IRVING (1080 KRLD) - She just left her federal post with U.S. Housing and Urban Development last week. Now, Beth Van Duyne is looking to go back to Washington.
In a Facebook post on Monday, the former Irving mayor announced her candidacy for the District 24 U.S. House seat held by Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-Coppell), who announced he will not seek a ninth term.
Van Duyne, who served as Irving's mayor from 2011-2017, will work to help Republicans hold onto the seat controlled by the GOP since 2005. Before it was redrawn in 2003, the district was held by 13-term Democrat Rep. Martin Frost. Rep. Marchant won re-election last fall by a margin of just over three percentage points.
In analyzing Van Duyne's candidacy, UNT political science professor Dr. Kimi King said, "What will be critical for Van Duyne is going to be the ability to raise money quickly, and to show she can raise that money quickly, because the name recognition will not necessarily be there."
Until last week, Van Duyne served as a regional administrator with HUD in the Trump administration.
There also has been speculation Rep. Marchant's son, Matthew, may enter the race to succeed his father, but the younger Marchant has not announced a bid. Several Democrats have already entered the race in District 24.
In a statement to announce his retirement from Congress, Rep. Kenny Marchant, 68, said, "I look forward to spending more time with my seven grandchildren and working cattle on my ranch." He also served as mayor of Carrollton, and was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1987-2004.