Name: Valerie P. Foushee
Age: 69
Party affiliation: Democrat
Campaign website: https://valeriefoushee.com
Occupation and employer: U.S. Representative for North Carolina’s 4th Congressional District
1. What are your primary concerns for the state of North Carolina?
Rising costs and preserving democracy. Trump is ignoring skyrocketing prices and is cutting jobs across our region through cuts to USAID, the the Department of Health and Human Services, National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Institutes of Health. This is not sustainable. Families in North Carolina paid an estimated $1,115 more due to Trump’s inflation in 2025, with an estimated 56,000 people in the Fourth District alone facing higher health care costs due to the expiration of the ACA tax credits. This is on top of our district being the hardest hit by Trump’s federal funding cuts in the nation with an estimated 186 federal grants slashed, affecting thousands of the over 11,000 federal workers who call our district home and the numerous organizations who are doing impactful work right here in North Carolina with the help of federal dollars.
We have to take a multi-faceted approach and exhaust all avenues to bring back the jobs that were cut from our region from the Trump Administration while addressing the rising costs that are hurting these same families who are seeing their jobs being threatened. This includes passing Medicare for All, expanding child care, and supporting small businesses to establish a strong economic backbone for our country, while rebuilding the agencies that employ so many of our local residents.
In North Carolina, we’ve also seen new Congressional maps in nearly every election for the last decade, efforts to hamper our communities’ access to the ballot box, and even attempts to overturn elections like the Riggs-Griffin NC Supreme Court race in 2024. We cannot depend on the Republican NCGA to deliver for North Carolinians. When Democrats take back the majority we must deliver on legislation to secure our elections, protect voting rights, and overturn Citizens United in order to ensure all perspectives and voices can be heard in our democratic process. Passing these laws and more are long overdue—Democrats cannot afford to operate without alarm, our democracy is at stake.
2. What in your background qualifies you to represent the people of this state effectively? What would you cite as your biggest career accomplishments?
I am running to continue delivering for this district as I have done for over 2 decades in public service and during my 3 years representing this district in Congress. I was born in this district, attended a segregated elementary school in this district, graduated from college in this district, and have developed deep roots across the communities in this district. I’ve served on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board, I was the first African American female elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners, and eventually I served in the North Carolina State House and Senate.
I’ve seen firsthand how much this region has grown with flourishing immigrant communities and a robust economy that continues to support good-paying local jobs and impactful research opportunities. I’ve also seen how much our communities are hurting as food, housing, and healthcare costs continue to rise while thousands of federal jobs are being cut from our district. This depth of experience as a legislator, and lived experience within our community makes me an effective legislator in delivering progressive legislation and federal funding that our district expects in a Congressional representative.
Despite having only served in Republican House Majorities, I helped secure $1 billion for the Raleigh-Richmond S-Line through a grant program made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I secured nearly $12M for Community Funded Projects in 2024 alone including nearly $3.5 million for local affordable housing initiatives, I returned $4 million to constituents through casework in 2025 alone, and just last month, I was able to secure $1 million in federal funding to help modernize the Town of Hillsborough’s water supply. This is on top of having successfully passed a piece of legislation to help protect the environment through a Republican majority House of Representatives.
My work in Congress is not just lip service—it is the reason I’ve received endorsements from experienced legislators like former Fourth District Congressman David Price and Governor Josh Stein, and groups like the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC which push progressive legislation that are a priority for our communities. I have been able to deliver real results for our district while pushing for the Green New Deal, expanded access to child care, and Medicare for All so we can stop having yearly discussions over tax credits. When Democrats regain the majority, passing legislation to protect our communities will be essential, and I will ensure that these priorities of our district are acted on immediately.
3. If elected, what three policies would you prioritize and how would you work across the aisle to enact those initiatives?
My three biggest priorities would be preserving our democracy, protecting our community from ICE, and addressing the rising cost of healthcare.
Donald Trump continues to be the biggest threat to democracy our nation has ever faced. He is taking away rights, weaponizing the government against his enemies, all while he lines his own pockets. I have been proud to support articles of impeachment against him, and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Noem, but impeachment is the bare minimum. To preserve our democracy, we need a package of legislation that stops corruption in our courts, establishes independent redistricting commissions, and addresses discriminatory voter laws and unethical tactics that limit the voice of the American people. I know there is a strong appetite for these pieces of legislation already, having helped to introduce the TRUST Act to hold judges accountable, the Redistricting Transparency and Accountability Act, and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act with dozens of my House colleagues.
