Representative Mihaela Plesa is a lifelong Texan who is proud to serve the residents of Texas House District 70, which covers parts of Dallas, Plano, Richardson, and Allen. She is the first-generation daughter of Romanian immigrants who fled Eastern Europe to pursue the American Dream.

Rep. Mihaela Plesa | Texas House of Representatives

Rep. Plesa is the proud product of Texas public schools. She earned her high school diploma from Newman Smith High School, her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas, and her master’s degree from Southern Methodist University.

Mihaela Elizabeth Plesa is a lifelong Texan. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Texas and a master's degree from Southern Methodist University.

Rep. Plesa, Mihaela - District 70 - Texas House of Representatives

Rep. Mihaela Plesa owned and operated her own small business in fashion merchandising and design, focusing on Texas-made products while helping other entrepreneurs start and grow their own small businesses.

Before running for the Texas House, Plesa served as a legislative director for three regular sessions and four special sessions.

Mihaela previously owned and operated a small business in fashion merchandising and design. She also served as a legislative director.

Rep. Mihaela Plesa was first elected to the Texas House District 70 seat 2022.

Plesa, the first Democrat elected to the statehouse from Collin County in 30 years, is running for reelection for a third time and has no primary opponents.

Collin County primary elections voter guide: What's at stake | KERA News

Now in her second term as State Representative, Plesa was elected the Vice Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus and appointed Vice Chair of the House Committee on Pensions, Investments, and Financial Services.

Mihaela currently serves as the state representative for Texas House District 70. She was first elected in 2022 and is serving her second term.

2026 Texas General Election

Plesa is known for supporting public schools. She previously filed legislation that would’ve reformed the state’s recapture school finance system. At the Collin County League of Women Voter’s forum, she said the state needs to increase the amount it spends per student.

“One dollar increase to the basic allotment is one dollar less to your properties taxes,” she said.

Said increasing the school basic allotment would reduce property taxes dollar-for-dollar.

- Said increasing the school basic allotment would reduce property taxes dollar-for-dollar.

Economy

BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2899

By: Plesa
Homeland Security & Public Safety
Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Austin and Dallas have recently experienced a series of illegal street racing events known as "street takeovers," which have flooded emergency operators and put bystanders and police officers in danger.

88(R) HB 2899 - Committee Report (Unamended) version - Bill Analysis

Currently, law enforcement can impound a vehicle involved in street racing only if there was an incident that results in personal injury or property damage. In an effort to further dissuade illegal street racing and street takeovers, H.B. 2899 provides for the impoundment of vehicles used in these events without regard to whether any injury or property damage occurred.

ANALYSIS
H.B. 2899 amends the Transportation Code to make the requirement for a peace officer to have a motor vehicle used in the commission of the offense of racing on a highway impounded as prescribed by law applicable without regard to whether the offense resulted in an accident with property damage or personal injury.

Authored House Bill 2899, which requires impoundment of vehicles used in illegal street racing regardless of injury or property damage.

- Authored House Bill 2899, which requires impoundment of vehicles used in illegal street racing regardless of injury or property damage.

Public Safety

7. The high cost of health insurance available to educators is a significant factor decreasing their take-home pay. How would you address the challenge of rising health care costs facing Texas educators and ensure access to affordable health care?
Teacher health care expenditures are skyrocketing, taking up more and more of teacher take-home pay. The Legislature should consider several ways to lower the teacher’s share of premiums, such as increasing the state contribution percentage and allowing school districts to choose from multiple health care plans to meet teacher needs.

Mihaela Plesa | TTV

The Legislature should consider several ways to lower the teacher’s share of premiums, such as increasing the state contribution percentage and allowing school districts to choose from multiple health care plans to meet teacher needs. Rep. Plesa also wants to prioritize teacher wellbeing through mental health supports, expanded access to childcare and other benefits.

And, so, it’s a very cruel environment that women are living under and we are not having conversations about how we make it less. We saw that with the Supreme Court. We see that with the AG. The conversations are actually about how to make it more restrictive, how to restrict transportation, like literally how to prevent women from moving across the state.

This is crazy stuff we’re talking about. We’re talking about restricting contraception. We’re talking about in-vitro fertilization. For everything my Republican colleagues have been saying about not coming for in-vitro, the Governor of this state has said it’s something that we need to look at. And that’s very concerning.

Healthcare and Education in Texas: A conversation with Representative Mihaela Plesa - Lone Star Standard

Proposes lowering teachers' health-insurance premiums through larger state contributions and multiple plan options for school districts.

Wants to support teacher well-being through mental-health services, childcare access, and other benefits.

Said potential restrictions on contraception and in vitro fertilization are "very concerning."

- Proposes lowering teachers' health-insurance premiums through larger state contributions and multiple plan options for school districts.
- Wants to support teacher well-being through mental-health services, childcare access, and other benefits.
- Said potential restrictions on contraception and in vitro fertilization are "very concerning."

