Safe blue seat in North Carolina now has a contested primary
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Valerie Foushee (left) and Nida Allam will be on the ballot in a primary less than three months away. Photos: Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images
A Democratic primary is on the horizon in the Triangle, and it pits two recognizable names against each other.
- Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam announced Thursday that she will challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee in the 2026 midterm election, setting up a rematch of 2022.
Why it matters: The 4th Congressional District — which includes Durham and Orange counties, as well as portions of Wake and Chatham — is one of only three safe blue seats in North Carolina.
Zoom in: Both candidates embrace Democratic Party platforms, but Allam says Foushee is not outspoken enough on the Israel-Hamas war or immigration enforcement.
- "As we face three more years of Trump's authoritarianism, there is no excuse to waste this safe blue seat with silence or more corporate-backed inaction," Allam said at her campaign launch.
The other side: Foushee, who's endorsed by Gov. Josh Stein, defended her record in a statement shared with Axios on Thursday.
- "I am not just paying lip service to our shared progressive values," Foushee said. "I am proud of the legislation I have supported, the votes I have taken, and the services my office has provided to constituents."
Zoom out: Progressives nationwide are seeking to knock off moderate and establishment incumbents and gained fresh confidence with Zohran Mamdani's November mayoral win in New York City.
What they're saying: Allam, who was North Carolina's first Muslim elected official, has the backing of her former boss, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.
- The chair of the Wake County Democratic Party, Wesley Knott, said at the campaign launch that "for the first time in a long time, I find myself hopeful."
Flashback: For decades, the district was represented by David Price. He retired in 2022, setting up a crowded Democratic primary that Foushee won with 46% of the vote, according to the State Board of Elections.
- Allam placed second, with 37%. (And "American Idol" alum Clay Aiken came in third.)
Between the lines: Defeating an incumbent is no easy feat, but the political landscape has changed since 2022 — and so have the 4th Congressional District's boundaries, thanks to the Republican-led General Assembly's 2023 redraw.
- The map removed Alamance, Person and Granville counties and grabbed portions of Wake and Chatham counties instead.
- Foushee lives in Hillsborough, and Allam lives in Durham.
Caveat: Mary Patterson also filed as a Democrat this week, but she has yet to launch a campaign website. She is from Durham.
- Mahesh Ganorkar, a Pittsboro Republican, also will run in the 4th.
What we're watching: There are other contested primaries in the state, most notably in the 1st Congressional District, newly red-leaning after the map was redrawn at President Donald Trump's request.
- The four Republicans competing there are Asa Buck (Carteret County sheriff), Bobby Hanig (state senator), Eric Rouse (Lenoir County commissioner), and Ashley-Nicole Russell (attorney).
What's next: Primary day is March 3, meaning early voting begins in just two months.
- Other candidates have until Dec. 19 to file in the race.