Hello friends, thanks for joining me in the NC Deep Dive. I'm your host, Amanda Benbow Lunn, and we are in the thick of the 2026 primary election season. Early voting starts in less than a week on Thursday, February 12th, with election day being Tuesday, March 3rd. When you go to vote, you will be handed a ballot based on your address and your party affiliation. If you are unaffiliated, sometimes also referred here as independent, then you will have your choice of which party's ballot you would like to vote. Please note that you are only able to cast one ballot, and that there are no primary ballots for the Libertarian, Green, or No Labels parties. Moreover, candidates for the general election in November who do not have a primary challenger will not appear on your primary ballot. They get a pass directly to the general election. Due to time constraints and the plethora of candidates, and my belief that having as much information as possible is of vast importance, this primary election segment will consist of me covering one race at a time and going over each candidate's website and what I can find in a simple Google search in case it's easier for you to take the information in this way. I'll also be reading over the answers they gave if they submitted any responses to our 2026 voters' guide questionnaire. If you are short on time, you can check out our NC Deep Dive Voter Guide for the 2026 primary election found pinned to our Facebook page or in this episode's show notes at www.ncdeepdive.com. It will be an easy way to access each candidate's website and research the candidates on your own if that is a better use of your time. Without further ado, friends, let's dive in. The race we're covering in this episode is for the Democratic primary and the U.S. House of Representatives for District 4. These candidates are Valerie P. Foushee, Nida Allam, and Mary Patterson. We're going to start with Valerie P. Foushee. She is the current Congresswoman for District 4. Her website says Valerie Foushee for Congress. Valerie Foushee for Congress, from community to Congress. There's a space where you can input your information to get updates. She has a Facebook, X, Instagram, threads, and Blue Sky account that says why I'm running a fair shot forward. I'm running because I know what it means to grow up watching your parents work multiple jobs just to get by, and how powerful a good education and a strong community can be in changing a child's future. As a mother, a public servant, and a lifelong North Carolinian, I've seen firsthand that when leaders show up and listen, kids and working families thrive. I first ran to be a voice for students who were being overlooked, especially black and brown children, and that commitment has guided me to every level of service. In Congress, I'm running to keep fighting for opportunity, dignity, and a future where everyone has a fair shot. Meet Valerie. Valerie's story. Valerie Foushee was born and raised in Orange County, North Carolina. She was the oldest of six children. Her parents worked multiple jobs to make ends meet, but instilled in her the value of hard work, a public service and never forgetting where you come from. Lesson she carries into every fight. As a parent to young children in the Chapel Hill Carborro City schools, she would leave work at the Chapel Hill Police Department at 7 a.m. and worked in her children's classroom until 9 a.m. It was through that volunteer service that she knew kids, especially black and brown kids, needed a champion on the school board who was always looking out for them and their success. So she ran and she won. Valerie went from serving on the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Board to being the first black woman elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners to serving to North Carolina State House and then State Senate. In each of those elected positions, Valerie was focused on the issues that matter most, a good education, creating good paying jobs, and being a champion for underrepresented communities. In 2022, she won the election to represent North Carolina's 4th district in the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first African American and the first woman to represent the 4th District in Congress. In Congress, Valerie serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where she is a member of the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee and the Aviation Subcommittee. She also serves on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, where she is the ranking member of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee and a member of the Energy Subcommittee. In 2025, she was appointed by Leader Jeffries to be the co-chair of the new House Democratic Commission on AI and the innovation economy, and was elected to the leadership position of Democratic Regional Whip by her colleagues. Valerie is married to her high school sweetheart, Stan. Stan is a retired fire marshal for the city of Carrboro. They have two sons, Stanley II and Terrence, and two grandchildren, Stanley III and Nora. Join the campaign, get involved. There's information where you can get updates on her campaign. You can donate to Valerie's reelection campaign today. Valerie Foushee is a proven leader