{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Valerie P. Foushee","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Valerie Jean Paige Foushee is the incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative for North Carolina\u2019s 4th Congressional District and is seeking a second term in the 2026 election, with the general election scheduled for November\u202f3,\u202f2026 [1][9]. The district covers much of the Research Triangle and is considered a safe Democratic seat.\n\nBorn in Chapel Hill on May\u202f7,\u202f1956, Foushee grew up in a working\u2011class family that emphasized education and community service. She earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science and Afro\u2011African\u2011American studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2008, graduating at age\u202f53 after a career in public administration [1][14][16].\n\nHer public\u2011service career began in 1987 as an administrative officer with the Chapel Hill Police Department, a position she held for 15\u202fyears while raising two sons [14][16]. In 1997 she was elected to the Chapel Hill\u2011Carrboro City Schools Board of Education, serving until 2004 and chairing the board from 2001\u20112003. She then won election to the Orange County Board of Commissioners, serving from 2004\u20112012 and becoming the first African\u2011American woman to chair the board (2008\u20112010) [1][14][16].\n\nFoushee entered state politics in 2012, winning a seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives for the 50th district. In 2013 she was appointed to the North Carolina Senate to fill a vacancy and was subsequently elected to represent the 23rd district, serving until she ran for Congress in 2022 [1][14][16]. During her tenure she focused on voting\u2011rights protection, clean\u2011water legislation, and environmental health issues.\n\nIn the 2022 election she defeated Republican Courtney\u202fGeels with 66.9\u202f% of the vote, becoming the first African\u2011American and first woman to represent the 4th district in Congress [11][14]. She was sworn into the 118th Congress on January\u202f7,\u202f2023 and was re\u2011elected in 2024 with 71.8\u202f% of the vote [5][11]. In the 2026 Democratic primary she narrowly beat challenger Nida\u202fAllam, earning 49.2\u202f% of the vote (61,779 votes) to Allam\u2019s 48.2\u202f% (60,607 votes) [1][6][20].\n\nIn the U.S. House she serves on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (subcommittees on Highways and Transit; Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials) and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (Energy; Investigations and Oversight, Ranking Member) [1]. Her legislative priorities include modernizing transportation infrastructure, expanding broadband and AI\u2011related data\u2011center regulation, protecting voting rights, and advancing clean\u2011energy and environmental justice initiatives, as outlined on her campaign website [17][20]. She has also advocated for federal standards to mitigate the environmental impact of AI data centers and has publicly distanced herself from pro\u2011Israel lobbying groups after the 2024 Gaza conflict [20].\n\nFoushee\u2019s office locations are in Durham, NC, and Washington, D.C., with district\u2011office phone (919)\u202f967\u20117924 and D.C. office phone (202)\u202f225\u20111784. She can be contacted through the \u201cWrite To Valerie\u201d form on her official congressional site [12].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Valerie Foushee - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Valerie_Foushee)\n- [2] [Incumbent Valerie Foushee (D) defeated Nida Allam (D) and Mary Patterson (D) in the Democratic primary for North Carolina's 4th Congressional District - Ballotpedia News](https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/03/09/incumbent-valerie-foushee-d-defeated-nida-allam-d-and-mary-patterson-d-in-the-democratic-primary-for-north-carolinas-4th-congressional-district/)\n- [3] [Incumbent Valerie Foushee (D), Nida Allam (D), and Mary Patterson (D) are running in the Democratic primary for North Carolina's 4th Congressional District on March 3, 2026 - Ballotpedia News](https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/02/04/incumbent-valerie-foushee-d-nida-allam-d-and-mary-patterson-d-are-running-in-the-democratic-primary-for-north-carolinas-4th-congressional-district-on-march-3-2026/)\n- [4] [North Carolina's 4th Congressional District election, 2022 (May 17 Democratic primary) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina's_4th_Congressional_District_election,_2022_(May_17_Democratic_primary))\n- [5] [North Carolina's 4th Congressional District election, 2024 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina's_4th_Congressional_District_election,_2024)\n- [6] [North Carolina's 4th Congressional District - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina's_4th_Congressional_District)\n- [7] [Foushee wins Democratic primary for North Carolina's open 4th Congressional District - Ballotpedia News](https://news.ballotpedia.org/2022/05/18/foushee-wins-democratic-primary-for-north-carolinas-open-4th-congressional-district/)\n- [8] [North