The militarized ICE that we have seen terrorize our communities since the beginning of this administration is incompatible with our democracy and cannot continue. Though I support defunding ICE and have voted accordingly, our communities need real policy changes to stop ICE from continuing to hurt Americans right now under the Trump Administration. I am proud to have introduced the PROTECT Immigration Act to stop local police from cooperating with ICE, and am continuing to push for the passage of bills to stop Trump from detaining people based on nationality or race, stop ICE agents from covering their badges and wearing masks, and stop family and child detentions. Over the last few weeks following the horrific killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and the sickening reaction of the Trump Administration, we are starting to see Republicans realize that allowing ICE to continue its attacks on our communities makes Congress complicit. I will continue to push these pieces of legislation, and push for the defunding of ICE even if it requires a government shutdown, to protect our communities.
I support Medicare for All, and continue to fight for legislation that establishes a single-payer healthcare system. It is unfathomable that our nation, the richest in the world, has been unwilling to guarantee healthcare for every single person. I was proud to have helped expand Medicaid in North Carolina during my time in the State Senate, and protecting healthcare has always been one of my priorities. While Republicans continue to cause healthcare costs to skyrocket through their Big, Ugly Bill, I will continue to find the few Republicans willing to join us on discharge petitions to protect the ACA, just as House Democrats did earlier this year. However, these near-yearly discussions over tax credits are completely unsustainable, and Medicare for All is the real answer to ensuring every single American has access to healthcare.
4. North Carolina expanded Medicaid two years ago. However, federal budget cuts now threaten the program due to a state “trigger law” that ends expansion if federal support drops below 90%. How would you address Medicaid funding to maintain coverage for the millions of North Carolinians enrolled?
In an ideal scenario, I would pass Medicare for All which would establish a single-payer healthcare system. However, given the reality that Medicare for All has just 111 cosponsors in the House, I would push to expand federal support and codify funding far passed potential state trigger law limits while also fighting to establish that single-payer healthcare system through Medicare for All to prevent these discussions entirely.
I am no stranger to the concept of these trigger laws, as federal trigger laws around Statutory Paygo caused an automatic 4% reduction to most federal Medicare spending due to Republican’s Big, Ugly Bill, which increased the deficit by $2.3 trillion and passed the automatic funding reduction trigger limit. Statutory Paygo is a policy put in place to reign in federal spending, but Republicans are using it to trigger automatic cuts to payments to hospitals, physicians and health care providers, Medicare Advantage plans, and standalone prescription drug plans. And these cuts to hospitals are on top of the effects of Medicaid changes included in the Big, Ugly Bill.
These cuts to healthcare are cruel and Republicans cannot be allowed to continue playing political games over the health of people across our communities. Medicare for All is the proper way forward, and I will continue to push to reinstate the funding for rural hospitals, Medicare, and Medicaid to keep our communities safe and healthy.
5. How would you address the rising costs of housing, child care, and basic necessities facing North Carolina families?
In Trump’s America, residents of the Fourth District and people across the nation are facing an affordability crisis while the richest people in the nation continue to compound their wealth. The price of groceries, housing, utilities, and property taxes have gotten out of control, and still Trump continues to prioritize corrupt deals with his billionaire friends, sending money abroad for wars, and tariffs that are driving up costs.
Congress needs to pass legislation to address these costs immediately. It has been obvious for a long time that Trump does not care about working Americans.
I am pushing for legislation that forces developers to build housing people can actually afford while bringing millions in federal funding to our district to lower housing costs while Congress stalls on this legislation. I am also pushing for laws to stop hedge fund speculators from buying up housing in our area that increases prices and continue to push for increased federal funding for a broad range of programs designed to promote affordable housing, homeownership, and community development.
I support a progressive tax system that provides relief for middle and low-income families while increasing taxes on large corporations and high-income earners (those who make over $400,000 annually). U.S. wealth inequality hit a record high in late 2025, with 1% of households controlling 31.7% of all national wealth. This is completely backward and increasing taxes on the wealthiest Americans is imperative so that we can lower costs for working families, increase economic opportunity, and ensure the wealthy pay their fair share.
