# Valerie Foushee

Valerie Jean Foushee (/fuˈʃiː/ foo-SHEE; née Paige; born May 7, 1956) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 4th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the North Carolina House of Representatives for the 50th district in 2012 and was appointed to represent the 23rd senatorial district in 2013. She is the first African American and the first woman to represent the district in Congress.

## Early life and education

Foushee was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She graduated from Chapel Hill High School in 1974. She later attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and African-American studies in 2008.

## Early career

In 1987, Foushee began working as an administrative officer for the Chapel Hill Police Department, a position she held until 2008. While raising her children, she became involved in their education and joined the School Governance Council. In 1997, she was elected to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education, serving until 2004, including a term as chair from 2001 to 2003.
She was subsequently elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners in 2004 and served until 2012, chairing the board from 2008 to 2010.

## State legislature

Foushee was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2012. Local Democrats selected her to fill a vacancy in the North Carolina Senate caused by the resignation of Eleanor Kinnaird in 2013. During the legislative session beginning in 2015, Foushee was one of 12 African Americans serving in the North Carolina Senate.

### Committees

During the 2021–22 session, Foushee served on the following Standing and Select Committees:
* Appropriations on Education/Higher Education
* Appropriations/Base Budget
* Commerce and Insurance
* Education/Higher Education
* Finance
* Select Committee on Nominations
* State and Local Government

## U.S. House of Representatives
### Elections
#### 2022

Foushee ran for the U.S. House of Representatives for North Carolina's 4th congressional district in 2022. She won the primary against progressive Nida Allam. On November 8, she defeated Republican nominee Courtney Geels with 67% of the vote to her 33%.

#### 2024

On November 5. 2024, Foushee won reelection to Congress with 74.9% of the vote, defeating Republican Eric Blankenburg, who received 23.61%, and Libertarian Guy Meillur, who earned 1.49%.

### Committee assignments

119th Congress:
* House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
** Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
** Subcommittee on Aviation
* House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
** Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics (ranking member)
** Subcommittee on Energy

### Caucus memberships

* Congressional Black Caucus
* Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment
* Congressional Equality Caucus
* Congressional Progressive Caucus
* New Democrat Coalition

## Political positions
### Healthcare

Foushee supports a Medicare for all plan for healthcare. During her time as a state senator, she sponsored legislation to expand Medicaid coverage.

### Foreign affairs

Foushee voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. In March 2024, she flew to Israel as part of a trip organized by AIPAC to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu. Additionally, AIPAC supported her campaigns for congress. In December, she signed a letter with other congress members urging President Biden to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza to prevent further loss of life and address the humanitarian crisis.

### Redistricting reform

In 2023, Foushee co-sponsored the Redistricting Transparency and Accountability Act alongside Representatives Deborah Ross and Wiley Nickel. This legislation aims to increase transparency in the redistricting process to address partisan gerrymandering.

## Personal life

Valerie is married to Stan Foushee. They have two sons.

## Electoral history
### 2024

2024 North Carolina's 4th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Valerie Foushee (incumbent) | 308,064 | 71.8 |
| | Republican | Eric Blankenburg | 112,084 | 26.1 |
| | Libertarian | Guy Meilleur | 8,632 | 2.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 428,780 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2022

2022 North Carolina's 4th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Valerie Foushee | 194,983 | 66.9 |
| | Republican | Courtney Geels | 96,442 | 33.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 291,425 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
2022 North Carolina's 4th congressional district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Valerie Foushee | 40,531 | 46.15 |
| | Democratic | Nida Allam | 32,424 | 36.92 |
| | Democratic | Clay Aiken | 6,469 | 7.37 |
| | Democratic | Ashley Ward | 4,730 | 5.39 |
| | Democratic | Richard Watkins III | 1,132 | 1.29 |
| | Democratic | Crystal Cavalier | 1,104 | 1.26 |
| | Democratic | Stephen Valentine | 1,004 | 1.14 |
| | Democratic | Matt Grooms | 433 | 0.49 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 87,827 | 100.0 |

### 2020

2020 North Carolina Senate 23rd district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Valerie Foushee (incumbent) | 88,429 | 68.31% |
| | Republican | Tom Glendinning | 41,016 | 31.69% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 129,445 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2018

2018 North Carolina Senate 23rd district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Valerie P. Foushee (incumbent) | 73,332 | 71.29% |
| | Republican | Tom Glendinning | 29,530 | 28.71% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 102,862 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2016

2016 North Carolina Senate 23rd district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Valerie P. Foushee (incumbent) | 79,520 | 68.06% |
| | Republican | Mary Lopez Carter | 37,322 | 31.94% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 116,842 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2014

2014 North Carolina Senate 23rd district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Valerie Foushee (incumbent) | 53,652 | 68.20% |
| | Republican | Mary Lopez-Carter | 25,021 | 31.80% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 78,673 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2012

2012 North Carolina House of Representatives 50th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Valerie Foushee | 24,806 | 55.04% |
| | Republican | Rod Chaney | 20,266 | 44.96% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 45,072 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
2012 North Carolina House of Represesntatives 50th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Valerie Foushee | 11,351 | 80.53 |
| | Democratic | Travis A. Phelps | 2,744 | 19.47 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,095 | 100.0 |