who delivers for North Carolina's 4th district. Donate today to protect the seat and to keep a champion for working families in Congress. On the issues, what we're fighting for. Valerie Foushee is focused on the issues that matter most to North Carolina families. Strong public schools, good paying jobs, and communities where everyone has a fair shot. Her work is grounded in service shaped by lived experience and driven by results that make a real difference in people's lives. Valerie on the issue priorities. Democracy. Foushee says Donald Trump is the biggest threat to democracy our nation has ever faced. He's taking away rights, weaponizing the government against his enemies, lining his own pockets, and no one is holding him accountable. In Congress, Foushee is signed on to nine amicus briefs challenging Trump's policies in court, supporting impeachment legislation, that exposed his illegal access to confidential data, and boycotted his joint address to Congress. She will continue to fight to hold Trump responsible and do everything in her power to stop Trump's attack on our democracy, ICE. Foushee believes Trump's immigration policy is cruel, immoral, and a profound abuse of power. As a state senator, she voted to ensure that local law enforcement agencies had the discretion to decide if they work with ICE, something many of our North Carolina sheriffs decided against. In Congress, she is working to limit ICE's authority and mandate, ban ICE agents from wearing masks, require that they wear body cameras, and crack down on agents who abuse their power or violate people's rights. Foushee also introduced articles of impeachment against Secretary Christy Noam and voted against the DHS funding bill that included funding for ICE health care. Foushee considers health care a universal right. She is working to stop Republicans' assault on our health care system. In the state Senate, she expanded Medicaid in North Carolina and in Congress. And in Congress, she is fighting to defend it from Republican cuts. She strongly supports extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies to ensure that millions of Americans are able to maintain their health care, who she is also a fierce advocate for Medicare for all and is working to stop pharmaceutical companies from price gouging on life-saving medications. Reproductive freedoms. As a state senator, she sponsored legislation to remove barriers to abortion access in North Carolina. In Congress, she is working to pass legislation to codify Roe so state legislatures are no longer able to pass restrictive and archaic abortion laws, abortion laws, and legislation to protect access to contraceptives. Affordability. The price of groceries, housing, utilities, and property taxes have gotten out of control, and Foushee is working hard to lower everyday costs. In Congress, she is standing up to Trump's tariffs and taking on corporate price gouging that drives up costs. She is pushing for legislation that would force developers to build housing people can actually afford and stop hedge fund speculators from buying up housing in our area that increases prices. She has brought home millions of dollars to the district for affordable housing projects. She is a strong supporter of unions and union workers and is working to pass legislation that will require large federal projects like projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to use unionized labor. Taxes. Foushee supports a progressive tax system that provides relief for middle and low-income families while increasing taxes on large corporations and high income earners. Through this system, we can lower costs for working families, increase economic opportunity, and ensure the wealthy pay their fair share. She supports 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. She is working to expand the child tax credit and make it fully refundable for low-income households, broaden the earned income tax credit, restore the Affordable Care Act subsidies, and create more tax credits around affordable housing and child care. Education. Cuts to higher education have threatened the important groundbreaking work of research institutions in the triangle. Foushee is leading the charge to demand accountability and pass appropriation legislation to restore funding levels. She is in favor of canceling existing student loan debt and working to pass legislation that would eliminate the cost of tuition at community colleges for all students and at all four-year public schools for students whose household income is under $125,000 annually. Environment. Foushee is a strong supporter of the Green New Deal and believes that we need to make bold steps to tackle climate change and transition to a clean energy economy. She has advocated for increased investments in green transit, including utilizing low and no emissions buses, passenger rail, and electric vehicles. In December 2023, she secured a $1 billion grant from the Department of Transportation for the Raleigh to Richmond inner city passenger rail route through the bipartisan infrastructure package. Retirement Security. Foushee believes that Social Security and Medicare are promises we made to seniors who worked hard their whole lives. Now Trump is attacking them to give tax