Beth Van Duyne

Beth Van Duyne
Born	Elizabeth Ann Van Duyne 16 11, 1970
Birthplace	Albany, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Title	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 24th congressional district
Known for	U.S. Representative for Texas's 24th congressional district; Mayor of Irving, Texas
Education	Cornell University (BA, 1995)
Children	2
Website	[Official congressional website Official site]

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. A member of the Republican Party, Van Duyne 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. Born in Albany, New York, she relocated to Texas during her high school years and later graduated from Cornell University. In Congress, Van Duyne has focused on tax policy, serving on the House Ways and Means Committee, and has held the position of Budget and Spending Task Force Chair of the Republican Study Committee. Her tenure as mayor of Irving drew national attention due to controversies surrounding a city council resolution related to Sharia law and the subsequent Ahmed Mohamed clock incident in 2015. Van Duyne 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. Her family relocated to Texas while she was in high school. Friends and family described her as energetic and dedicated from an early age.

After settling in Texas, Van Duyne established roots in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, where she would build her career in both the private and public sectors. The transition from the Capital District of New York to the rapidly growing suburbs of North Texas shaped her political outlook and community involvement, ultimately leading to her entry into local government in Irving, one of the region's most diverse and economically dynamic cities.

Education

Van Duyne attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, graduating with the class of 1995. She has maintained ties to her alma mater; in June 2025, she returned to Cornell to participate in a policy discussion with Colleen Barry, dean of the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, during the university's reunion weekend.

Career

Early Career and Irving City Government

Before entering electoral politics, Van Duyne worked in various capacities in the private sector and became involved in civic affairs in Irving, Texas. She served on the Irving City Council before running for mayor, gaining experience in municipal governance and community engagement in a city that was undergoing significant demographic and economic changes in the early 2000s.

Mayor of Irving (2011–2017)

Van Duyne was elected mayor of Irving on June 11, 2011, defeating incumbent mayor Herbert Gears in a runoff election that The Dallas Morning News described as part of a "long war" between the two political figures. She was sworn in on July 7, 2011. Van Duyne's election drew attention in part because of her ties to the Albany, New York, area, where her background was noted by regional media.

During her tenure as mayor, Van Duyne focused on economic development and municipal governance in Irving, a city of more than 200,000 residents that is home to several major corporate headquarters and sits adjacent to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Sharia Law Controversy and National Spotlight

Van Duyne drew significant national attention in 2015 when she publicly supported a city council resolution and backed state legislation related to concerns about Sharia law being applied in the United States. The controversy centered on the Islamic Tribunal, a private mediation panel that had been established in Irving to resolve disputes among Muslim residents on a voluntary basis. Van Duyne characterized the tribunal as a potential threat to American law and urged the Texas Legislature to pass a bill that would reinforce the supremacy of American and Texas law over foreign legal codes.

Critics, including Muslim community leaders and civil liberties organizations, accused Van Duyne of stoking Islamophobia and mischaracterizing the nature of the voluntary mediation panel. The Washington Post later noted that the controversy in Irving had a broader context, connecting it to a history of anti-Islam sentiment in the city that predated Van Duyne's actions on the tribunal issue.

The issue gained further national and international attention in September 2015 during the Ahmed Mohamed clock incident, in which a 14-year-old Muslim student at MacArthur High School in Irving was arrested after bringing a homemade clock to school that teachers and police said resembled a bomb. Van Duyne defended the actions of the school and the Irving Police Department in the matter. The incident became a lightning rod in national debates about racial profiling, Islamophobia, and zero-tolerance school policies, and it further elevated Van Duyne's profile among both supporters and critics.

Consideration of Third Term

In February 2017, Van Duyne announced that she would not seek a third term as mayor of Irving. She was succeeded by Rick Stopfer as mayor.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Following her departure from the Irving mayor's office in 2017, Van Duyne was appointed to a regional position in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the administration of President Donald Trump. The New York Daily News described her as a "polarizing Texas mayor" at the time of her appointment. In her HUD role, she served as a regional administrator overseeing federal housing programs in the Southwest region of the United States.

U.S. House of Representatives

2020 Election

In 2020, Van Duyne ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas's 24th congressional district after the retirement of longtime Republican incumbent Kenny Marchant. The 24th district, which encompasses portions of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex including parts of Tarrant County and Dallas County, had been considered increasingly competitive. Van Duyne won the general election, becoming the representative-elect for the district.

Tenure in Congress

Van Duyne took office on January 3, 2021, as the representative for Texas's 24th congressional district.

In Congress, Van Duyne has served on the House Ways and Means Committee, positioning herself as a key Republican voice on tax and fiscal policy. She has held the role of Budget and Spending Task Force Chair for the Republican Study Committee, the largest conservative caucus in the House. In that capacity, she has advocated for limited government and fiscal restraint, authoring op-eds and public statements on the need to reduce federal spending and promote economic growth through conservative policy approaches.

Tax Policy

Van Duyne has been active on tax reform issues, particularly regarding the extension of provisions from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. In August 2025, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce hosted Van Duyne for a roundtable discussion on tax reform, where she discussed the impact of federal tax policy on businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

In early 2026, Van Duyne indicated her expectation that the House would vote on an extension of tariffs levied by President Trump, reflecting her involvement in ongoing fiscal and trade policy debates within the Republican conference.

Healthcare Legislation

Van Duyne has pursued bipartisan legislative efforts on healthcare issues. In September 2025, she co-introduced a bill with Democratic Congressman Jim Costa of California aimed at saving children's lives through early detection of pediatric liver disease. The legislation represented a cross-party effort to improve screening and treatment outcomes for children with liver disease.

Van Duyne has also been a vocal advocate for preserving and improving access to hospice care under Medicare. In June 2025, she described timely access to hospice care as "a national imperative" and urged congressional colleagues to protect the Medicare Hospice Benefit.

Reelection Campaigns

Van Duyne has faced competitive reelection contests in the 24th district, which has been considered one of the more competitive Republican-held seats in Texas. As of early 2026, Democratic candidates were organizing for the March 3 primary in anticipation of challenging Van Duyne in the general election.

Personal Life

Van Duyne has two children. As of 2024, she has been in a relationship with Rich McCormick, a Republican congressman from Georgia. She resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area in Texas.

Van Duyne has maintained connections to her alma mater, Cornell University, returning to campus for alumni events and policy discussions.

Recognition

Van Duyne's career has been marked by a series of notable positions and public engagements. Her election as mayor of Irving in 2011 made her a prominent figure in North Texas municipal politics, and her subsequent national media appearances during the Sharia law and Ahmed Mohamed controversies significantly raised her profile beyond the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

In Congress, her appointment as Budget and Spending Task Force Chair of the Republican Study Committee placed her in a leadership position within the largest conservative caucus in the House of Representatives. Her work on the House Ways and Means Committee has led to engagements with major business organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which hosted her for policy roundtables on tax reform.

Van Duyne's bipartisan legislative work, including the pediatric liver disease detection bill co-sponsored with Congressman Jim Costa, has been recognized as an example of cross-party cooperation on healthcare issues in Congress.