Valerie Jean Foushee (/fuˈʃiː/ foo-SHEE; née Paige; born May 7, 1956)[1][2] 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.[3] 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.[4][5]
Early career
In 1987, Foushee began working as an administrative officer for the Chapel Hill Police Department, a position she held until 2008.[4] While raising her children, she became involved in their education and joined the School Governance Council.[6] 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.[4]
She was subsequently elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners in 2004 and served until 2012, chairing the board from 2008 to 2010.[4]
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.[7] During the legislative session beginning in 2015, Foushee was one of 12 African Americans serving in the North Carolina Senate.[8]
Committees
During the 2021–22 session, Foushee served on the following Standing and Select Committees:[9]
- 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
On November 8, 2022, Foushee defeated Republican nominee Courtney Geels with 67% of the vote to her 33%.[10]
Committee assignments
Caucus memberships
- Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (Associate member)[12]
- Congressional Black Caucus[13]
- Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment[14]
- Congressional Equality Caucus[15]
- Congressional Progressive Caucus[16]
- New Democrat Coalition[17]
Political positions
Healthcare
Foushee supports a Medicare for all plan for healthcare.[18] During her time as a state senator, she sponsored legislation to expand Medicaid coverage.[19]
Israel
Foushee voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[20][21] In March 2024, she flew to Israel as part of a trip organized by AIPAC to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu.[22] Additionally, AIPAC supported her campaigns for congress.[18]
Personal life
Valerie is married to Stan Foushee. They have two sons.[23]
Electoral history
2024
| 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 | 428,780 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2022
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Valerie Foushee | 194,983 | 66.9 | |
| Republican | Courtney Geels | 96,442 | 33.1 | |
| Total votes | 291,425 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| 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 | 87,827 | 100.0 | ||
2020
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Valerie Foushee (incumbent) | 88,429 | 68.31% | |
| Republican | Tom Glendinning | 41,016 | 31.69% | |
| Total votes | 129,445 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2018
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Valerie P. Foushee (incumbent) | 73,332 | 71.29% | |
| Republican | Tom Glendinning | 29,530 | 28.71% | |
| Total votes | 102,862 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2016
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Valerie P. Foushee (incumbent) | 79,520 | 68.06% | |
| Republican | Mary Lopez Carter | 37,322 | 31.94% | |
| Total votes | 116,842 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2014
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Valerie Foushee (incumbent) | 53,652 | 68.20% | |
| Republican | Mary Lopez-Carter | 25,021 | 31.80% | |
| Total votes | 78,673 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2012
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Valerie Foushee | 24,806 | 55.04% | |
| Republican | Rod Chaney | 20,266 | 44.96% | |
| Total votes | 45,072 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Valerie Foushee | 11,351 | 80.53 | |
| Democratic | Travis A. Phelps | 2,744 | 19.47 | |
| Total votes | 14,095 | 100.0 | ||
See also
- List of African-American United States representatives
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
References
- ^ "Valerie Foushee". Vote Smart. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- ^ "North Carolina Sponsor Senator Valerie Jean Foushee [D]".
- ^ Baumgartner Vaughan, Dawn (May 17, 2022). "Valerie Foushee wins US House District 4 Democratic primary election". Raleigh News and Observer. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Congresswoman: Foushee, Valerie". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- ^ "Valerie P. Foushee -". Archives of Women's Political Communication. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- ^ Battaglia, Danielle (November 17, 2021). "Orange County state lawmaker announces run for Congress". The News and Observer.
- ^ Ball, Billy (September 11, 2013). "Rep. Valerie Foushee selected to replace Sen. Ellie Kinnaird". INDY Week. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "North Carolina African-American Legislators 1969–2015*" (PDF). Retrieved February 27, 2016.
- ^ "Senator Foushee Committees". North Carolina Legislature. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
- ^ McConnell, Brighton (November 9, 2022). "Valerie Foushee Elected to Congress, Will Succeed Retiring Rep. Price". Chapelboro.com. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ Valerie Foushee. "I'm honored to be appointed to serve on the House @TransportDems Committee". Twitter (Tweet). Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ "Members". Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. May 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ^ "Committees and Caucuses". Valerie Foushee. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ "Membership". Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ "Membership | Congressional Equality Caucus". equality.house.gov. February 6, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ "Progressive Caucus". Progressive Caucus. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "Endorsed Candidates". NewDem Action Fund. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ a b "Highlighting experience, Foushee seeks Congress in familiar district". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. May 16, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ "Senate Bill 402 (2021–2022 Session) – North Carolina General Assembly". www.ncleg.gov. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Triangle-Area Congresswoman Valerie Foushee Traveled to Israel to Meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu". April 2024.
- ^ "Meet the Triangle's candidates for the legislature". The News and Observer. October 20, 2016.
- ^ "11/05/2024 OFFICIAL LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE". North Carolina State Board of Elections.
- ^ "05/17/2022 UNOFFICIAL LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS – STATEWIDE". North Carolina State Board of Elections. May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "11/03/2020 OFFICIAL LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS – STATEWIDE". North Carolina State Board of Elections. February 3, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "11/06/2018 OFFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS – STATEWIDE". North Carolina State Board of Elections. November 27, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "11/08/2016 OFFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS – STATEWIDE". North Carolina State Board of Elections. December 13, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "11/04/2014 OFFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS – STATEWIDE". North Carolina State Board of Elections. November 25, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "11/06/2012 OFFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS – STATEWIDE". North Carolina State Board of Elections. November 16, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "05/08/2012 OFFICIAL PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS – STATEWIDE". North Carolina State Board of Elections. May 15, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
External links
- Congresswoman Valerie Foushee official U.S. House website
- Valerie Foushee for Congress campaign website
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