Healthcare

4. Despite a record-breaking surplus of $38 billion during the 2023 legislative session, school funding formulas were not increased to keep pace with inflation since they were last adjusted in 2019. Do you believe Texas public schools should receive additional funding? If so, how should the state pay for it?
Yes, Rep. Plesa supports increasing funding for Texas public schools. She co-sponsored the Fully Fund Our Future Act, which would fund schools based on enrollment and not attendance, increase the basic allotment, and index school funding to inflation to keep up with rising costs.

Yes, Rep. Plesa supports increasing funding for Texas public schools. She co-sponsored the Fully Fund Our Future Act, which would fund schools based on enrollment and not attendance, increase the basic allotment, and index school funding to inflation to keep up with rising costs.

In collaboration with local school districts, Rep. Plesa crafted Recapture & Transparency Reform legislation that would improve transparency for taxpayers, allow school districts to save money, and ensure that recapture payments are spent only on much needed school funding.

1. If elected, what are your top priorities for public education?
Rep. Plesa’s top priorities for public education are making sure that public education is fully-funded, reforming recapture, defending public education from voucher schemes, and expanding access to early childhood education and intervention programs.

2. Voucher programs take many forms (tax credits, scholarships, education savings accounts, etc.) and are either universal or aimed at specific subpopulations (special education students, low-income students, students attending schools with poor A-F accountability ratings, etc.). Would you vote to create a voucher program of any type to pay for students to attend non-public K-12 schools, such as private or home schools?
No. Public education money must only be spent on public schools. Taxpayer funded private school vouchers remove critical resources from public schools and give it to private institutions, harming students, schools, and communities.

6. Inadequate compensation hampers the recruitment and retention of high-quality educators. Do you support a state-funded across-the-board pay raise for all Texas educators?
Yes, Rep. Plesa supports increasing teacher salaries by at least $15,000 across the board along with raises for all of the support staff, paraprofessionals and school district employees.

5. Texas has faced growing teacher shortages in recent years, with many schools hiring uncertified teachers to fill the gaps. How would you work to ensure Texas public schools have an adequate number of trained and certified teachers?
Rep. Plesa believes that students, educators, and communities-at-large are best served when educators are fully supported. Texas must improve teacher pay and working conditions if we are going to be able to recruit and retain the talented and passionate individuals that feel called to teach.

Co-sponsored the Fully Fund Our Future Act, which funds schools by enrollment, increases the basic allotment, and indexes funding to inflation.

Crafted recapture reform legislation to increase transparency, allow districts to save money, and direct recapture payments to school funding.

Supports fully funding public education and expanding access to early-childhood education and intervention programs.

Opposes using public education funds for private-school voucher programs.

Supports increasing teacher salaries by at least $15,000 and raising pay for school support staff and district employees.

Advocates for improving teacher pay and working conditions to recruit and retain educators.

- Co-sponsored the Fully Fund Our Future Act, which funds schools by enrollment, increases the basic allotment, and indexes funding to inflation.
- Crafted recapture reform legislation to increase transparency, allow districts to save money, and direct recapture payments to school funding.
- Supports fully funding public education and expanding access to early-childhood education and intervention programs.
- Opposes using public education funds for private-school voucher programs.
- Supports increasing teacher salaries by at least $15,000 and raising pay for school support staff and district employees.
- Advocates for improving teacher pay and working conditions to recruit and retain educators.

Education

We’re hearing women who are having to go into litigation with the state to get access to health care. We’re hearing about women who have to leave the state to get access to health care. We can’t keep the lights on. Anytime there’s a bad storm or a hurricane, we’re hearing about hundreds or thousands or even millions of people who lack power. That’s critical. Those are things that should be the government's number one top priority.

Keeping the lights on, keeping the water clean, keeping the roads functioning.

Prioritizes reliable electricity and clean water as government responsibilities.

- Prioritizes reliable electricity and clean water as government responsibilities.

Energy & the Environment

As of July 22, 2026, Mihaela Elizabeth Plesa’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

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Mihaela Elizabeth Plesa

- Supports fully funding public education and expanding access to early-childhood education and intervention programs.
- Opposes using public education funds for private-school voucher programs.
- Supports increasing teacher salaries by at least $15,000 and raising pay for school support staff and district employees.
- Advocates for improving teacher pay and working conditions to recruit and retain educators.

Mihaela Elizabeth Plesa is currently a member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 70. She serves as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Pensions, Investments, and Financial Services.

Democrats and Republicans in Collin County vie for open Texas ...

Prioritizes fully funding schools, reducing property taxes, and improving public safety.

Supports redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.

For Candidate Mihaela Elizabeth Plesa on Issue public-safety: Supports qualified immunity for police officers for conduct consistent with departmental policy while on duty.

Worked to expand Medicaid and legislation for the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force.

Supports guaranteeing taxpayer-funded public education through college.

Believes that people should be able to vote without photo identification.

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George Flint

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Texas House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas State Legislature
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws. 
- There are 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives, each representing a single district. Representatives must be at least 21 years old and reside in the state for at least two years before their election. 
- State representatives are elected to two-year terms during even-numbered years. There are no term limits. 
- State representatives make $7,200 annually in addition to a $221 payment per day during legislative sessions and mileage reimbursements.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Texas House of Representatives.