breaks to his billionaire buddies. She will never let Trump and Republicans cut seniors' benefits. She's passed laws to guarantee that people who paid into the system get what they earned. Racial justice. Foushee first ran for public office because she saw black students' needs were being ignored in our public schools. In Congress, she is tackling systemic racism by advocating to end cash bail, to abolish private prisons, and to decriminalize marijuana. She is also working to ensure everyone has unfettered access to the ballot box by advancing legislation that establishes national standards to protect the right to vote. Valerie Foushee is a Democrat representing North Carolina's 4th district in Congress, a mother, a public servant, and a lifelong North Carolinian. Valerie is running for re-election to stand up to the chaos in Washington that's making life less affordable for hardworking North Carolina families and chipping away at our rights and liberties. Team Foushee Endorsements. Valerie Foushee has earned the support of leaders across North Carolina by leading with service and putting people first. These endorsements reflect a shared belief in her vision for opportunity, equity, and strong communities. The endorsements that she has received include various elected leaders. I won't read through all of them, but I'll read through at least a number of them. She's been endorsed by Governor Josh Stein, former Governor Roy Cooper, former Congressman David Price, Congresswoman Deborah Ross, Congresswoman Alma Adams, Congressman Don Davis, former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley, Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch, NC House Democratic Leader Robert Reeves, House Deputy Democratic Leader Honorable Cynthia Ball, Senator Natalie Murdoch, Senator Gil Adcock, Senator Lisa Grafstein, Representative Maria Cervania, House Democratic Whip, Representative Ya Lu, Representative Allison Dahl, Honorable Monika Johnson Hostler, NC State Representative, Honorable Rosa Gill, former NC State Representative, Honorable Satish Garamella, the Mayor Protem for Morrisville, the Honorable Bill Harris, Mayor of Fuquay Varina, Honorable Tyler Swanson, the School Board of Education for Wake County, along with Chris Haggerty, the school board member for Wake County, the Honorable Jennifer Job, School Board Member of Wake County, Honorable Cheryl Stallings, Wake County Commissioner, Honorable Terry Mahayfee, Town Council of Apex, The Honorable Jessica Holmes, former NC State Auditor and Wake County Commissioner Chair. There are a number of other elected representatives from congressional districts, North Carolina Supreme Court, Senators Representatives, and County and Municipal levels. The organizations that she has endorsements from include Congressional Progressive Caucus, the League of Conservation Voters, the Congressional Black Caucus, Aspire PAC, the Sierra Club, the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, Raleigh Wake Citizens Association, and Advance North Carolina. And then there is a volunteer tab that says volunteer to elect Valerie Foushee. Thanks for your interest in volunteering to elect Valerie Foushee. Please fill out the form to let us know how you'd like to get involved. And it lists knock doors, phone banking, send text, host an event, deliver yard signs, and other. Looking her up on a Google search, her Ballotpedia page mentions that she's a member of the U.S. House representing North Carolina's 4th congressional district. She assumed office on January 3, 2023. Her current term ends on January 3rd, 2027. She's running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent North Carolina's 4th congressional district. She is on the ballot for the Democratic primary on March 3rd. Valerie Foushee was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 1956. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science and Afro and African American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2008. Her career experience includes working as an administrator with the Chapel Hill Police Department and in administrative positions with insurance and research companies. Foushee previously served on the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Board of Education from 1997 to 2004, serving as chair from 2001 to 2003, as a member of the Orange County Board of Commissioners from 2004 to 2012, serving as chair from 2008 to 2010, as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2013, and a member of the North Carolina Senate from 2013 to 2022. Committee assignments 2023 to 2024, Foushee was assigned to the following committees: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for Highways and Transit, Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, and the Committee on Science, Space and Technology for Energy and Investigations and Oversight as a ranking member. She did not fill out the candidate survey on Ballotpedia. So far for 2026 in campaign finance, noting that the totals above only reflect available data, she has received $361,920 in campaign contributions, and she has spent so far $254,01 of that. It does have key votes and whether she voted yay or nay for the 118th Congress 2023 to 2025. If you are interested in looking at that, there's also