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Tea party favorite Matt Rinaldi is squaring off against Democrat Paul K. Stafford in the race for Texas House District 115.

Stafford is considered a long shot in the heavily Republican district, which includes parts of Carrollton, Coppell, Irving, Farmers Branch and Addison.

Rinaldi, 39, narrowly edged out incumbent Bennett Ratliff in the GOP primary. Libertarian Kim Kelley is also on the ballot in the Nov. 4 election.

This is Staffords first bid for public office. The 46-year-old attorney describes himself as a conservative Democrat who has been chairman of the Farmers Branch Business Community Advisory Board and served on an advisory board for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Texas has the most dynamic economy in the United States, and wed like to keep it that way, said Stafford who supports tax abatement for small business start-ups.

He criticizes his opponent for wanting to abolish Gov. Rick Perrys Emerging Technology and Enterprise funds.

Im the only candidate that would reach across the aisle and would govern in a fashion that Texans deserve, Stafford said.

Rinaldi said hes opposed to corporate welfare and believes the best way to fuel economic growth is through low taxes and a favorable regulatory climate.

The Republican candidate has also pledged not to vote for any budget that increases spending more than what is needed to account for inflation and population growth. He said the projected 6 percent to 7 percent increase in the state budget is reasonable.

Both candidates say they believe education is one of the states top priorities but differ in their approach to school funding.

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Tea party favorite, conservative Democrat vie for state House seat in northwest Dallas County