Carolina's 4th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primary) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina's_4th_Congressional_District_election,_2026_(March_3_Democratic_primary))\n- [9] [North Carolina's 4th Congressional District election, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina's_4th_Congressional_District_election,_2026)\n- [10] [North Carolina State Senate District 23 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_State_Senate_District_23)\n- [11] [North Carolina's 4th Congressional District election, 2022 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina's_4th_Congressional_District_election,_2022)\n- [12] [Home | U.S. Congresswoman Valerie Foushee](https://foushee.house.gov/)\n- [13] [Meet Valerie | U.S. Congresswoman Valerie Foushee](https://foushee.house.gov/about)\n- [14] [Valerie Foushee - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerie_Foushee)\n- [15] [Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (@RepValerieFoushee)](https://www.facebook.com/RepValerieFoushee/)\n- [16] [Valerie P. Foushee | Archives of Women's Political Communication](https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/directory/valerie-p-foushee/)\n- [17] [Valerie Foushee for Congress](https://valeriefoushee.com/)\n- [18] [Rep. Valerie Foushee [D-NC4, 2023-2026], Representative for North Carolina's 4th Congressional District - GovTrack.us](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/valerie_foushee/456913)\n- [19] [Rep. Valerie Foushee survives challenge from the left for North Carolina House seat - Live Updates - POLITICO](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/03/04/congress/valerie-foushee-wins-north-carolina-democratic-primary-00813677)\n- [20] [Rep. Valerie Foushee defeats progressive challenger Nida Allam in North Carolina Democratic primary race](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/nida-allam-valerie-foushee-north-carolina-primary-election-house-rcna261352)","firstname":"Valerie","lastname":"Foushee","middlename":"Paige","suffix":null,"token":"d6d7c84b24b7e71e"},"token":"tHdKBnap8O"},{"candidatename":"Guy Meilleur","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"LIB","person":{"biography":"Guy Philip Meilleur is the Libertarian Party nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in North Carolina\u2019s 4th Congressional District in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election [1]. He previously appeared on the ballot for the same seat in 2024, receiving 2.0\u202f% of the vote (8,632 votes) [1].\n\nMeilleur was born in 1952 and is 72 years old [18]. He earned undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin\u2011Madison and later attended North Carolina State University from 1985 to 2005, studying under noted horticulturist J.C.\u202fRaulston [10][16]. He has built a career as a board\u2011certified master arborist. Early roles included staff arborist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1991\u20111993) and instructor at Duke University (2000\u20112007) [10]. He has also served as a guest lecturer in urban forestry at NC State (2004) and as a curator/lecturer at NC State University, as well as trainer for the Veteran Tree Network since 2014 [10].\n\nPolitically, Meilleur has run for office multiple times. He was a candidate for the North Carolina State House, District\u202f30, in 2022 (unsuccessful) and previously sought the same seat in 2018 and 2020 [10][17]. After his 2024 congressional bid, he is again seeking the U.S. House seat in 2026 as the Libertarian nominee [1].\n\nHis campaign platform emphasizes ending partisan gridlock in Congress, measuring progress by \u201cfreedom gained\u201d rather than dollars spent, and reducing the influence of political parties [11]. He advocates for stronger environmental regulations to protect water and air, supports reforestation, and calls for stricter penalties for polluters [17]. On economic issues he opposes \u201cone\u2011size\u2011fits\u2011all\u201d policies, seeks to eliminate the state Alcohol and Beverage Control (ABC) system to foster private market growth, and promotes business development without crony capitalism [17]. Meilleur favors expanding North Carolina\u2019s Opportunity Scholarship and Education Savings Account programs, increasing open enrollment, and allowing accessory dwelling units and higher\u2011density housing where appropriate [17]. He supports gun\u2011safety measures such as higher age limits and background checks, as well as cannabis legalization and expungement of prior possession convictions [17]. In foreign policy he backs limited foreign aid and a balanced immigration bill modeled on Senator Langford\u2019s proposal, differing from the Libertarian Party\u2019s open\u2011border stance [17].\n\nMeilleur resides in Durham, North Carolina, and maintains a campaign website at\u202fguyfornc.org, where supporters can find additional information and contact the campaign [11][18].