Last month, Chase Pellegrini de Paur broke the news that Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam would challenge incumbent Rep. Valerie Foushee for the 4th Congressional District seat, making for a near replay of the 2022 Democratic primary. Supporters of each campaign submitted dueling op-eds, and readers shared their reactions to both the news and the op-eds.

From reader Clara Mucci by email:

I wanted to give a comment on Kate Torrey’s op-ed, “Rep. Foushee is Experienced and Effective. Don’t Trade Her for a Newbie.”

Ms. Torrey’s devotion to the status quo aside, I take issue with her core argument. Torrey says Rep. Foushee is experienced and efficacious as a representative, and thus we can’t afford to lose her. But as Torrey points out, the Democrats are in the minority, so I don’t see how Foushee sponsoring bills that have no chance of passing is real evidence of her success in office.

Torrey wrote in response to Finn McElwee’s op-ed that criticizes Foushee for taking lobbyist money. Yet, Torrey’s op-ed seems to entirely avoid the issue of Foushee’s donors. As a voter, I’m not sure I feel comfortable with an “experienced legislator” who takes funds from groups that lobby against my interests as a constituent.

I was also disappointed by the final line of Torrey’s piece, which juxtaposes Valerie Foushee and Nida Allam as a “workhorse versus a showhorse.” Torrey likely didn’t have ill-intent here, but it troubles me to hear women of color be objectified this way. They are both accomplished professionals with careers in public service. Regardless of your take on political strategy, there’s no reason to compare voting for the candidates to choosing livestock.

From reader Debby Teplin by email:

I want to first acknowledge that I volunteered on Nida Allam’s failed campaign—but I had to write and tell Finn McElwee that I completely agree with him. I was disgusted by the amount of AIPAC money that Valerie Foushee took [in 2022], and then after she was elected, infuriated by that picture of her standing next to [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu.

She usually votes the way I would like, but I don’t trust her and her allegiances. And I will add that I am disappointed that both Josh Stein and Roy Cooper have already endorsed her.

From Facebook user Mia Day Burroughs:

I’ve known Valerie Foushee since she was on school board and she is by far the most principled public servant amongst the dozens I’ve known. There was a recent [News & Observer] article covering the investment wealth of the NC Congressional delegation and it was clear by omission that Rep. Foushee has never profited from her policy decisions. In an era in which ethics have been brutally undermined by the administration and its weak allies, I want to see the opposite rewarded. This is not a commentary on her opponent, only shared thoughts about a public servant who I have watched closely for a number of years.

Chase also wrote last month about what happened when Republican legislators summoned the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools superintendent and board chair for a hearing on the district’s compliance with the law known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights. In the hearing’s most theatrical moments, Chase wrote, a legislator held up books previously linked on the district’s website, like one about human anatomy, and accused the district of indoctrinating kids. Readers shared their responses.

From Facebook user Imani McCreary:

Republicans discovering Chapel Hill schools exist and immediately yelling “indoctrination” is like walking into Weaver Street and accusing everyone of being forced to eat granola

From Facebook user Lauren Formy-Duval:

How dare kids grow up to know about a vulva—something 50% of the world has?! This is actually very important because I imagine a large percentage of the men outraged about this don’t know where the vulva is located (and I bet their wives could confirm this).

Shelbi Polk wrote about a wide-ranging interview with The Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle on the occasion of his new book, This Year: 365 Songs Annotated: A Book of Days, which pairs lyrics with commentary from the author. Readers, including Darnielle, enjoyed the interview.

From Bluesky user Jess:

Come for the talk about storytelling, stay for the blistering commentary on housing in Durham.

From Bluesky user Skyler: 

thank god somebody pointed out there are actually 366 songs in this book !! it’s been bugging me for months. 

From Darnielle himself via Bluesky: 

One of the better interviews with me you’re likely to read. They gotta send me more grad student interviewers.

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