ASHEVILLE – Terry Van Duyn, a Democratic state senator from Buncombe County, will run for the state's second highest office in 2020.

Currently the minority whip in Raleigh, Van Duyn announced her intentions Monday morning.

“Today, I’m announcing my candidacy for lieutenant governor, where I will work closely with Governor (Roy) Cooper to advance our investment in public education, to increase access to affordable health care, and to fight for clean air and drinking water," Van Duyn said in a news release. "It is time for Governor Cooper to have a strong partner and ally, and I am excited about the opportunity to continue our proven partnership.”

Republican Dan Forest was elected lieutenant governor in 2013. He is expected to run for governor in 2020.

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Van Duyn was appointed to the 49th District seat in 2014, after the death of Sen. Martin L. Nesbitt, and was elected to the seat in November that year.

At a disadvantage?

In a phone interview, Van Duyn said she will continue to serve as a senator but will resign as minority whip.

"I have a responsibility to the people who elected me, and if at any point I don’t think I can do both well I will resign," Van Duyn said of her role as a senator. "I am going to step down as the minority whip, so I can focus on the election to lieutenant governor."

Van Duyn will begin traveling the state to talk with residents "about my vision for a fairer North Carolina, where those who are willing to work hard and play by the rules have every opportunity to succeed,” she said in the release.

Her role as minority whip has afforded Van Duyn the chance to travel statewide, but she noted that candidates for statewide office from the mountains are at a disadvantage.

"This is my first statewide election, and I need as much time as possible to get my name out there in places like Wake County and Mecklenburg and eastern North Carolina, where I'm not as well known," Van Duyn said. "That's why I decided to do it early."

Walter Dalton last served from WNC

Rutherford County attorney Walter Dalton was the last Western North Carolinian elected as lieutenant governor, serving from 2009-13. A Democrat, he ran against Pat McCrory for governor in 2012 but lost.

Holly Jones, who served on Asheville City Council, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and in the state legislature, ran for lieutenant governor in 2016 but lost.

Van Duyn, 67, was born and raised in Chicago. She and her husband of 45 years, Ted, moved to Asheville in 1992 and live in Biltmore Forest. They have two grown children, Christine and Ted.

Some view the lieutenant governorship as a stepping stone to the governor's office or other statewide roles, but Van Duyn said she's concentrating on this role first. She does not rule out a run for other offices in the future, like the governor's office or Congress, but for now she is emphasizing her desire to form a team with Cooper.

"The biggest reason I'm running is I really believe in this governor, and I want to be part of that team," Van Duyn said. "The vision he has for a North Carolina that works for everybody — I know that sounds like a platitude -- but I believe it "