Keresa Richardson
The Lone Star Lady: Keresa Richardson’s journey to the Texas House
When Keresa Richardson walks into a room, there’s an undeniable shift in the atmosphere. She’s not the Hollywood stereotype of the successful Texas businesswoman, though a casting director would be praised for selecting her for the role. She isn’t a brash or showy political firebrand, instead she commands attention with the quiet confidence of someone who has faced life’s challenges and still holds an unwavering belief in a brighter future. After four decades of successfully starting and running businesses across Texas, Richardson is now running for the Texas House of Representatives in District 61. However, her story is so much more than her name appearing on a ballot.
Born and raised in Texas, Richardson embodies the true spirit of the Lone Star State. "We're Texans first, Americans second," she says with a smile that suggests she’s half-joking but mostly serious. Her husband J.R.’s family has been in Texas for over 200 years, a legacy she discovered through old land grants. "We’ve been here a long time," she says. “Collin County is home. We’ve raised our children here, built our businesses here—it’s where we live.”
Richardson’s connection to Collin County is more than just geographical, it’s a love for the land and its people that shapes her political outlook. "When we moved to Allen, there was one blinking red light in town, and McKinney wasn’t that much bigger,” she recalls, marveling at the area’s explosive growth. "Now, we have big city problems in many Collin County cities—homelessness, school district issues, and nonprofits struggling to meet growing needs." The way she says it is not just a list of problems or political talking points, she feels them deeply, each one a burr under the saddle of her Texas pride.
More than her Texas blood or bootstrap upbringing the greatest guiding force behind her grit and grace is her unwavering and unapologetic faith in God. “I became a Christian when I was six years old, and that’s all I know and all that I am,” she says with a calm conviction. “Every decision I make is filtered through my faith in God,” she explains. “Like it or not, that’s who I am.” It’s this faith foundation that fuels her boldness whether it’s in business or life, and inspires others around her to strengthen their own faith.
A Lone Star Story
Richardson didn’t always envision herself in politics. Forty years ago, she moved to Collin County to strike a balance between her roots in Grayson County and her husband’s life in Mesquite. They settled in Allen, a pleasant halfway point, and witnessed the town’s transformation from a quiet community into a thriving urban center. "We’ve seen it grow," she says, marveling at the changes but aware of the new challenges that come with it.
Her journey from small-town life to business success was not without struggles. Armed with a political science degree from Texas A&M, Richardson found herself running a plumbing company—an industry where women are scarce and any that find their way into the business are met with skepticism. But Richardson, ever determined, took it all in stride and soon she thrived in that environment. "I love it," she says. "Men are very easy to work with, they’re straightforward and honest—you always know where you stand."
This no-nonsense approach and the courage to tell it like it is has allowed her to steer her business through economic highs and lows, even facing potential bankruptcy multiple times. "We’ve probably been near bankruptcy three or four times over the decades," she says, shrugging off the memory like a wound long since healed. "You just learn to diversify. That’s why we have several different businesses, such as Benjamin Franklin Plumbing that handles residential service and repair. Lawton Mechanical Contractors is the construction side of our commercial business while Lawton Commercial Services takes care of maintenance and repair in plumbing, electrical and HVAC. Buckaroo Pest Protection provides pest control for both residential and commercial clients. The diversity allows us to ride out the natural business cycles or economic challenges and still provide ample opportunities for our team members to be able to provide for their families.”
Riding out economic upheavals like she’s busting a wild bronc keeps Richardson grounded. Her life, which she readily admits has been blessed, wasn’t always glamorous. "Twenty-five years ago, we were a home-based business, running everything from an extra bedroom. Thanksgiving dinners would turn into stockholder meetings,” she says, laughing at the memory. "Running a business is not for the faint of heart. It’s all encompassing and I want to be of help to anyone willing to do it.” Her success is as much a testament to her faith as it is to her hard work. "There were times when we almost lost everything, but I believed that God had a plan. When things would get tough, my faith in God kept me going.”
