By RJ Morales | TX3DNews.com
Plano, TX — Sandeep Srivastava, a two-time Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in Texas’ 3rd District, has announced his candidacy for Texas House District 66, formally launching his campaign at an event this week in Collin County. Srivastava, who previously ran against Rep. Keith Self in 2022 and 2024, told supporters he is shifting his focus to state-level representation in order to fight for “fairness,” “public schools,” and “working families.”
“This campaign means the world to me, to my family, and to our future,” Srivastava said at the event. “We deserve a representative that puts families first, not special interests.”
Srivastava said Republican leaders in Austin are pushing school privatization efforts and shifting public dollars away from public education.
“My opponent is not in favor of public schools,” he said. “Let me be clear: public money belongs in public schools.”
He also called for expanded healthcare access, reproductive rights, and corporate accountability, stating:
“Health care is a right, not a privilege… You deserve fairness, not price gouging.”
Srivastava pledged to “fight for you,” promising to “demand consequences and put Texas before party services.”
Changing District Landscape
Texas House District 66, which includes parts of Plano, Frisco, and nearby Collin County suburbs, has undergone major political changes in recent years. While Democrats narrowly missed winning the seat in 2018 and 2020, the 2021 redistricting process redrew district boundaries in ways that strengthened Republican advantages.
Incumbent Republican Matt Shaheen won re-election in both 2022 and 2024 with over 60% of the vote. In contrast, Srivastava ran as the Democratic nominee in TX-03 in both 2022 and 2024, but was defeated by wide margins in the heavily Republican district. His run for House District 66 marks his third consecutive election cycle seeking office in Collin County..
District 66 remains one of the most diverse and affluent districts in the state, home to more than 210,000 residents and a growing number of Asian American, Latino, and younger voters. However, turnout in recent midterm cycles has not matched presidential-year levels, contributing to continued Republican control under the new maps.
Calls to Action
The launch event featured local Democratic leaders and campaign organizers urging early action and voter outreach.
“We need help everywhere,” said Collin County Democratic Party Chair Jeremy Sutka. “We need help on the ground. The best way to get help on the ground is to be a precinct chair—someone who is willing to go and talk to their neighbors.”
Srivastava’s daughter, Cherry, also spoke, saying:
“I’m really proud to be here to stand for my dad. He works especially hard… Now he’s taking that same drive to fight for people across Texas—for working families, for justice, and for progress.”
Srivastava encouraged attendees to volunteer, contribute, and commit to organizing early.
“If I can get one more vote, I can win this. And that one more is yours,” he said.
Republican Response Pending
TX3DNews contacted Rep. Matt Shaheen’s office for comment on Srivastava’s announcement and the issues raised at the launch event. As of publication, no response has been received.
What’s Next
The 2026 general election is more than a year away, but both parties are already working to organize in Collin County, where rapid demographic shifts and past close races have drawn statewide attention. Srivastava’s campaign signals a continued effort by Democrats to compete in suburban districts that were once considered reliably Republican.
Whether the redrawn lines will hold or new grassroots efforts will shift the balance remains to be seen.
“Let’s get to work,” Srivastava said in closing. “Let’s win this.”
Disclosure: TX3DNews covered this campaign launch as part of our ongoing election reporting in Texas’ 3rd Congressional District (TX‑03) and surrounding state legislative races. Coverage of an event does not imply endorsement of any candidate or political party.
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