the website govtrack.us for Congress members, you put in her name. She comes up on the Google search as the representative for North Carolina's 4th district. It has a chart or analysis for ideology-leadership. It says that she is shown as a purple triangle in their ideology leadership chart below. Each dot is a member of the House of Representatives positioned according to our ideology score left to right, and our leadership score leaders are towards the top. So on their graph, she is about midline for the Democrats that are in the House of Representatives and for ideology score. For leadership score, she scores towards the bottom for the Democrats that are in the House of Representatives. It also mentions her committee memberships, which we've already gone over, and various bills that she sponsored, primarily in these issue areas. So 22% of her bills sponsored have been in science, technology, communications, 17% in crime and law enforcement, 17% in transportation and public works, 11% in energy, 11% in armed forces and national security, 11% in education, and 11% in health. It lists recently introduced bills and also goes over her voting record on key votes and whether she voted nay or yay. It also goes over missed votes. From January 2023 to February 2026, Foushee missed 47 of 1,659 roll call votes, which is 2.8%. This is on par with a median of 2% among the lifetime records of representatives currently serving. The chart below reports missed votes over time. It does note that they do not track why legislators miss votes, but it's often due to medical absences, major life events, or running for higher office. I also was able to pull up a clerk.house.gov website for Valerie Foushee. It just lists that her hometown's in Hillsborough. The oath of office was January 3rd, 2025. There's a picture of the district if that's helpful for you. It goes over her committee and subcommittee assignments and the recent votes, including the dates, roll call number, bill number, bill title, whether she voted yay or nay, and the status of that bill, whether it passed or failed. So just further information if you're interested. And that was basically all I was able to pick up on a Google search. Valerie did answer our NC Deep Dive Voter's Guide questionnaire. Question number one: experience in preparation. What experience best prepares you to represent Southern Wake County specifically? She said, My over two decades in public service. I've served on the Chapel Hill Carrboro City School Board. I was the first African American female elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners and eventually served in the North Carolina State House and Senate. I've seen firsthand how much of this region has grown in the last two decades with flourishing immigrant communities and a robust economy that continues to support good-paying local jobs and impactful research opportunities. This experience makes me equipped to continue delivering for Southern Wake County by supporting its highly regarded public schools, protecting the jobs that this administration continues to attack through tariffs and federal funding cuts, and fighting back against Trump's threats against black, brown, and immigrant communities. Top priority. What is the top issue you would prioritize in your first term, and how would it directly impact your constituents? She responded, preserving democracy. This administration is trying to destroy the very fabric of our democracy by sending ice into our communities, funding senseless wars abroad, attempting to overturn fair elections like our state Supreme Court election in 2024, and continuing to ignore any legislation that actually delivers for hardworking Americans. In reality, properly protecting our democracy will require a whole set of initiatives, including an overhaul of election security, proper federal voting rights protections, reforms to the Supreme Court, stopping ICE from killing people in our communities, and bills that deliver Medicare for all and lower housing and grocery costs. All these initiatives and more have to be on the table to safeguard our democracy from the authoritarianism we have seen rule this nation for far too long. Operating without alarm or desperation is not acceptable. We have to be proactive in safeguarding our country before it is fully taken over by forces that seek to exploit our communities. Number three, decision making. When district priorities and party priorities don't fully align, how do you decide which comes first? She responded, the people of North Carolina's fourth district are my sole focus and have been my sole focus for my four years in Congress. There are many times when 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. However, I am well aware of the realities of Congress and legislative systems. There are many times where I have to work to improve a bill that I will not vote in favor of to ensure that our communities are not being left behind in the case that it does pass. This can be seen through the tens of millions of dollars I've secured for local housing, water treatment, and transit improvements in our region over the past year. 