A Black Latina is expected to make history if elected to Congress in the general election in November, NBC News reported.
Candace Valenzuela will be the first Black Latina and the third Latina from Texas elected to Congress if she wins against Republican candidate Beth Van Duyne, who was the former mayor of Irving.
Valenzuela said it's important for a Black Latina to represent her district, which she said is made up of a diverse, young, suburban, well-educated and majority-minority population.
"One of the things we're lacking here is representation exactly for those groups, for those groups who are younger or more diverse. It means that we have to have better conversations about what equity looks like," she said according to CBS News.
"We haven't had representation in Congress that understands those struggles," Valenzuela added. "The conversations about what equity looks like will be different when we have more diverse representations in Congress. And I look forward to making that happen."
The politician won the Democratic primary runoff Tuesday for the state's 24th Congressional District seat against retired Air Force Col. Kim Olson with 60.4% of the vote, CNN reported.
"I'm proud to announce that tonight, our grassroots coalition has won and I am the Democratic nominee for Texas' 24th District," Valenzuela wrote on Twitter after the election.
I’m proud to announce that tonight, our grassroots coalition has won and I am the Democratic nominee for Texas’ 24th District.
I will never forget those of you who knocked doors, made calls, donated your hard earned money, and spoke with your family and friends about our race.
— Candace Valenzuela (@candacefor24) July 15, 2020
Olson won the primary election back in March but didn't receive at least 50% of the votes, therefore requiring the runoff on Tuesday.
Valenzuela is of Mexican American and Black descent and was a first-generation college graduate. Afterward attaining her degree, she became a teacher working specifically with children with special needs.
She then was elected to the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District Board, kicking off her political career. On the school board, she was the first Latina and first Black woman elected, according to CBS.
In a campaign video, she described escaping domestic violence with her mother and having to sleep in a kiddie pool. She said she experienced homelessness and lived in shelters until her mother, an Army veteran, was able to get back on her feet.
According to NBC, Democrats say the U.S. House seat could be one of their best pickup opportunities in November.
The position became available when the Republican incumbent Kenny Marchant announced he wouldn't be running for reelection after serving the district for 15 years.
Heading into the general election, Valenzuela has been endorsed and supported by both the Congressional Hispanic and Black caucuses, in addition to the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, CNN reported.
She has also received support from Sens. Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker and former presidential candidate Julián Castro.
