Biography
Valerie Jean Foushee , born on May 7, 1956, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is a dedicated public servant and member of the Democratic Party. She has been representing North Carolina's 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since January 3, 2023. Notably, she is the first African American and the first woman to represent this district in Congress.
Foushee's commitment to public service began with her involvement in her children's education, leading her to serve on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education from 1997 to 2004, including a term as chair from 2001 to 2003. She then became the first African American woman elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners, serving from 2004 to 2012 and chairing the board from 2008 to 2010.
In 2012, Foushee was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives for the 50th district. The following year, she was appointed to the North Carolina Senate, representing the 23rd district from 2013 until 2023. During her tenure in the state legislature, she was known for her bipartisan efforts to increase healthcare access and her staunch opposition to policies that threatened reproductive rights and voting access.
In Congress, Foushee serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where she is the Vice Ranking Member of the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee and a member of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee. She also serves on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, acting as the Ranking Member of the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee and a member of the Energy Subcommittee.
In January 2025, she was elected as Regional Whip for Region 7 by her Democratic Caucus colleagues, encompassing North Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, and the Virgin Islands.
Foushee is married to her high school sweetheart, Stan, a retired Fire Marshal for the City of Carrboro. They have two sons, Stanley II and Terrence, and one grandson, Stanley III.
Education and Political Experience
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Education:
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and African and Afro-American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2008.
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Political Experience:
- Member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education ; Chair .
- First African American woman elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners ; Chair .
- North Carolina House of Representatives, 50th District .
- North Carolina Senate, 23rd District .
- U.S. House of Representatives, North Carolina's 4th Congressional District .
Throughout her career, Foushee has been a champion for education, healthcare access, environmental justice, and civil rights, consistently advocating for underrepresented communities.