Tough times are not an abstract concept for Richardson, and she carries the scars—both seen and unseen—to prove it. Nine years ago, she faced a cancer diagnosis that would shake anyone to their core, doctors gave her just six months to live. The prognosis was dire, but Richardson, with her characteristic resolve, refused to bow to it. "They told me if I didn't do chemo, I would die," she recalls, her voice steady with the kind of calm that comes from facing death head-on. But in a move that speaks volumes about her character, she declined the treatment, choosing instead to follow what she believed was a different path God had planned for her. Today, she has a clean bill of health and supports other cancer survivors in various ways.
For Richardson, the battle with cancer was not just a fight for survival, but a test of her faith and tenacity. She refused to let fear dictate her choices, trusting instead in the guidance she felt from above. And she emerged victorious—not just in beating the disease, but in reaffirming the strength of her spirit. Her journey didn’t end there; just a few short years later J.R. would have a stroke and have his own brush with death. Yet, through it all, Richardson never wavered. "Everyone has challenges," she says, her tone matter-of-fact, "and you're no different than anyone else. So expect that they will come, and then just trust the Lord and work through it."
This unyielding determination is the cornerstone of Richardson’s life. Whether facing bankruptcy, cancer, or personal loss, she embodies the belief that you never stop, you never give up, and you never throw in the towel. "You’ve got to have tenacity," she insists, and in Keresa Richardson, that tenacity is as much a part of her as her Texas roots, unshakable and unwavering, no matter the storm.
A Lone Star Legacy
To fully appreciate Keresa Richardson’s journey, it’s important to look back at the women who have paved the way in Texas. The Lone Star State has produced its fair share of formidable female leaders. From "Ma" Ferguson, the state’s first female governor, to Mary Kay Ash, who transformed a $5,000 investment into a billion-dollar empire, the Lone Star State boasts a proud tradition of strong women.
Ann Richards, with her signature silver hair and razor-sharp wit, once quipped that Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but "backwards and in high heels." Lady Bird Johnson beautified the country while preserving the spirit of the land she loved. These women, each in their way, shaped Texas’s history and left an impression on the rest of the world at the same time.
Keresa Richardson belongs in this conversation, not because she’s following in their footsteps, but because she’s blazing her own trail. Like Ma Ferguson, she’s unafraid to speak her mind. Like Mary Kay Ash, she’s turned hard work into a thriving business. And like Ann Richards and Lady Bird Johnson, Richardson understands that true leadership isn’t about power—it’s about service and making the world a better place for those who come after.
But there’s something even greater that ties Keresa to these legendary women: a deep and abiding faith not just in God, but in the state he blessed so richly. It is this faith that gives her the courage to speak up when others remain silent and the strength to battle on when others might waver. “I believe that God has called me to serve the people of Collin County,” she says, “and I am going to do my best to honor that calling.”
Richardson’s entry into politics wasn’t born out of ambition as much as frustration. "I was up at night reading articles and watching videos about what was happening in our government, and it was so burdensome," she says. Eventually, her husband told her, “Well, you can’t sleep so you might as well go to Austin and do something about it." At first, she resisted. Austin, in her words, was “Nineveh"—the ancient city the old testament prophet Jonah reluctantly preached to. Finally, for Richardson, the burden became too heavy to ignore and she threw her hat into the ring. “One thing I know for sure, if good people don’t do something, bad people will,” she says, echoing a sentiment that feels as old as Texas itself.
Despite being outspent eight-to-one in the primary, Richardson secured a decisive victory against the incumbent with 68 percent of the vote. "That was just the grace of God and a lot of hardworking people ready for change," she says, always giving credit to the collective efforts of those who share her vision of a better Texas.
To place Keresa Richardson among the likes of Ma Ferguson, Mary Kay Ash, Ann Richards, and Lady Bird Johnson is not hyperbole. It’s an acknowledgment of a legacy of strong Texas women who refuse to be confined by expectations, women who break the mold and create something uniquely their own. Richardson’s journey from small town girl to successful businesswoman, and now political candidate, is not merely one of personal triumph, but a continuation of the legacy these women began.