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Guy Meilleur - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Guy_Meilleur)\n- [10] [Guy Meilleur's Biography](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/183402/guy-meilleur)\n- [11] [Our Priorities - Guy Meilleur US House 4](https://guyfornc.org/priorities/)\n- [13] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)\n- [15] [Guy Meilleur | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/guy-meilleur)\n- [16] [Guy Meilleur - North Carolina Health News](https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/govpack_profiles/guy-meilleur/)\n- [17] [Guy Meilleur platform & website | North Carolina U.S. Representative, District 4](https://www.branch.vote/races/2024-nc-general-election-nc-state-us-representative-nc-congressional-4/candidates/guy-meilleur)\n- [18] [Candidate Questionnaire: Guy Meilleur, NC House 30](https://indyweek.com/news/elections-news/candidate-questionnaire-guy-meilleur-house/)\n- [19] [Guy Meilleur Archives - Chapelboro.com](https://chapelboro.com/people/guy-meilleur)\n- [20] [Guy Meilleur - North Carolina Candidate - Transparency USA](https://www.transparencyusa.org/nc/candidate/guy-meilleur)","firstname":"Guy","lastname":"Meilleur","middlename":"Philip","suffix":null,"token":"91734eb9f57d8914"},"token":"3O5q3cCclT"},{"candidatename":"Mahesh (Max) Ganorkar","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nMahesh \"Max\" Ganorkar is the Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in North Carolina's 4th Congressional District in the 2026 election. The Republican primary scheduled for March 3, 2026 was canceled, and Ganorkar advances directly to the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot against incumbent Democrat Valerie Foushee and Libertarian Guy Meilleur [1][2].\n\n## Background and career\n\nGanorkar earned an MBA and has worked on joint-venture projects linking U.S. and Indian companies, as well as designing residential homes [1]. On his 2024 campaign website, he said that after the birth of his first child he became a stay-at-home father, pausing his career to focus on family responsibilities [1].\n\n## Office history\n\nGanorkar has run for U.S. House three times. In 2022 he placed second in the Republican primary for North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District, with 25.6% (9,133 votes), behind winner Christine Villaverde (55.1%) and ahead of third-place finisher Adina Safta (19.3%) [1]. In 2024 he lost the Republican primary for the 4th District to Eric Blankenburg, 29.6% to 70.4% (10,597 votes) [1]. He advances to the 2026 general election in the 4th District after the 2026 Republican primary was canceled [1].\n\nHis federal candidate ID with the Federal Election Commission (H2NC06106) was first filed in 2021 for the 2nd District, and FEC's database still lists his party there as \"Unaffiliated\" and office as District 2 -- reflecting that original 2021-2022 filing rather than his current campaign. North Carolina's own 2026 candidate filing records, and his current Ballotpedia and campaign-website listings, identify him as a Republican running for the 4th District [1][20].\n\nA Form 99 filed with the FEC on February 26, 2024 lists him as treasurer of his own campaign committee [11]. FEC records show total receipts of about $5,140 and total disbursements of about $5,188 for the 2026 cycle as of the most recent filing [13].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Mahesh Ganorkar - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mahesh_Ganorkar), accessed 2026-07-21\n[11] [Form 99 for GANORKAR FOR CONGRESS](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00769463/1760008/), accessed 2026-07-20\n[13] [GANORKAR, MAHESH - Candidate overview - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H2NC06106/), accessed 2026-07-20\n[20] [North Carolina State Board of Elections - 2026 Candidate Filing List](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Elections/2026/Candidate%20Filing/Candidate_Listing_2026.csv), accessed 2026-07-20","firstname":"Mahesh","lastname":"Ganorkar","middlename":"Aychut","suffix":null,"token":"fac0ad0e7aed9b55"},"token":"zYUjpP1ATf"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"us_representative","o.office":"us_house","office":"us_house","officedescription":"A United States Representative represents a single congressional district in the lower chamber of Congress, serving a two-year term. Representatives write and pass federal law, originate revenue bills, fund and oversee the executive branch, and serve constituents in dealings with federal agencies.","officequalities":"- Legislative craft at the federal level: reading, drafting, and amending federal statute, and knowing the law being changed.\n- Understanding of the district's economic and everyday concerns, and constituent-service capacity for casework with federal agencies.\n- Persuasion and coalition-building across party and factional lines to form working majorities.\n- Integrity: acting for constituents and the public good rather than personal gain, independent of undue influence.\n- Oversight judgment: the House funds and oversees the executive branch and the military.","officeterm":2,"officetitle":"U.S. Representative","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Us House Of Representatives District 04"}