Candace Valenzuela Last updated October 20, 2025 Early life and education Valenzuela was born in 1984 to a Mexican-American mother and an African-American father in El Paso,Texas . Her parents served in the United States Armed Forces . [ 1] [ 2] As they weren't married,her mother,Mary Valenzuela,was not allowed to include her father on the birth certificate ,and she gave her daughter her surname. Candace's parents married at Fort Hood ,but divorced two years later. [ 2]
After her mother left the military,the family lost their home. They stayed with her grandparents,with a Mormon family,and at a homeless shelter. At times when they had no place to stay,she slept behind a convenience store. [ 1]
Valenzuela earned a full scholarship to Claremont McKenna College ,where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in government. [ 3] [ 4]
Career In 2017,Valenzuela was elected to the school board for Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District ,defeating an 18 year incumbent. [ 1] She resigned in December 2019. [ 5]
In April 2019,Valenzuela announced that she would run as a Democrat in the 2020 elections for the United States House of Representatives in Texas's 24th congressional district ,held by Republican Kenny Marchant . Marchant announced he would not seek reelection in August 2019. [ 6] In the primary election ,Valenzuela and Kim Olson advanced to a runoff election. [ 7] Valenzuela defeated Olson in the runoff,and faced Beth Van Duyne in the November general election. [ 8] Van Duyne defeated Valenzuela in the general election. [ 9]
In March 2022,President Joe Biden appointed Valenzuela as the regional administrator for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD),overseeing Texas,Oklahoma,New Mexico,Louisiana,and Arkansas;this is the same position held by Van Duyne during the Trump administration . [ 10]
Personal life Valenzuela and her husband,Andy,have two children. They live in Dallas ,Texas . [ 11] [ 12]
References 1 2 3 https://www.star-telegram.com/latest-news/article229170294.html 1 2 Torregrosa 4, Luisita Lopez (October 29, 2020). "The Unlikely Candidate Who Might Flip a Republican Stronghold" . Texas Monthly . {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link ) ↑ Affairs, Office of Public; Claremont, Communications 400 N. Claremont Blvd. "Finding common ground amid political differences" . cmc.edu . Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020 . {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link ) ↑ "Young Women Run North Texas: Speakers" . IGNITE National . Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020 . ↑ "C-FB ISD board discusses option of filling its vacancy | Carrollton Leader" . starlocalmedia.com. May 22, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020 . ↑ https://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article233526622.html ↑ "Latina underdog for Texas House seat picks up steam" . TheHill. April 3, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020 . ↑ "Candace Valenzuela wins Texas runoff, stands to be first Afro-Latina in Congress" . Nbcnews.com. Retrieved July 15, 2020 . ↑ Garcia, Nic (November 10, 2020). "Candace Valenzuela concedes to Beth Van Duyne in heated North Texas congressional race" . Dallasnews.com. Retrieved May 27, 2022 . ↑ By Emily Caldwell11:35 AM on Mar 18, 2022 CDT (March 18, 2022). "Biden taps Candace Valenzuela, Beth Van Duyne's 2020 congressional rival, to join administration" . Dallasnews.com. Retrieved May 27, 2022 . {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link ) ↑ "Candace Valenzuela for U.S. House, Texas" . www.emilyslist.org . Archived from the original on July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020 . ↑ "BOLD PAC" . www.boldpac.com . Retrieved July 15, 2020 . This page is based on this
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