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. Number four, issue awareness. What is one issue where Democrats have not paid enough attention to local or practical impacts? She responded the Democratic Party has not paid enough attention to the practical impacts of the rising cost of food, healthcare, education, and housing. These costs cause people of all walks of life across our communities to suffer. Families are forced to choose between healthcare and groceries. Parents are forced to move their families out of their preferred school districts because rents are too high, and universities are charging higher tuition rates than ever, while college students are left to wonder if they will ever be able to find a job after graduation. These issues exacerbate the growing income inequality that has defined our nation. The only people who excel when a government doesn't support the people's basic needs are wealthy individuals who can support their needs on their own. That cannot be the America we continue to live in. And Democrats must deliver in stopping these inequalities that harm entire communities and hamper the growth of our youth. 5. Redline Non-negotiable principle. What principle or policy position would you refuse to compromise on, even under political pressure? She responded, equality. Everyone should have equal access to the ballot box, equal access to education, equal access to reproductive care, equal access to health care, equal rights to bargain with your employer, equal rights in our judicial system, and more. Our country has a long history of inequality, which I have experienced firsthand. End attending a segregated elementary school here in the 4th district that has led to an economy and a society that favors wealthy oligarchs over working Americans. The way we fix this is through legislation to establish proper federal protections for hardworking Americans. And I will never sacrifice efforts to advance our fight for equality under any amount of political pressure. Six concrete example. She responded, rising costs and job cuts due to this administration. Trump is ignoring skyrocketing prices and is cutting jobs across our region through cuts to foreign aid, 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 4th 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 slash, 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. 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. We must raise the minimum wage and address barriers to entry for small businesses to ensure the backbone of our economy is strong, while passing legislation to lower childcare costs like my Expanding Child Care Access Act, funding programs to promote affordable housing and home ownership, and establishing a single-payer national health program through Medicare for All to avoid yearly discussions over tax credits. We have to take a multifaceted 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. 7. Accountability. How should voters hold you accountable if they feel you are not representing their district's interest? She said, You can let me know directly if you do not feel I am properly representing our district's interest in Congress at any time. My office has resolved over 1,100 constituent cases, and we have held over 1,200 meetings with constituents, stakeholders, and community leaders. Our tremendous staff in my Washington, D.C. and Durham offices are available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays to receive any messages from my constituents on important legislation or issues facing the 4th district. My office receives calls daily on votes being taken in Congress, ideas of legislation to introduce, and issues constituents are having with federal agencies. These calls help inform me on how best to represent our district in Congress and have even led me to change previously intended votes based on the voice of my constituents. So do not hesitate to call my office to make your opinion heard at any time. Number eight, learn more. How can voters learn more about you, your values, and how you approach decision making? She said I am easily accessible through my congressional office, visiting FousheeforCongress.com or through my social media channels at Foushee4NC on Blue Sky Threads, Instagram, and Facebook. The next candidate who will be on the Democratic primary ballot for the U.S. House of Representatives for District 4 is Nida Allam. Her website says, I'm Nida Allam and I'm fighting for a brighter future for North Carolina 04. You can add your name and contact information below to receive updates. You can watch Nida's launch video. Nida Allam is running for Congress to fight for all of us. Check out her announcement now. Meet Nida Allam, Vice Chair of the Durham County Board of Commissioners. Nida Allam, the first Muslim woman ever elected to public office in North Carolina, is running for Congress in NCO4 as a champion of working families. Previously the youngest commission chair in the state, Nida has fought for our schools, housing, healthcare, workers, and families. The daughter of Indian and Pakistani immigrants, Nida grew up in NCO4 and attended North Carolina public schools throughout her life, including at North Carolina State University, GOPAC. Today, she lives with her husband, Talquir, and their two children, Alaya and Abdul, in Durham. As Congresswoman, Nida will fight for a brighter future for