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Candidate Profile: Candace Valenzuela for Texas 24th Congressional District

Texas Congressional District 24 was identified by The Washington Post as being the fifth most likely House seat to flip this November. After securing the Democratic Primary, Candace Valenzuela aims to be the first Afro-Latina elected to Congress. She will face former Irving mayor, Beth Van Duyne, after eight-term Congressman Kenny Marchant announced his retirement. 

“Candace Valenzuela is a mother, an educator, and a lifelong Texan. She overcame incredible odds growing up, and she has since devoted her life to fighting for opportunities for others. She first ran for her local school board to improve Texas schools, becoming the first Latina and first African American woman to serve on the Carrollton-Farmers Branch school board. Candace is the Democratic nominee for Congress in Texas’ 24th District; she’s running to stand up for all Texas children and their families.

“The daughter of U.S. Army veterans, Candace was born and raised in El Paso, Texas into a family with generations of military service. Her great-grandfather came to the United States from Mexico, eventually fighting in World War I. And her grandfather fought in World War II. She often says that her father once jumped out of airplanes for a living, while her mother fixed them.

“After her mother left the military, her family struggled financially and, for a time, they were homeless. Despite these challenges, Candace persevered and excelled, becoming her high school’s First Distinguished Graduate. She then graduated from Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California, on a full scholarship, becoming the first in her family to graduate from college. Grateful for these opportunities she could not have afforded on her own, Candace knew that she wanted to give back. She pursued work in education, including mentoring youth, tutoring, and working with special-needs students. But the moment that inspired her to enter public service was when she became a mother.” – Candace Valenzuela Campaign 

Valenzuela has received notable endorsements from senior Democrats including former President Barack Obama, late Congressman John Lewis, Senator Kamala Harris, Senator Elizabeth Warren, former presidential candidate Julián Castro, Senator Cory Booker and more. In addition, she has been endorsed by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus PAC, the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, EMILY’s List, Equality PAC, AFL-CIO of Texas, and more

“Candace built a powerful and diverse grassroots movement focused on uplifting all hardworking families. She knows, intimately, the impact when a family can’t afford a place to live or food to eat. She has struggled to afford costly medical bills due to a pre-existing condition. Candace’s lived experience informs her views and she believes we cannot address these issues if our leaders are more focused on appeasing donors and corporate PACs than representing their constituents.” – Candace Valenzuela Campaign

Using her life experiences, Valenzuela hopes to make America more for working Texas families. She aims to focus on income inequality, healthcare and housing accessibility, protecting Medicare and Social Security, improving public education, comprehensive immigration reform, and more

To learn more about Candace Valenzuela, click here.

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