Beth Van Duyne

The neutral encyclopedia of notable people
Beth Van Duyne
BornElizabeth Ann Van Duyne
11/16/1970
BirthplaceAlbany, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitician
TitleMember of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 24th congressional district
Known forU.S. Representative for Texas's 24th congressional district; Mayor of Irving, Texas
EducationCornell University (BA, 1995)
Children2
WebsiteOfficial congressional website

Elizabeth Ann Van Duyne (born November 16, 1970) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Texas's 24th congressional district since January 3, 2021. She's a member of the Republican Party who previously served as mayor of Irving, Texas, from 2011 to 2017 and held a regional appointment in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) during the first Trump administration. Van Duyne was born in Albany, New York, and moved to Texas during high school before graduating from Cornell University. In Congress, she's focused on tax policy through her work on the House Ways and Means Committee and currently chairs the Budget and Spending Task Force of the Republican Study Committee.[1] Her time as Irving's mayor drew national attention for controversies involving a city council resolution about Sharia law and the 2015 Ahmed Mohamed clock incident.[2] She succeeded Republican Kenny Marchant, who retired after representing the 24th district for over a decade.

Early Life

Elizabeth Ann Van Duyne was born on November 16, 1970, in Albany, New York.[3] While she was in high school, her family moved to Texas.[3] People who knew her described her as energetic and dedicated from an early age.[4]

After settling in Texas, she made her home in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, where she'd eventually build a career spanning both private industry and public service. Coming from New York's Capital District to the rapidly expanding suburbs of North Texas shaped how she viewed politics and community involvement. This move ultimately led her into local government in Irving, one of the region's most diverse and economically vibrant cities.[4]

Education

Van Duyne earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, graduating in 1995.[5] She's stayed connected to the university over the years. In June 2025, she returned to Cornell for a policy discussion with Colleen Barry, dean of the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, during the school's reunion weekend.[5]

Career

Early Career and Irving City Government

Before she entered electoral politics, Van Duyne worked in the private sector and became involved in civic life in Irving, Texas.[6] She served on the Irving City Council before running for mayor, gaining practical experience in local government and community work during a period when the city was undergoing major demographic and economic transformation in the early 2000s.[6]

Mayor of Irving (2011 to 2017)

Van Duyne won the mayoral race on June 11, 2011, defeating incumbent Herbert Gears in a runoff that The Dallas Morning News called part of a "long war" between the two figures.[7] She took office on July 7, 2011.[8] The election got attention partly because of her background in the Albany area, which regional outlets noted.[8]

During her tenure as mayor, Van Duyne concentrated on economic development and municipal management in Irving, a city with over 200,000 residents that's home to several major corporate headquarters and sits near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.[6]

Sharia Law Controversy and National Spotlight

In 2015, Van Duyne attracted major national attention when she publicly backed a city council resolution and supported state legislation over concerns about Sharia law in the United States. At the center of the dispute was the Islamic Tribunal, a private mediation panel created in Irving to help resolve conflicts among Muslim residents on a voluntary basis. Van Duyne viewed the tribunal as risky and pushed the Texas Legislature to pass a bill that would affirm the supremacy of American and Texas law over foreign legal systems.[9]

Muslim community leaders and civil rights groups opposed her actions, saying she was promoting Islamophobia and getting the mediation panel's nature wrong.[10] The Washington Post later connected this controversy to a longer history of anti-Islam sentiment in Irving that had existed before Van Duyne took her position on the tribunal issue.[2]

Things intensified in September 2015 when the Ahmed Mohamed clock incident happened. The 14-year-old Muslim student at MacArthur High School in Irving was arrested after bringing a homemade clock to school that school staff and police said looked like a bomb. Van Duyne defended how the school and Irving Police Department handled it.[11] The case exploded into a major debate about racial profiling, Islamophobia, and zero-tolerance school policies. It also pushed Van Duyne further into the national conversation, making her well-known to both supporters and critics alike.[2]

Consideration of Third Term

In February 2017, Van Duyne said she wouldn't run for a third term as Irving's mayor.[12] Rick Stopfer became mayor after her.[6]

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

After leaving the Irving mayor's office in 2017, Van Duyne took a regional position with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under President Donald Trump. The New York Daily News called her a "polarizing Texas mayor" when she was appointed.[13] In that role, she served as a regional administrator overseeing federal housing programs across the Southwest.[13][6]

U.S. House of Representatives

2020 Election

Van Duyne ran for the U.S. House in Texas's 24th congressional district in 2020 after longtime Republican Kenny Marchant announced his retirement.[14] The 24th district covers parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, including portions of Tarrant County and Dallas County, and had become increasingly competitive. She won the general election.[14][15]

Tenure in Congress

Van Duyne took office on January 3, 2021, representing Texas's 24th congressional district.[16][17]

She's served on the House Ways and Means Committee, positioning herself as a prominent Republican voice on tax and fiscal matters.[1] Her role as Budget and Spending Task Force Chair for the Republican Study Committee, the House's largest conservative group, lets her speak to fiscal issues.[1] Through that position, she's pushed for limited government and fiscal restraint, publishing op-eds and statements calling for less federal spending and economic growth via conservative policies.[1]

Tax Policy

Van Duyne has been deeply involved in tax reform, especially regarding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017's provisions. In August 2025, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce brought her in for a roundtable on tax reform, where she talked about how federal tax policy affects businesses in Dallas-Fort Worth.[18]

Early in 2026, she predicted the House would vote on extending tariffs that President Trump had imposed, reflecting her involvement in ongoing budget and trade debates within the Republican conference.[19]

Healthcare Legislation

Van Duyne has worked across party lines on healthcare. In September 2025, she and Democratic Congressman Jim Costa of California co-introduced legislation aimed at saving children's lives through early detection of pediatric liver disease.[20] This cross-party effort aimed to improve screening and treatment for kids with liver disease.

