By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews.com
MCKINNEY — “There’s a complete lack of accountability.”
That’s how Brittany Black describes the state of Texas politics — and why she’s running for Texas House District 61.
In an interview with TX3DNews, Black, a business owner and senior software engineer, said she never planned to run for office. She said a series of personal experiences — including a period without health insurance and, after returning from her wedding, the implementation of a Texas abortion law she criticized — made state policy feel immediate and unavoidable.
“I’m not a career politician,” Black said. “At some point, you stop waiting and you step up.”
Brittany Black background and perspective
Black said she comes from a working-class background and does not see herself reflected in the typical image of a state legislator.
“That matters,” she said.
She said she grew up in a rural, farm environment and is a gun owner, experiences she believes help her relate to voters across party lines.
“I want to bring government back to the people who actually feel these decisions every day,” Black said.
Black said her campaign is guided by what she describes as a “people over politics” approach, focused on practical outcomes rather than partisan fights.
Affordability and cost-of-living pressures
Black said affordability concerns are a major driver of her campaign and a frequent topic in conversations with voters across House District 61. She said rising housing costs, property taxes, utilities, and healthcare expenses are affecting families well beyond those traditionally considered lower-income.
“People think this only affects certain families,” she said. “That’s not true.”
She said families who appear financially stable are increasingly forced into difficult trade-offs.
“That shouldn’t be normal,” Black said.
Black tied those pressures to state policy decisions and said affordability should be a core focus of lawmakers.
Education funding and property taxes
Public education and school finance were among the most detailed policy areas Black discussed during the interview.
“We pay high property taxes, and our schools are still underfunded,” she said. “That disconnect should tell people something isn’t working.”
Black said the state’s failure to adequately fund public education shifts costs onto local homeowners and school districts.
“Those funding decisions don’t stay in Austin,” she said. “They show up in classrooms.”
She said raising the state’s basic allotment per student would reduce pressure on local property taxes while properly funding schools, arguing that districts like McKinney ISD are being forced to make up for what she views as shortcomings in state funding.
Vouchers and religion in schools
Black was critical of school voucher proposals as currently structured, questioning whether they expand opportunity for families who need it most.
“That voucher isn’t helping people who need it,” she said.
She argued that voucher programs divert public funds without addressing the challenges facing public schools.
“Why are we double-dipping?” Black said. “Why are we sending public money away from schools that are already struggling?”
Black also raised concerns about voucher-funded education being tied to religious instruction.
“We do not need church in the public schools,” she said.
Property tax reform
Beyond school funding, Black said she supports broader property tax reform, including increasing the homestead exemption and placing limits on appraisal increases. She said such changes would help families better predict their tax bills and reduce financial uncertainty from year to year.
She framed property tax reform as closely tied to accountability at the state level, arguing that local homeowners are often left absorbing costs created by decisions made in Austin.
Energy costs and grid reliability
Black also pointed to energy policy as another area where state decisions directly affect household budgets. She said Texas’ reliance on peak pricing during extreme weather events contributes to higher utility bills and greater instability.
She said modernizing the grid and diversifying the state’s energy mix could help improve reliability while reducing costs for families.
What she would focus on if elected
When asked what she would prioritize if elected, Black returned to structural issues rather than individual bills.
“If you don’t fix accountability, everything else is harder,” she said.
She said she supports stronger ethics rules and clearer limits on conflicts of interest, arguing that trust in government erodes when lawmakers can profit while in office.
“You don’t have representation if the system is rigged,” Black said.
Black said her professional background influences how she approaches public policy.
“I solve complex problems for a living,” she said. “That’s what this should be about.”
Access to local platforms
Black also addressed the issue of access to local platforms during down-ballot races, emphasizing the importance of being heard while campaigns are actively underway.
“People don’t know who you are yet,” Black said. “That’s why those platforms matter.”
She said candidates who are actively campaigning should be treated as relevant.
“Every candidate that is campaigning is relevant,” Black said.
TX3DNews contacted the McKinney Podcast, which said it does not suppress candidates and applies its rules uniformly.
Looking ahead
Black acknowledged that House District 61 is widely viewed as favorable territory for Republicans, but said she believes voters across party lines share common priorities.
“Most people want the same basic things,” she said. “Good schools. Fair costs. Honest government.”
She said her campaign is focused on offering practical solutions rooted in everyday experience rather than political games.
“I’m here because this matters,” Black said.