I also support raising the corporate tax rate, increasing capital gains and buyback taxes, closing the carried interest loophole, and instituting a “billionaire” 25% minimum tax rate on households who have a net worth over $100 million. I support expanding the Child Tax Credit and making it fully refundable for low-income households, broadening the Earned Income Tax Credit, restoring the Affordable Care Act subsidies, and creating more tax credits around affordable housing and childcare.
However, if lawmakers do not proactively pass legislation to stop corruption, collusion, and monopolies, we will continue to experience an economy that prioritizes the ultra-wealthy over hardworking Americans. I have been proud to be a leading voice alongside Rep. Deborah Ross in calling on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Housing Finance Agency to investigate whether investors are taking advantage of federal affordable housing programs at the expense of homeowners and renters. I am also leading an investigation into job cuts that large technology corporations claim to be caused due to AI, in order to protect our jobs in the age of Artificial Intelligence. I will continue these fights and more to ensure that Congress supports every day people and delivers equity in economic development.
6. Thousands of North Carolina workers lost their jobs in 2025 due to federal budget cuts—RTI International and FHI 360 alone have laid off hundreds of employees, while Duke University and the University of North Carolina face massive funding cuts and hiring freezes. How would you address both the human toll and the long-term economic impact of these federal funding changes on our state?
The solution here is not a single fix. We must rebuild and codify proper funding for USAID, the Department of Education, and the aforementioned agencies that bring jobs to our district and have critical partnerships with our local universities and technical colleges. However, the reality is that this process of rebuilding our agencies, federal grants, and restoring federal jobs will require time—and many of the skilled workers the government depends on have moved on to other sectors. Congress has to prioritize raising the minimum wage to $24 an hour and address barriers to entry for small businesses while passing legislation to lower childcare costs like my Expanding Child Care Access Act, funding programs to promote affordable housing and homeownership, and establishing a single-payer national health program through Medicare for All. Establishing this strong economic backbone will allow our communities to recover as we rebuild these federal agencies and restore the thousands of incredibly impactful jobs that were cut by this Administration.
7. Climate disasters are intensifying: Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina in 2024, Tropical Storm Chantal flooded the Triangle in 2025, and coastal erosion threatens the Outer Banks. With much affordable housing located in flood-prone areas and FEMA resources stretched thin, what is your plan for climate resilience and disaster relief?
First, very few people are aware that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who oversees FEMA, has a policy requiring her personal approval of any FEMA contract above $100,000. She’s busy overseeing Trump’s inhumane ICE raids, so this policy is severely slowing the flow of aid. She needs to be impeached, and I even introduced legislation alongside the entire North Carolina Democrat Congressional Delegation to permanently prohibit this senseless policy that slows down FEMA.
Still, we cannot continue to make aid for states a political game. FEMA needs to be properly funded to deliver for our communities in times of need. Congress needs to ensure that particular programs within FEMA are properly funded, like the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which helps provide states with resources to mitigate environmental hazard risks. Though I am grateful that a court ruled that Trump’s cuts to the BRIC program were illegal in December, I continue to look for all routes in Congress to strengthen these programs within FEMA that help our communities with disaster preparedness.
However, climate resilience extends further than FEMA response to natural disasters. People throughout the country and North Carolina are often forced to deal with extreme weather events like extreme heat without any support from Congress. I am proud to have introduced the Cool Roof Rebate Act to provide financial incentives for homeowners to reflective roofing aimed to reduce heat-related health risks, and I am continuing to explore all routes possible to give our communities protection from extreme weather events as the climate crisis continues to worsen.
8. Federal agents have arrested more than 250 people in immigration enforcement operations across North Carolina, creating fear in immigrant communities and disrupting businesses and schools. How do you view the enforcement actions, and how would you address their impact on North Carolina’s economy and communities?The actions of federal immigration enforcement have been horrific. They are tearing families and communities apart while targeting Black, Brown, and immigrant communities. No child should have to worry about their parents being sent to another country by the time they’re home from school, but that is a real reality that so many children across the nation are facing—it’s disgusting and completely incompatible with our democracy.
Too many lives have been lost, and inaction means Congress is complicit. I have been proud to host Know Your Rights training and partner with local organizations in order to help our communities at risk. I continue to support defunding ICE, and we need extensive reforms to our immigration system. However, defunding ICE will never bring back the lives lost, businesses closed and trauma caused to families across the nation by ICE. As we respond to ICE’s activities, we have to ensure charges are pursued against abusive ICE agents, and we must reapportion federal funding to help our communities rebuild from this terror.
