{"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)","campaigns":[{"contest":"us_house_004","county":"chatham","county_count":4,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Us House Of Representatives District 04"},{"contest":"us_house_004","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Us House Of Representatives District 04"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Valerie","fullname":"Valerie Paige Foushee","lastname":"Foushee","middlename":"Paige","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"us_house_004","contest_title":"Us House Of Representatives District 04","county":"chatham","county_count":4,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house","office_title":"U.S. Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"us_house_004","contest_title":"Us House Of Representatives District 04","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house","office_title":"U.S. Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"us_house_004","contest_title":"Us House Of Representatives District 04","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"us_house","office_title":"U.S. Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"us_house","office_title":"U.S. Representative","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Valerie Foushee is the Democratic U.S. Representative for NC\u20114, running for re\u2011election in 2026 after a career in local, state, and federal service.","terms":[],"token":"d6d7c84b24b7e71e"}