A swath of land stretching from Hurst and Euless through Coppell and Farmers Branch has become one of the hottest pieces of real estate in Texas.
Politically speaking, that is.
That stretch makes up the 24th congressional district, represented by the retiring U.S. Rep. Kenny Marchant, R-Coppell. His departure enticed five Republicans and seven Democrats to run for the open seat.
But the district isn’t just important in Texas.
It’s being watched across the country.
That’s because political races in the district have shifted in recent years to move the seat from leaning Republican to what some call a toss-up. National Republicans and Democrats are targeting the district.
“This may be one of the most competitive and interesting House races in the whole country,” said Kyle Kondik, managing editor for Larry J. Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. “Republicans can’t afford to lose more ground in Texas if they want to win back the House majority this year.”
At stake is a two-year term that pays $174,000 a year.
This highly desirable district crisscrosses through cities and suburban neighborhoods in Tarrant, Dallas and Denton counties.
“The district is in the meaty part of suburban Tarrant County which is rapidly changing demographically and slowly shifting to favor Democrats,” said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston. “Given how competitive Democrats have been in suburban districts across the state, all eyes inside and outside Texas will be on this race.”
This district has been ranked a “toss up” by Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball. Cook Political Report said it’s a Republican toss up. It has been named one of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s top targets in 2020. And national Republicans have long said they’ll defend this seat.
District ‘in play’
Marchant, who spent 40 years in public office but barely won his last re-election bid against a little-known candidate, was among six Texas Republicans not seeking re-election.
Marchant was first elected to the post in 2004 with 64% of the vote. His winning percentage fluctuated through the years between 56% in 2008 and 81% in 2010 when he had no Democratic challenger.
In 2016, he won by 56.2% and in 2018 by 50.6%. Democrat Jan McDowell ran against Marchant in both of those races and is among the Democrats seeking their party’s nomination from this post this year as well.
When Marchant announced his retirement, candidates on both sides of the political aisle quickly began announcing that they were in the race.
This district “is one of many affluent, highly educated , and diverse suburban districts across the country that are moving toward the Democrats with Donald Trump leading the Republican Party,” Kondik said. “Democrats view this district as one of their top pickup opportunities in the entire country.”
Five Republicans are in this race: Beth Van Duyne, a former Irving mayor; Desi Maes, a Dallas business owner, Jeron Liverman, a Bedford associated broker/real estate agent; David Fegan, a Colleyville property manager; and Sunny Chaparala, a Dallas real estate broker.
And seven Democrats joined the race, although Crystal Fletcher, a Dallas attorney, told the Star-Telegram she has ended her campaign.
Those still in the race include: Kim Olson, a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel in Colleyville; McDowell, the retired CPA in Carrollton who challenged Marchant for this seat in 2018; John Biggan, a Hurst data scientist and adjunct psychology professor; Richard Fleming, a Carrollton tax adviser; Candace Valenzuela, a former school board trustee from Dallas; and Sam Vega, an Irving project manager/art director.
“Competitive races across Texas in 2018 showed the Democrats that fielding candidates in all races can yield victories in unlikely places,” Rottinghaus said. “A close loss for Democrats and a narrow win for Republicans in 2018 demonstrated that CD 24 is in play politically.
“A surge in turnout in a presidential election year makes this race a clear competitive toss up.”
Here’s a look at the candidates, according to responses they provided to a Star-Telegram survey.
Republicans
Van Duyne, 49, served as regional HUD administrator in Fort Worth under Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson before running for this post. She resigned the HUD job in early August.
If elected, she said her top priorities include stopping drug cartels and human traffickers, lowering healthcare costs and boosting infrastructure projects. “We need a U.S. representative who is focused on delivering solutions and putting progress for the American people ahead of political theater and more Washington nonsense,” she said.
Maes, 53, has never held political office but said he gained valuable experience in the military, working for Fortune 500 companies and running his small business.
His top priorities, if elected, would be securing the border, reducing the budget, slowing government spending and cutting bureaucratic regulations. “I am running to bring real leadership, real world experience and real results to the people of (the district),” he said. “But most importantly, I want to put service back into public service.”
Liverman, 50, has never held political office but said he has life experiences that include both success and failure. “I have gracefully danced with both,” he said.
His priorities include addressing unfairness with healthcare, reducing federal spending and defending the Second Amendment. “I have evolved and learned from my mistakes over the years,” he said. “I believe the voters need someone of my demographic background, age and experiences.”
Fegan, 25, is the youngest person in the race and has never held political office. He helps a non-profit group known as Gate House, which is a refuge for battered women and their children.
If elected, he said his priorities are making abortion illegal, fighting efforts to “socialize everything like Medicare” and working to “fix our illegal immigration problem.” “I want to see a lasting change in our government,” he said. “There is a changing demographic in my district, which is … interested in someone who has fresh ideas and can genuinely represent” the district.
Chaparala did not respond to the Star-Telegram survey.
Democrats
Olson, 62, unsuccessfully ran for Agriculture Commissioner in 2018 against incumbent Republican Sid Miller, losing by just under 400,000 votes. More than 8.2 million votes were cast in the race.
Her priorities, if elected, would be to make healthcare affordable for everyone, take action on climate change and reduce gun violence. “Washington needs more veterans and fewer career politicians,” she said. “If we come together to elect pragmatic leaders instead of partisan ideologues, we can make a difference.”
McDowell, 66, lost her challenge to Marchant in 2018 by just over 8,000 votes.
If elected, she said her priorities are to save the planet, shrink the economic inequality gap and provide healthcare for all. “I bring a broad perspective to representing constituents,” she said. “I’m committed to being accessible and accountable to them. I know that winning the seat means winning a JOB, not an award.”
Biggan, 36, is seeking his first political office. He said his knowledge as a scientist would provide a different perspective in Congress.
His priorities, if elected, include addressing climate change, reducing the cost of higher education and lowering the cost of prescription drugs by letting Medicare negotiate prices. He said he realized he needed to become more active after Donald Trump was elected. Trump’s inauguration “was one of the darkest days I can remember,” he said.
Fleming, who did not disclose his age, said six generations of his family have lived in this congressional district. He is a former school board trustee for the Carrollton-Farmers Branch district.
If elected, he said his priorities are making sure all Americans have access to affordable health care that covers pre-existing conditions, as well as addressing immigration reform and “common sense” gun reform. “I am the only candidate in this race that has proven that he can beat a Republican in a head to head election contest in a mostly Republican district,” he said.
Valenzuela, 35, served as a trustee on the Carrollton-Farmers Branch school district from 2017-2019 and resigned to run for this congressional seat. She touts the fact that she unseated an 18-year incumbent to win the post.
If elected, she said her top priorities include investing in infrastructure, making sure large corporations reinvest in the system and boosting investments in education. “Voters should choose me because, in an extremely diverse district made up of working families, I am a great fit to represent them,” she said.
Vega, 30, is seeking his first political office. His priorities, if elected, would be providing Medicare for all, addressing the climate crisis and hammering away at wealth inequality.
“I’m the most progressive and I’m unapologetic about pushing for progressive policies that I believe will be the most beneficial for everyone,” he said. “You can expect transparency from me and a lot less of the typical politician double talk.”
Anna M. Tinsley grew up in a journalism family and has been a reporter for the Star-Telegram since 2001. She has covered the Texas Legislature and politics for more than two decades and has won multiple awards for political reporting, most recently a third place from APME for deadline writing. She is a Baylor University graduate.