Our nation was built by immigrants who came to this country to find opportunity. We have a long and proud history of welcoming those from around the world who are seeking a better life, and our immigration system should reflect a country that is welcoming to those in need—period.
We need to ease the pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and Dreamers, update our antiquated visa lottery structure, end family separations and travel bans, and ensure that we are properly providing Temporary Protected Status for foreign nationals from countries facing armed conflict and natural disasters. And finally, Congress needs to pass legislation that ensures immigrants are treated with dignity regardless of their documented status. Immigrants are what make our country great, and the Fourth District is a perfect representation of that fact.
9. Federal contractors are no longer required to maintain nondiscrimination policies, and many DEI-related programs have been eliminated across sectors in our state. What is your view on recent changes to DEI and antidiscrimination policies?
As a Black woman having grown up during the Civil Rights era, I have been subjected to and continue to face discrimination daily. I grew up in our state during Jim Crow attending a segregated elementary school, and I use those lived experiences every single day to inform my decision-making to ensure justice, fairness and inclusion for all. Addressing gaps in diversity, equity, and inclusion is paramount to my efforts in public service. I’ve seen firsthand how gaps in workforce development, education outcomes, and every day treatment of minority communities negatively affects our country.
As Vice Chair of the Congressional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Caucus, I know how much these recent attacks on DEI-related programs across sectors in our state, including our local public universities, are hurting our district in particular. Cuts to grant programs have left students struggling to pay for college, local governments and colleges are struggling to fill-in funding gaps, and many talented professionals have been demonized for their hard work and have lost their jobs entirely.
On the national level, Trump gutted the Minority Business Development Agency, over $1 billion in school mental health grants, and hundreds of other federal grants throughout his attempt to roll back DEI. These efforts have real consequences for our communities here in the Fourth District, which is also home to a renowned HBCU, North Carolina Central University that continues to push forward with transformative education efforts despite attacks by the Trump Administration. I will ensure that these programs are reinstated and funding to support DEI initiatives are restored—and will continue to push for federal protections surrounding DEI efforts to ensure that states cannot attack efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.
10. Federal education funding faced significant delays and cuts in 2025, affecting Title I programs, teacher training, and after-school services in North Carolina. How will you work to ensure stable federal education funding for our state’s schools?
As a graduate of North Carolina’s public education system, and having started my career in public service on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools Board, I understand the importance of properly funding schools to ensure that our children are getting the education they need and deserve. I am proud to cosponsor the Department of Education Protection Act to safeguard this vital agency, and even joined protests outside the Department of Education in Washington to ensure the voices of the Fourth District were heard loud and clear. I will continue to work to secure stable federal education funding for North Carolina schools by ensuring that funding for the U.S. Department of Education is properly codified and protected from Trump’s Executive Orders which attack congressionally-approved funds.
I have also been proud to introduce legislation like the College Thriving Act to provide grants for skills-for-success college courses, and bipartisan legislation to provide federal funding to expand access to education surrounding AI for communities who may not have access to this education otherwise.
The challenges facing our education system even before Trump’s cuts were extensive. Congress needs to take a proactive role in improving and supporting Elementary and Secondary education nationwide to make sure children from all corners of our country have equal opportunities to learn. Particularly, we need to provide teachers with the resources and compensation they need and deserve to be successful—teachers around the country have been underpaid and overworked for far too long.
Congress should view funding the Department of Education, student loan forgiveness programs, and grant programs which help local students and universities as one of its top priorities. Many states already struggle to fund education programs, with some spending as low as $8,000 per K-12 student, and the Department of Education helps fill those gaps, administer financial aid for students, and ensures that students with disabilities aren’t left behind through the Office of Special Education Programs and Section 504. Passing legislation to improve pay for teachers, and expand funding for the Department of Education is a requirement if we want our nation to progress and our kids to thrive—period.
11. President Trump has dramatically expanded executive power through emergency declarations, the use of federal agents in cities without local coordination, and the termination of already-appropriated funds without congressional approval. What role should Congress play in checking executive power?
Congress has completely abdicated its responsibility to hold the President accountable during the Trump Administration. We have seen that we cannot solely depend on the courts to defend our democracy, particularly with the current makeup of the Supreme Court.
