This morning, Candace Valenzuela joined MSNBC’s Morning Joe to discuss her race for Texas’ 24th Congressional District and the historic voter turnout across Texas.

Last night, Candace Valenzuela was profiled by Nightline to discuss her candidacy for Texas’ 24th Congressional District. In the interview, Valenzuela discusses overcoming childhood homelessness, being the first in her family to go to college, what’s at stake in this election, and what it would mean to be the first Black Latina ever elected to Congress.

This week, Candace Valenzuela joined MSNBC’s Maria Teresa Kumar to discuss her race for Texas’ 24th Congressional District and the historic voter turnout across Texas.

Today, Candace Valenzuela released her fourth TV ad in her campaign for Texas’ 24th Congressional District.

“In The Balance” exposes how Beth Van Duyne stood with President Trump as he failed to keep North Texans safe during this pandemic. The ad also calls attention to Van Duyne’s support for a health care plan that would increase costs and gut protections for North Texans with pre-existing conditions. The ad finishes with Valenzuela’s pledge to always protect healthcare and help North Texas bounce back from this crisis.

The ad will reach TX-24 voters across the Dallas-Fort Worth market on broadcast and cable, backed by a significant six-figure buy.

Transcript:

VO:

This election, our health care hangs in the balance.

Beth Van Duyne and Donald Trump downplayed the pandemic and now threaten our health care when we need it most.

Beth Van Duyne and Trump would let insurance companies deny treatment to Texans with pre-existing conditions, including the coronavirus. Even charge seniors more for their care.

But not Candace Valenzuela.

She’ll stand up to the drug companies to protect health care so we can bounce back from this crisis.

VALENZUELA:

I’m Candace Valenzuela and I approved this message.

Today, President Trump released a video from his recent interview with “60 Minutes.” In the interview, Trump says he “hopes” that the Supreme Court will strike down the entire Affordable Care Act saying “it’ll be so good if they end it.”

Recently, in an interview with the Dallas Morning News editorial board, Van Duyne doubled down on her support for Washington Republicans’ efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, calling previous efforts to repeal the law a “missed opportunity.”

In response, Candace Valenzuela, the Democratic nominee for Congress in Texas’ 24th District, released the following statement:

“President Trump and my opponent have both talked about ripping healthcare away from two million Texans and ending protections for people with preexisting conditions. That is unacceptable. The stakes in this election couldn’t be higher for North Texans. Repealing the Affordable Care Act would be disastrous for families in our community. Neither President Trump nor my opponent have a plan, but I do. In Congress, I’ll stand up to President Trump and protect people with preexisting conditions, lower prescription drug costs, and expand quality, affordable healthcare for all North Texans.”

Today, Candace Valenzuela released her third TV ad in her campaign for Texas’ 24th Congressional District.

“Not For Everyone” features Candace’s personal story of how her father flew planes for the military and her mom fixed them. The ad highlights Candace’s plan to invest in job and skills training programs to get North Texans back to work after the Trump Administration’s failure to contain COVID-19.

The ad will reach TX-24 voters across the Dallas-Fort Worth market on broadcast and cable, backed by a significant six-figure buy.

Transcript:

VALENZUELA: I like to say that my dad used to jump out of planes and my mom used to fix them. And while I was the first in my family to go to college, I know it’s not for everyone. I’m Candace Valenzuela. On the school board, I funded vocational training programs. Now, we need even more skilled workers to bring our manufacturing economy back after Donald Trump’s failed response to the pandemic. I’m Candace Valenzuela. I’m running for Congress. I approve this message because college isn’t for everyone, but a good-paying job should be.

In an interview with the Dallas Morning News editorial board, Beth Van Duyne doubled down on her support for Washington Republicans’ efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

When asked by the Dallas Morning News, “I’m trying to figure out how you see the Republican Party really delivering on that promise when they haven’t in the past. What’s going to be different between 2021 and 2017 in regards to that?”

Van Duyne responded by praising President Trump and added, “Do I think we had a missed opportunity on health care? Yes.”

A transcript is available below. The “missed opportunity” that Van Duyne laments would gut protections for people with preexisting conditions, raise health care costs, and throw some 23 million Americans off their health insurance, including 2 million Texans.

In response, Candace Valenzuela, the Democratic nominee for Congress in Texas’ 24th District, released the following statement:

“I live with a preexisting condition and I’ve seen my own healthcare costs balloon by over 100 percent," said Valenzuela. “Even when working three jobs, I’ve wondered how I’m going to be able to pay medical bills and keep food on the table. In Congress, I’ll stand up to Donald Trump and the wealthy pharmaceutical companies to protect people with preexisting conditions, lower drug costs, and secure affordable, high-quality health care for every Texan.”