Richardson, like those before her, understands that Texas is a place of contradictions—fiercely independent yet deeply communal, rooted in tradition yet always looking toward the future. Where else in the United States could a man on horseback pause to watch a rocket launch on a journey to the ISS? In a state where the land is as tough as the people, women have always played a vital role in shaping its destiny.
As a candidate, Richardson is unapologetically Texan, and her platform reflects it. She’s passionate about reducing government regulation, particularly when it comes to occupational licensing. "We’re over-regulated in Texas," she says, pointing out that it takes nine years to become a master plumber—longer than it takes to get a PhD or become a medical doctor. "That’s too long," she says flatly. “We need to reduce the governmental interference in licensing.”
Her vision for Texas is one of opportunity, especially for those entering the trades. "We need to get back to basics," she says, advocating for more parental involvement in education and a return to teaching practical skills. "We alienated a third of our population when we took the trades out of schools," she argues. “Many of those kids dropped out of school, some got into drugs, others ended up in jail, and now we’re paying for failing them as a society. We robbed them of an opportunity and we have to fix that for future generations.”
But Richardson’s vision isn’t just about policy—it’s about people. "Life is about relationships," she says, in a way that makes you believe she genuinely enjoys connecting with others. "When you’re running a business, people do business with people they know and trust. Politics is the same way. Your constituents have to know you, and they have to trust you.”
Trust is something Richardson doesn’t take lightly. "If you go down there and try to fool people, they’re going to see through it," she says, with the kind of bluntness that’s as refreshing as it is rare in politics. "If you can really care about people, then that’s what they want. They want authenticity.” And for Richardson, that authenticity is rooted in her faith. "I pray every day for the wisdom to make the right decisions," she says. "I don’t take this responsibility lightly. I know that God has a plan, and I’m just trying to be faithful to it.”
A Lone Star Leader
When she’s not running a business or a political campaign, Richardson finds peace at home in McKinney. "There’s no place like home," she says, her voice softening. For Richardson, home isn’t just a physical place—it’s a state of mind. She enjoys being a part of events around the community and calls the large life group at her church, “300 of our closest friends.” She can list off some of the best places around town to enjoy a good meal with another couple or two and there’s seldom a get together among the political or business community to which she doesn’t get an invitation, but at the end of the day, “Home with J.R. That’s my happy place. I’m just a wife and mom and grandmother at home, that’s special.”
As Richardson prepares to take her place in the Texas House, she knows the road won’t be easy, but she’s ready for the challenge. She is determinedly focused on addressing the issues that matter most to her constituents—border security, property tax reform, and educational freedom. "We have a lot of issues right now, and we won’t be able to tackle them all in five months," she says with the pragmatism of a seasoned leader. But if there’s one thing Richardson is certain of, it’s that she’s exactly where she needs to be. "The time is right to go down there and make a difference. Anything worth doing is worth doing well,” she says, a hint of Texas granite it her voice. “If you can’t give it your all, then don’t bother.”
As the sun sets over Collin County, you can feel the pulse of a state as vast as its dreams. Keresa Richardson is not just another name on a ballot. She is a living testament to the enduring spirit of Texas women who have shaped history with grit, grace, and unshakable will. Like the pioneers who tamed the wild frontier and the bold leaders who carved paths through Texas politics, Richardson stands as a beacon of strength and possibility. She carries a torch passed down by true larger than life Texans, her own light shining just as brightly. This isn’t merely another business to run or even a campaign to manage - it’s a calling. Not just for Keresa, but a call to every Texan that believes we can be better, stronger, and more united. With Keresa leading the way there doesn’t seem to be any challenge we cannot face together.
In Keresa Richardson, Texas has found a leader who embodies the very best of what it means to be a Texan—courage in the face of adversity, a deep love for the land and its people, and an unshakable belief that together, we can achieve greatness. As she steps into the Texas House, she carries with her the hopes and dreams of all who believe that tomorrow can be brighter than today. This is the dawn of a new era, and Richardson is ready to lead Texas into its next chapter—boldly, proudly, and with a heart as big as the state itself.
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