TX-24: Candace Valenzuela wants to become the first Black Latina in Congress
She experienced homelessness at a young age. She worked several odd jobs throughout high school and college to make ends meet. A high school car accident left her with a chronic health condition.
Now shes running for Congress hoping to flip a red seat blue, and Candace Valenzuela thinks her story as a political outsider who overcame hardships will win over voters.
My story does resonate, Valenzuela said in an interview with The Texas Tribune. As soon as my constituents hear my story, its incredibly easy for them to relate.
Seemingly overnight, Valenzuela has become a new face of Democrats optimism for 2020. Six months ago, she was an underdog in the Democratic primary for Congressional District 24, a mostly suburban North Texas district that straddles parts of Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties. Now, shes being touted as a potential future star someone who could win a seat long held by U.S. Rep. Kenny Marchant, a retiring Tea Party Republican, and become the first Black Latina elected to Congress.
That Valenzuela is considered a viable candidate is another sign of the changes in Texas politics that have spurred a wave of Democratic optimism. Until recently, suburban areas like Congressional District 24 had been viewed as weak spots for the Texas Democratic Party. Now those sites are key to Democrats big plans for Texas in 2020. All 10 of the congressional districts Democrats hope to flip in the state are at least partially suburban and the voters in suburban neighborhoods could decide whether the party can truly compete for the states Electoral College votes and win control of the Texas House.
https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/10/texas-candace-valenzuela-congress/