Valerie Foushee — Democrat Candidate for U.S. House in North Carolina, 2026

Valerie Foushee cosponsored the Melt ICE Act to defund and dismantle Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, advocating for funds to be redirected to community services. She voted against increasing DHS funding and introduced the PROTECT Immigration Act to limit local police cooperation with ICE. Foushee supports comprehensive immigration reform, including easing the pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and Dreamers, updating visa structures, and ending family separations, citing the need to treat immigrants with dignity.

““ICE is a rogue, lawless agency that is incompatible with our democracy. This agency has systematically targeted Black, Brown, and immigrant communities, terrorizing them and taking the lives of far too many. There is no reason why this taxpayer-funded brutality and chaos should continue,” said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) on February 5, 2026, when announcing her cosponsorship of the Melt ICE Act.”

Valerie Foushee advocates for affordable, high-quality healthcare as a right, supporting Medicare for All and a single-payer system. She voted against H.R. 5371, a Republican Continuing Resolution (November 12, 2025), citing its failure to address rising healthcare costs. She also cosponsored the Second Chance Mental Health Access Act of 2026, which expands mental health services via Medicaid for individuals transitioning from incarceration.

“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 [...] 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. [...] My three biggest priorities would be preserving our democracy, protecting our community from ICE, and addressing the rising cost of healthcare." — Valerie Foushee, Indy Week.”

Valerie Foushee advocates for climate action and environmental justice, emphasizing renewable energy and protecting the environment for future generations. She has a 96% lifetime score from North Carolina LCV and supports the Green New Deal. In the legislature, she introduced legislation to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050 and sponsored the Cool Roof Rebate Act and Impact Act climate legislation to address heat risks and protect the planet.

“As a mother and grandmother, I am deeply concerned about the planet that we’re leaving for future generations. Conservation and climate action is something I’ve always championed in the state legislature. In Congress, I will continue to prioritize environmental issues and be a champion that you can trust.” – LCVAF Press Release”

Valerie Foushee supports reproductive rights, viewing them as human rights. As a state senator, she sponsored legislation to remove barriers to abortion access in North Carolina. In Congress, she is advocating for the passage of legislation to codify Roe v. Wade, aiming to prevent state legislatures from enacting restrictive abortion laws. She also supports legislation to protect access to contraceptives.

Valerie Foushee voted against the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, citing inadequate support for servicemembers, concerns about excessive military spending, and restrictions on healthcare for transgender servicemembers. She opposes AIPAC funding and has not accepted it since 2024, co-sponsoring "Block the Bombs" legislation to deny offensive weapon sales to Israel. Additionally, she introduced the Military Family Diaper Partnership Act to support military families.

“I do not accept funding from AIPAC,” Foushee said. “I haven’t for more than two years. I wish we could move on." Valerie Foushee, The Daily Tar Heel, February 25, 2026”

Valerie Foushee champions education, introducing legislation such as H.R. 7327, the Empowering Young Readers Act, to fund early childhood literacy, and the Prison Libraries Act to expand educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals. She also co-sponsored the Department of Education Protection Act and introduced the College Thriving Act to support higher education. Foushee advocates for stable federal funding for schools, emphasizing adequate resources and compensation for teachers, and affordable college education.

“Education is the key to ensuring our future generations can thrive and fulfill their potential. (Congresswoman Valerie Foushee, foushee.house.gov/issues/education)”

Valerie Foushee introduced the National Gun Violence Research Act of 2025, aiming to establish a coordinated national program for research into the causes, consequences, and prevention of gun-related injuries and deaths. As a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, she believes the federal government must respond to the epidemic of gun violence to save lives and protect communities. She supports using data and research to create actionable, life-saving policies.

““Communities across our country have suffered from the devastating impact of gun violence for far too long, and it is imperative that the federal government responds to this epidemic and urgently acts to save lives and protect our communities,” said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee. “As a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I am proud to introduce the National Gun Violence Research Act to address the root causes of gun violence, advance and fund gun violence research, and establish a coordinated, interagency national gun violence research program. By turning data and research into actionable, lifesaving policies, we can equip ourselves with the tools needed to confront this growing public health crisis head-on.””