democratic primary.

The district has no incumbent because it’s a new district created by the Legislature last fall. Frazier and Herblin have emphasized their local ties and conservative bona fides in the district, while criticizing Chabot as an outsider and opportunist. “I think he brings the wrong kind of California politics to Texas,” Herblin said. “There’s people that … they’re just dying to be a politician, and I think he fits that bill.” Chabot said he’s sad to hear those words from a fellow Republican. “Little does he know that those Republicans that moved to Texas are here to keep this great state red as the 2018 Beto-Cruz exit polling shows,” Chabot wrote in an email, referring to polling that showed transplants were more likely to vote for Texas Sen. Cruz while native Texans were more likely to vote for his Democratic opponent, Beto O’Rourke. Frazier said Chabot’s candidacy doesn’t make a difference to him. It’s not Chabot’s first time running for office, and Frazier says “it is what it is.” Most of the population in District 61 lives in some of Collin County’s — and the country’s — fastest-growing cities: McKinney, Frisco, Celina and Anna. The area also includes unincorporated areas and the towns of Weston and Chambersville.