Congress has to be the leader in preserving our democracy. Democrats have to be ready with a whole set of policy priorities to stop Trump’s attacks on our communities, usage of emergency declarations to criminalize organizations and threaten elections, and blatant disregard for international law and human rights. That includes passing legislation to repeal Alien Enemies Act of 1798 which allows the President to apprehend and remove non-citizens, legislation to reestablish Congress’ authority over our armed forces through War Powers resolutions like those I’ve cosponsored in the House, and legislation that ensures that congressionally-approved federal funding cannot be reapportioned elsewhere.
Though the Republican majority continues to lock us out of leading major legislative initiatives, we have still been successful on various occasions to push legislation to the floor using discharge petitions by recruiting just a few Republicans to join us. This can be seen through the bill we passed that directs the release of the Epstein files, and a bill to extend the ACA tax credits for 3 years. Discharge petitions, Congressional hearings, investigations and impeachment are all ways Democrats can continue to fight back in the minority, and legislators can also join amicus briefs to fight Trump in court, as I’ve done on 9 occasions. It can take time, but this pressure works—Congresswoman Ross and I did not relent in demanding that the Secretary of Education release $8.1 million dollars that was already appropriated to Wake County Public Schools, and after months of advocacy, the funds were finally delivered.
Being in the minority in Congress means fighting this administration in any manner possible is more important than ever. I will continue to fight back to protect our communities and ensure that Democrats are properly equipped to ensure this terror can never happen again once we regain the majority.
12. Both Democrats and Republicans are experiencing severe internal divisions. How would you navigate disagreements within your own party while still effectively representing North Carolina’s interests? Or, if you are running as an independent, how will you work effectively with both parties?
The people of North Carolina’s Fourth District are my sole focus, and have been my sole focus for my almost 4 years in Congress. There are many times where the majority of the Democratic party has supported legislation that does not properly support our region. I have no issue making my voice heard and casting votes against that legislation, as seen with my votes against our bloated defense budget in 2024 and 2025.
However, I am well aware of the realities of Congress and legislative systems. I have disagreed with many bills that I still worked to improve, to ensure that our communities are not being left behind in the case that it does pass. This year alone I have disagreed with and voted against a variety of federal funding bills, but I still was able to insert language into these pieces of legislation to secure federal funding for our district knowing that some of the bills may pass the Republican majority.
Being a member of Congress isn’t just about voting against the bills that I disagree with, it’s also about maximizing positive outcomes for my constituents even if a bill I disagree with passes. That intent on delivering for the priorities of our district has always been my sole focus, and I will continue to use my positions of House Regional Whip, and positions of leadership on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee to ensure the priorities of our district are heard, no matter which party is in the majority.
13. Give an example of an opinion, policy, vote, or action you changed based on constituent feedback. If you have not yet held elected office, describe a time when you changed your position on an issue after listening to those affected by it.
Taking money from AIPAC in my run for Congress in 2022. Though the Fourth District once represented vastly different communities, it became rapidly apparent to me and my constituents that the Netanyahu Government’s indiscriminate killing of Palestinians cannot continue, and that supposed humanitarian aid plans in place meant starving civilians in Gaza were being met with gunfire at aid sites.
Building durable peace in the region means holding Israel’s government accountable, which is why I have cosponsored the Block the Bombs Act and the West Bank Violence Prevention Act, led a House resolution with Progressive Caucus PAC Co-Chair Rep. Jayapal to help ensure aid was properly reaching Gaza, and even voted against the State Department funding package just a few weeks ago due to the inclusion of $3.3 billion for Israel. Americans want to see human rights respected at home and abroad, and continuing to use taxpayer money to fund Israel’s war while Americans are suffering with higher grocery, healthcare, and housing costs is out of touch.
14. Are there any issues this questionnaire has not addressed that you would like to address?
The importance of addressing our climate crisis. Congress needs to take real steps to protect the environment for our future generations, and that starts with passing the Green New Deal. The Green New Deal is made of bills that promote renewable energy, economic justice, and create green jobs here at home—and its passage is long overdue.
In the Fourth District specifically, new clean energy and environmental technologies have been critical to our economic development. As a member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and a Ranking Member of one of the committees’ subcommittees, I will continue to fight to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels while meeting our climate goals and achieving true energy independence.
Ensuring this cleaner and healthier environment for future generations also means strengthening current environmental protection laws and properly funding the Environmental Protection Agency which depends on the work of people here in the Fourth District. We must also push to fund agencies like the National Park Service that offer culturally enriching opportunities throughout our country while promoting the vision of a livable future for our children and grandchildren without man-made climate disasters.