“Beth Van Duyne has long supported efforts to gut protections for people with preexisting conditions and she can’t hide her record from North Texans,” said Valenzuela campaign manager Geoffrey Simpson. “Van Duyne said that the Affordable Care Act was ‘enacted based on lies’ and she supports a plan that would let insurance companies discriminate against people with preexisting conditions and would impose higher costs on older Americans.”

Transcript:

Dallas Morning News: Can I jump in right quick for a quick follow-up? And this is breaking news so, Beth, forgive me, I don't want to hold you too accountable to the specific nuances of this. But while we were in this meeting, President Trump tweeted that he wants to end any sort of discussion on stimulus, on COVID recovery bills with Congress. And you mentioned infrastructure a few times and I feel like during the first few years of the Trump administration, he had a full Congress. He had all the tools at his disposal. And I guess I'm just trying to figure out how you see the Republican Party really delivering on that promise when they haven't in the past. What's going to be different between 2021 and 2017 in regards to that? I mean, we have a man in the White House who is saying he doesn’t want to negotiate.

Beth Van Duyne: I've seen an administration that's been able to do some phenomenal things over the last few years. You know, criminal justice reform being one. You know, bartering a Middle East peace treaty. Bringing back manufacturing jobs. Creating a resurgence of jobs. Creating some of the lowest unemployment rates across different demographics that we've ever seen before. Rising an economy and economic development. Those are some of the things that the administration and Republicans were able to work on together. Do I think we had a missed opportunity on health care? Absolutely. Do I think that's something that we need to focus on moving forward after 2020? Yes.

Today, Candace Valenzuela, a mother and educator running for Congress in Texas’ 24th District, released the second ad of her general election campaign: “Together.”

In the ad, Tracy Fisher, a Republican who served on an adjacent local school board, talks about Valenzuela’s commitment to work with anyone to deliver results for working families. On the school board, Valenzuela worked with both parties to raise wages for teachers and school service workers, expand job and skills training, and protect kids from gun violence.

Fisher also sets the record straight saying Valenzuela does not want to defund the police, as Valenzuela has said numerous times on the record.

The ad will reach TX-24 voters across the Dallas-Fort Worth market on broadcast and cable, backed by a significant six-figure buy.

In a video message to North Texans, Valenzuela added, “Today is the first day of early voting! This is a historic election and we have the chance to make powerful and tangible change in our community. Make your voice heard. Vote!”

This week, President Trump announced that he was ending negotiations over desperately needed COVID-19 relief legislation until after the November election.

Democrat Candace Valenzuela, a mother and educator running for Congress in Texas’ 24th District, responded with the following statement:

“Donald Trump and his enablers let this virus spiral out of control,” said Valenzuela. “North Texans are hurting, and while Washington Republicans bailed out their corporate donors, they refuse to come to the table and discuss relief for North Texans.

Thousands of jobs, small businesses, and families across our community are at risk because of the devastating impact of this pandemic. President Trump’s move to end negotiations for relief means that even more livelihoods are at risk.

This isn’t a time for Washington’s political games -- we need action now. In Congress, I’ll work with anyone to deliver the relief that North Texans desperately need.”

Today, the United States passed a tragic threshold as Johns Hopkins University reported that over 200,000 Americans have died from COVID-19.

Democrat Candace Valenzuela, a mother and educator running for Congress in Texas’ 24th District, responded with the following statement:

“North Texans are hurting. Thousands have died and so many folks in our communities are mourning loved ones passing. This is an American tragedy. We had a chance to control the virus and get our kids safely back in school this fall but Washington Republicans, cheered on by my opponent, let this pandemic spiral out of control. Even as COVID-19 hurts our communities, Beth Van Duyne hasn’t learned from her mistakes. Van Duyne has consistently cheered reckless efforts to reopen North Texas without a plan or listening to experts. There is pain in our community, but there is also hope for a better future. In Congress, I’ll listen to the experts, stop the spread of the virus, and get folks back to work and school safely.”

Today, Candace Valenzuela, a mother and educator running for Congress in Texas’ 24th District, released the first ad of her general election campaign: “Home."

In the ad, Valenzuela shares her powerful story of overcoming childhood homelessness, and with the help of public schools, earning a scholarship to become the first in her family to go to college. Valenzuela then became an educator and a school board trustee to give back to her community and ensure that every North Texan has access to the opportunities that uplifted her family.

The ad will reach TX-24 voters across the Dallas-Fort Worth market on broadcast and cable, backed by a significant six-figure buy.

“Just like millions of North Texans, I know the struggle of having to work two or even three jobs to keep a roof over your head and to pay ballooning health care bills,” said Candace Valenzuela. “North Texans need a leader that understands the obstacles working families are facing and will fight for them –– not the corporate special interests. In Congress, I will work to lower health care costs, protect people with pre-existing conditions, and stop the spread of this virus so folks can get back to work safely.”

WATCH "HOME"