her kids and for all North Carolinians. You can learn more. It says Meet Nida Allam. Nida Allam grew up in this district, the daughter of Indian and Pakistani immigrants. She attended North Carolina public schools and then NC State University, where she led a campaign to partner with local healthcare workers to provide free health care to low-income community members. In 2015, her life changed forever when her friends Dia Barakat, Usor Abu Salah, and Razan Abu Salah were murdered in their Chapel Hill home in an anti-Muslim hate crime. Deeply affected by the deaths of her friends and determined to carry on their legacy, Nida threw herself into organizing to amplify underheard voices and increase community safety through solidarity. Joining inner faith and multiracial coalitions across the state, Nida became a leading advocate for affordable housing, Medicare for all, a fair living wage, quality education, a Green New Deal, abortion rights, and labor rights in North Carolina. Along the way, she has inspired a new movement for a more progressive, livable, and equal North Carolina and has become one of the most vocal, visible, and vibrant Muslim women in Democratic politics today. After running an unprecedented campaign to serve on the Durham County School Board of Commissioners in 2020, she became the first Muslim woman to ever hold public office in the state of North Carolina. In 2022, she ran to represent North Carolina's 4th Congressional District, coming up just nine points short of a victory in the most expensive primary in state history, dramatically overperforming despite millions in conservative outside spending. And in 2023, she made history once again after being unanimously elected as the youngest County Commission chair in North Carolina. As a commissioner, Nida stands up for educators, labor, and affordable housing, leading the charge to raise the minimum wage for Durham County employees and secure property tax relief for low-income Durham residents. Even before ICE deportations escalated nationwide, she funded the first ever immigrant and refugee coordinator position at the county level. As a proud member of the Communication Workers of America, CWA, she legislates to put the county in service of working people and not the other way around. She continues to serve on the Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood Vote South Atlantic and was named to the third cohort of the Hunt Institute State Policy Fellows Program. Nida served in senior leadership in the North Carolina Democratic Party as chair of Durham Mayor's Council for Women and as political director for the Bernie Sanders 2016 campaign. From a young age, Nida's parents taught her that service to others was her highest calling. She proudly lives those values in Durham with her husband, Tokir, and daughter Aliyah and son Abdul. Now Nida is running for Congress to take that fight to the federal level. She's fighting for a living wage, Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, and other policies that North Carolinians urgently need. You can sign your name below and pledge to vote for Nida. Let's build a brighter future for NCO4. Nida Allam is running to build a brighter future for the Research Triangle, where our democracy works for all of us and everyone has access to a living wage, affordable health care, a great public education, and a livable planet. Together, we can do more than just dream about a better tomorrow. We can build it together. Let's build a brighter future for NCO4. Nida Allam is running to build a brighter future for the Research Triangle where our democracy works for all of us and everyone has access to a living wage, affordable health care, a great public education, and a livable planet. Together, we can do more than just dream about a better tomorrow. We can build it together. She mentions for environmental justice. Addressing the climate crisis is the greatest challenge of our generation. We have less than 10 years remaining to prevent irreversible damage to the planet, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. But the truth is, the climate crisis is already here. Extreme weather events like hurricanes and record-breaking heat waves are already devastating our communities, and black, brown, and working class communities are on the front lines of this crisis. I support a Green New Deal because we need to invest in solutions that meet the scale of the climate crisis. We can transition to a green energy economy and put millions of people to work with good paying jobs in the process. Those in power have let fossil fuel companies wreak havoc for far too long. They polluted our air and water and knowingly lie about their contribution to global warming. In Congress, I will fight to end fossil fuel subsidies and oil and gas leases on federal lands because the fossil fuel sector doesn't need any more government handouts. Instead, I will work to bring federal dollars back to the communities most impacted by the fossil fuel industry's reckless behavior and fight for a just transition for the workers in this industry who are more at risk. Jobs in the economy. Everyone deserves a good paying job and to be treated with dignity in the workplace. But in North Carolina, the minimum wage has remained at $7.25 an hour for the last 13 years, even as the cost of living has increased. North Carolina's disastrous right to work laws have rigged the system in favor of big corporations. They've denied North Carolina workers the opportunity to bargain collectively for better wages and working conditions. While serving on the Durham County Board of Commissioners, I raised the minimum wage for all county employees to $19 an hour. In Congress, I will fight for that wage on a federal level, consistent with the current cost of living in NCO4 for all workers, including tipped workers, because no one should have to work multiple jobs just to keep a roof over their head and provide for their family. I support the PRO Act legislation that will expand labor protections and ensure all working people are free to organize in the workplace. In the wealthiest nation on earth, everyone deserves a good paying job. I support a federal jobs guarantee that will put people to work on tackling the biggest challenges we face, such as fighting climate change, repairing our nation's crumbling infrastructure, and bolstering the care economy. Healthcare. Our healthcare system is broken and failing to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in our society, and our leaders are not rising to the occasion. Before the pandemic began, over 1 million North Carolinians were uninsured, and over the course of the pandemic, an additional 250,000 people lost employment-based insurance. Those who do have health insurance often still have to jump through hoops to get the care they need, and high premiums and deductibles put a strain on family budgets. Our current healthcare system might work for insurance company executives, but it certainly doesn't work for working families in our district. And with Donald Trump and the GOP's cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, the situation will only become more dire unless we change course. I believe healthcare is a human right, not a privilege. I support Medicare for All, which would ensure that everyone can receive the healthcare they need regardless of their income. Everyone deserves comprehensive, high-quality healthcare coverage that includes primary care, vision, hearing, dental, mental health care, reproductive health care, and more. Our broken healthcare system also means we pay far too much for prescription drugs, more than twice that of other wealthy countries. I support the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Act, which will allow the government to negotiate prescription drug prices on behalf of Medicare recipients and reduce costs for everyone. In public education, every child deserves a quality public school education, not just students who live in wealthy communities. North Carolina's public education system was once the gold standard, but now public school students don't have the resources they need to succeed. For my generation, the growing cost of higher education and the burden of student loan debt means we aren't getting our shot at the American dream. All of our students deserve better. In Congress, I will fight to cancel student loan debt and to make tuition-free public colleges and universities a reality. I will also push for increased Title I funding so schools and communities with high poverty rates have the resources they need for all of their students to thrive. I support expanding the Full Service Community Schools program, which equips schools to provide a full range of social services to students and their families. We must ensure all students and families have reliable and affordable broadband access no matter where they live, and we must return North Carolina to its roots as a national leader in high-quality, universal education. Reproductive rights. Our right to make healthcare decisions about our own bodies is under attack. As a mother of two children who struggled with fertility challenges and even survived a n ectopic pregnancy, this fight is personal for me. The nationwide crackdown on abortion rights is threatening the lives of women across the nation, particularly here in the South. We need to end the agenda of pronatalism and forced birth that Republican legislatures are inciting. In Congress, I will fight to make sure everyone can make their own health care choices. I support the Women's Health Protection Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade into federal law and end the assault on reproductive freedom being carried out by Republican state houses and the courts. As a member of Congress, I will fight to repeal the Hyde Amendment, a law that prevents low-income Americans from accessing abortion care and ensure reproductive health care is central in our fight for Medicare for all. LGBTQ Plus writes, NCO4 is one of the most LGBTQ inclusive districts in the South, a welcoming home for thousands of queer and trans North Carolinians who raise their families and meet their chosen families in our towns. Every year, we assemble together for Durham Pride and proudly proclaim that y'all means all. In the face of ongoing attacks on the LGBTQ community at the state and national levels, especially for our trans neighbors, my imperative will be to fight for non-discrimination at the federal level, to reverse the horrific backslide