Candace Valenzuela

Candace Valenzuela
Regional Administrator for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
In office
March 18, 2022 – 2025
Preceded byMichael Burley
Personal details
Born1984 (age 41–42)
El Paso, Texas, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseAndy
Children2
EducationClaremont McKenna College (BA)

Candace Valenzuela (born 1984) is an American politician from the state of Texas. She served as a regional administrator for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development from 2022 to 2025 after being appointed to the role by Joe Biden. Valenzuela is the Democratic nominee for Precinct 2 of the Denton County Commission in the 2026 elections and was previously the party's nominee for Texas's 24th congressional district in 2020.

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. 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.

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.

Valenzuela earned a full scholarship to Claremont McKenna College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in government.

Career

Carollton-Farmers Branch ISD school board

In 2017, Valenzuela was elected to the school board for Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District, defeating an 18 year incumbent. She resigned in December 2019.

2020 U.S. House of Representatives campaign

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. In the primary election, Valenzuela and Kim Olson advanced to a runoff election. Valenzuela defeated Olson in the runoff, and faced Beth Van Duyne in the November general election. Van Duyne defeated Valenzuela in the general election.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

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.

2026 Denton County Commission campaign

In December 2025, Valenzuela filed to run for Precinct 2 of the Denton County Commission against incumbent Republican Kevin Falconer. She was unopposed in the Democratic primary election and faces Falconer in the November general election.

Personal life

Valenzuela and her husband, Andy, have two children. They live in Dallas, Texas.

References

  1. 1 2 3 https://www.star-telegram.com/latest-news/article229170294.html
  2. 1 2 Torregrosa, Luisita Lopez (October 29, 2020). "The Unlikely Candidate Who Might Flip a Republican Stronghold". Texas Monthly. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  3. ↑ Leppert, Tom (May 14, 2020). "Finding common ground amid political differences". cmc.edu. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Young Women Run North Texas: Speakers". IGNITE National. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  5. ↑ "C-FB ISD board discusses option of filling its vacancy | Carrollton Leader". starlocalmedia.com. May 22, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  6. ↑ https://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article233526622.html
  7. ↑ "Latina underdog for Texas House seat picks up steam". TheHill. April 3, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Candace Valenzuela wins Texas runoff, stands to be first Afro-Latina in Congress". Nbcnews.com. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  9. ↑ Garcia, Nic (November 10, 2020). "Candace Valenzuela concedes to Beth Van Duyne in heated North Texas congressional race". Dallasnews.com. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  10. ↑ Caldwell, Emily (March 18, 2022). "Biden taps Candace Valenzuela, Beth Van Duyne's 2020 congressional rival, to join administration". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  11. ↑ Pearce, Micah (December 11, 2026). "Candidates set as filing closes for Denton County primaries". Cross Timbers Gazette. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  12. ↑ "2026 Texas Primary Live Election Coverage". North Texas Daily. March 3, 2026. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Candace Valenzuela for U.S. House, Texas". www.emilyslist.org. Archived from the original on July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  14. ↑ "BOLD PAC". www.boldpac.com. Retrieved July 15, 2020.