She's also spoken out strongly for keeping and improving hospice care access under Medicare. In June 2025, she called timely hospice access "a national imperative" and told her colleagues to protect the Medicare Hospice Benefit.[21]

Reelection Campaigns

Her reelection races in the 24th district have been competitive. The seat is considered one of Texas's more competitive Republican-held districts. As of early 2026, Democratic candidates were preparing for the March 3 primary with the goal of challenging Van Duyne in the general election.[22]

Personal Life

Van Duyne has two children.[6] Since 2024, she's been in a relationship with Rich McCormick, a Republican congressman from Georgia.[6] She lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas.[6]

She's kept in touch with Cornell University over the years, returning to campus for alumni gatherings and policy work.[5]

Recognition

Van Duyne's career includes several significant roles and public appearances. Her 2011 election as Irving's mayor made her a major figure in North Texas municipal politics. The Sharia law and Ahmed Mohamed controversies that followed dramatically raised her profile beyond Dallas-Fort Worth.[9][2]

Her position as Budget and Spending Task Force Chair of the Republican Study Committee placed her in a leadership role within the House's largest conservative caucus.[1] Work on the House Ways and Means Committee has led to meetings with major business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which brought her in for tax reform discussions.[18]

The pediatric liver disease bill she sponsored with Congressman Costa stands out as an example of bipartisan healthcare cooperation in Congress.[20]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "RSC Budget Chair Beth Van Duyne: "Empowering growth and exceptionalism through limited government"". 'Republican Study Committee}'. 2026-01. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "The history of anti-Islam controversy in Ahmed Mohamed's Texas city".The Washington Post.https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/09/16/the-history-of-anti-islam-controversy-in-ahmed-mohameds-texas-city/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Beth Van Duyne, U.S. Representative for Texas". 'The Presidential Prayer Team}'. 2026-01-29. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Friends, family say Irving's new mayor full of energy and dedication".The Dallas Morning News.2011-06-25.https://web.archive.org/web/20190806172917/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/irving/2011/06/25/friends-family-say-irvings-new-mayor-full-of-energy-and-dedication.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "US Rep. Beth Van Duyne '95, Brooks School dean to discuss policy at Reunion". 'Cornell Chronicle}'. 2025-06-02. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 "Beth Van Duyne". 'Ballotpedia}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "Irving mayor runoff battle part of long war for Gears, Van Duyne".The Dallas Morning News.2011-06-11.https://www.dallasnews.com/news/irving/2011/06/11/irving-mayor-runoff-battle-part-of-long-war-for-gears-van-duyne.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Van Duyne becomes Irving mayor".The Daily Gazette.2011-07-27.https://dailygazette.com/2011/07/27/0727_mayor/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Shariah flap pushes Irving mayor into national spotlight".The Dallas Morning News.2015-07-28.https://www.dallasnews.com/news/irving/2015/07/28/shariah-flap-pushes-irving-mayor-into-national-spotlight.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Irving Islamophobia: Beth Van Duyne".The Texas Observer.https://www.texasobserver.org/irving-islamophobia-beth-van-duyne/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Irving mayor defends school and cops".HuffPost.https://www.huffpost.com/entry/irving-mayor-defends-school-and-cops_n_55f9dbc0e4b08820d917310e.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne will seek third term".The Dallas Morning News.2017-02-16.https://www.dallasnews.com/news/irving/2017/02/16/irving-mayor-beth-van-duyne-will-seek-third-term.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Polarizing Texas mayor starts regional HUD job in Trump admin".New York Daily News.https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/polarizing-texas-mayor-starts-regional-hud-job-trump-admin-article-1.3150690.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Rep.-elect Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas-24)".The Hill.https://thehill.com/new-members-guide-2020/527842-rep-elect-beth-van-duyne-r-texas-24.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "U.S. Representative District 24 Election Results". 'Texas Secretary of State}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "Representative Beth Van Duyne". 'Congress.gov}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Beth Van Duyne". 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "U.S. Chamber, Grapevine Chamber Host U.S. Representative Beth Van Duyne for Roundtable on Tax Reform". 'U.S. Chamber of Commerce}'. 2025-08-05. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Texas Republican Expects House to Vote on Trump Tariff Extension".Bloomberg Government.https://news.bgov.com/bloomberg-government-news/gop-tax-writer-predicts-tariff-extension-vote-in-house-this-year.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Costa, Van Duyne Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Save Children's Lives Through Early Detection of Pediatric Liver Disease". 'Office of Congressman Jim Costa}'. 2025-09-23. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "US Rep. Beth Van Duyne: Timely Access to Hospice Care a National Imperative".Hospice News.2025-06-24.https://hospicenews.com/2025/06/24/us-rep-beth-van-duyne-timely-access-to-hospice-care-a-national-imperative/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Here are the Democratic primary candidates for Texas Congressional District 24".Fort Worth Star-Telegram.https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/election/voter-guide/article314664878.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
Retrieved from "https://biography.wiki/index.php?title=Beth_Van_Duyne&oldid=15327"