Beth Van Duyne

Elizabeth Ann Van Duyne is an American politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 24th congressional district, a position she has held since 2021. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served as the mayor of Irving, Texas, from 2011 to 2017 and held a role in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Trump administration. Van Duyne's political career has been marked by her focus on local governance, housing policy, and her alignment with conservative values.

Early life and career

Beth Van Duyne was born on November 16, 1970, in Albany, New York. She spent her early childhood in Amsterdam, New York, before moving to Cooperstown. At the age of 16, her family relocated to Irving, Texas, where she completed her high school education at Greenhill School in Addison. Following her graduation, Van Duyne attended Cornell University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in city and regional planning, government, and law, graduating magna cum laude.

Van Duyne's entry into politics was influenced by her dissatisfaction with local governance. She became particularly critical of Herbert Gears, a Democratic city councilor in Irving, due to his handling of a zoning case in her neighborhood. This discontent motivated her to run for a seat on the Irving City Council in the 2004 election, where she successfully defeated Gears. After Gears was elected mayor in 2005, Van Duyne continued her political career and stepped down from the council in 2010 to run for mayor herself. She won the mayoral election in 2011, defeating Gears, and subsequently secured re-election in 2014.

During her tenure as mayor, Van Duyne was involved in several high-profile issues. In 2015, she gained national attention for her response to a controversial incident involving a Muslim student, Ahmed Mohamed, who was arrested for bringing a homemade clock to school. Van Duyne defended the actions of the school and the police department, which led to her being named a co-defendant in a defamation lawsuit initiated by Mohamed's father. However, she was dismissed from the suit based on Texas law that protects public officials from lawsuits intended to silence free speech. The case was ultimately dismissed by the court.

In February 2017, Van Duyne announced that she would not seek a third term as mayor. Later that year, she was appointed by President Donald Trump as a regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where she oversaw operations in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Arkansas.

House tenure

Van Duyne's political career took a significant turn when she decided to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020. Following the announcement by incumbent Congressman Kenny Marchant that he would not seek re-election, Van Duyne resigned from her position at HUD to pursue the congressional seat representing Texas's 24th district. This district encompasses suburban areas between Dallas and Fort Worth, including parts of Denton, Dallas, and Tarrant counties.

In the Republican primary held on March 3, 2020, Van Duyne received the endorsement of President Trump and won the primary election with a substantial majority of the votes. In the general election, she faced Democratic nominee Candace Valenzuela, a former school board member. Throughout the campaign, Van Duyne emphasized her opposition to the Affordable Care Act and highlighted her commitment to protecting insurance coverage for preexisting conditions. The election was competitive, with Van Duyne ultimately winning with a narrow margin despite the district leaning Democratic in the presidential race.

Van Duyne was re-elected in 2022, defeating Democrat Jan McDowell by a significant margin. The redistricting process that followed the 2020 census altered the boundaries of the 24th district, making it more favorable for Republican candidates. This change contributed to her victory in the 2022 election, where she received nearly 60% of the vote.

In 2024, Van Duyne ran for a third term and successfully defeated her Democratic opponent, Sam Eppler, securing approximately 60% of the vote.

Legislative focus and committees

During her time in the U.S. House of Representatives, Van Duyne has aligned herself with the Republican Party's positions on various issues. She was one of the members who voted to object to the certification of the 2020 presidential election results, specifically opposing the electors from Pennsylvania.

Van Duyne's legislative focus has included immigration and foreign policy. She sponsored the American Tech Workforce Act of 2021, which aimed to establish a wage floor for the high-skill H-1B visa program and eliminate the Optional Practical Training program that allows foreign graduates to work in the United States. Additionally, she voted against the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, which proposed significant emergency aid to Ukraine.

In the context of the upcoming 2024 election cycle, Van Duyne has been named part of the leadership team for Donald Trump's campaign in Texas, indicating her continued alignment with the former president's political agenda.

Throughout her congressional tenure, Van Duyne has served on various committees, contributing to discussions and decisions that impact her constituents and the broader legislative landscape. Her career reflects a commitment to conservative principles and a focus on issues pertinent to her district and party.