“According to an internal survey by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on the eve of the primary runoff, Valenzuela was leading Republican rival Van Duyne by six points, suggesting it could be a close race in November.”
Candace Valenzuela’s recent primary victory and commitment to fighting for Texan families has gained her momentum across the state and the nation giving her a real opportunity to flip Texas’ 24th Congressional District blue.
Candace is poised to become the first Black Latina elected to Congress, after raising over $130,000 in the first week following the primary from over 18,000 individual contributors and making continued efforts to reach voters in every corner of her district.
Following Candace’s victory this month, the DCCC added her to the highly competitive Red to Blue program and released polling conducted from 6/11-6/15 that shows Candace Valenzuela leading Republican nominee Beth Van Duyne by 6 points (45-39).
NBC: Afro-Latina candidate Candace Valenzuela wants to continue John Lewis’ legacy in Congress
KEY POINTS:
- Candace Valenzuela wants to make history as the first Afro-Latina in Congress, and hopes her victory in November can help continue the fight for social justice waged bythe late Rep. John Lewis.
- Valenzuela, 37, won the Democratic primary runoff last Tuesdayfor Texas’ 24th congressional district and is now facing her Republican rival, Beth Van Duyne, in November’s elections.
- Valenzuela, a mother of two young children and an educator, said she hopes that her story of personal struggle against poverty and homelessness will resonate with those families who, in the midst of the pandemic, “are suffering” with high unemployment rates, financial insecurity and a challenge to their economic and social mobility.
- Democrats hope their support of Valenzuela can turn the district blue and help keep the House of Representatives under Democrats’ control.
- “We have an incredible grassroots movement and we’re going to continue to communicate my message,” she said, “trying to make sure that families succeed, trying to put food on the table, a roof over your head and get the healthcare and the education you need.”
- Valenzuela’s campaign estimates she will need up to four million dollars as they work to win voters before November. Between last April and June, her campaign raised $470,000, considered a record for her district, and since last week, she has raised an additional $130,000 from more than 18,000 donors.
- According to an internal survey by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on the eve of the primary runoff, Valenzuela was leading Republican rival Van Duyne by six points, suggesting it could be a close race in November. Some political analysts are describing the race as a toss-up.
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