TX-24: Kim Olson faces momentum from Candace Valenzuela in bid to flip GOP-held U.S. Hous [View all]
Kim Olson began her congressional campaign last year with high hopes.
Fresh off a run for agriculture commissioner that endeared her to Democratic activists statewide, she looked to the 24th District as a unique opportunity to not only flip a newly competitive seat but also help her party down-ballot with an array of battleground state House seats in the area.
For months, Olson looked like a candidate to beat, launching with a biographical video that went viral and building a strong early fundraising lead. But as the fall went on — and especially now in the runoff — Olson has had to increasingly confront the threat of Candace Valenzuela, a local school board member aiming to become the first Afro Latina elected to Congress.
The political trajectories of the two women are set to collide Tuesday, when Democrats will pick their nominee to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Kenny Marchant, R-Coppell. The seat is a national Democratic target after he won reelection two years ago by a surprisingly small margin.
The runoff has been dominated lately by scrutiny of Olson's time working for the Dallas school district in the late 2000s. But there have also been lingering questions related to race, life experience, other parts of their resumes and connections to North Texas district.
https://www.texastribune.org/2020/07/10/kim-olson-candace-valenzuela-runoff/
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