that threatens the civil rights, health care, and livelihoods of LGBTQ plus Americans. At the county level, we proudly uphold one of the most robust non-discrimination ordinances of any city, town, or county in North Carolina. As a commissioner, I helped lead the board to streamline the process for legal name change, cutting back on the red tape and bureaucracy that exacerbate the challenges of transition. And on a personal level, when Trump's culture war restrictions threaten the county budget for pride, I led our community to fundraise $20,000 to fill in the gap. With all this in mind, I am ready to take this fight to the federal level where I will advocate strongly for the Equality Act and other legislation that codifies queer and trans equality in marriage, healthcare, the workplace, and all parts of American life. Housing. Housing is a human right, and all of our neighbors deserve a safe and stable place to live. But the high cost of living in our area and sustained underinvestment in affordable housing means this stability is not a reality for everyone. In NCO4, a family needs to make nearly $40,000 a year to afford a two-bedroom apartment. Rising rents mean that over 30% of renters are cost burdened and nearly 50% have difficulty affording their homes. In Congress, I will fight for full funding of Section 8 housing choice vouchers so that families who need rental assistance can receive it instead of being placed on years-long wait lists. We need to fund the rehabilitation and preservation of our public housing stock and invest in retrofitting and energy efficient upgrades outlined in the Green New Deal for Public Housing. I support expanding the low-income housing tax credit to encourage the development of new affordable housing in our area. We can also further reduce the barriers to sustainable and affordable growth by banning exclusionary zoning. Foreign policy. The United States has been at war for the better part of two decades, but it hasn't made us any safer. We have spent $13 trillion over the past 20 years on our military, but we remain unprepared to tackle the biggest threats to our safety, like climate change and future pandemics. Since the start of the so-called war on terror, the president has been given almost unilateral authority to conduct military operations without congressional approval, posing a risk to safety at home and abroad. Meanwhile, over the last two years, as millions of children go to bed hungry, the United States has sent over $21 billion to Israel, funding and arming the genocide of Palestinians. American foreign policy should be centered on diplomacy, cooperation, and the protection of human rights, not on endless wars designed to preserve U.S. influence and financial interest. I support reducing the defense budget to prioritize issues like domestic poverty. In Congress, I will fight to limit executive authority through the repeal of the 2001 and 2002 authorization for use of military force, which have allowed presidents to pursue military action without congressional approval. I will stand up for the rights of the pressed peoples across the globe and fight to end the weapons supply to genocides and humanitarian catastrophes abroad, including in Sudan, Yemen, and Palestine. Crucially, as many of our elected representative can shake hands with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, I will oppose him and join the fight for an arms embargo on Israel. We must stop enabling regimes committing human rights abuses by selling weapons and providing direct aid, and instead refocus on humanitarian relief, poverty reduction, and peace building. Protecting democracy. Our democracy is under assault, and we cannot stand by while corporate special interests and dark money drown out the voices of everyday people. In 2022, our district's primary was the most expensive in state history. I know what it looks like when elections are swayed by corporate greed. When Republican leadership in our state started targeting our voters' rights and access to the ballot box, our county commission funded the Board of Elections to provide free IDs for voters who needed them and invested in new technology to give every voter in the county all the info they needed to vote in one place. This is the kind of solution we need from Washington, D.C., expanding access rather than limiting it. That's why I'm committed to passing the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to guarantee every American's right to cast a ballot, because the fight for voting rights is the civil rights struggle of our generation. We must end Citizens United and get big money out of politics once and for all so that Congress works for working families, not wealthy donors, and corporate PACs. If the filibuster stands in the way of protecting our democracy, then we must be willing to reform or abolish it, because our constitutional rights cannot be held hostage by procedural obstruction. Finally, I will support a ban on stock trading for members of Congress so that politicians are no longer lining their pockets at the expense of the American people. Immigration. My parents moved our family to North Carolina in search of a better life, and we found it. Growing up, I was welcomed in North Carolina public schools, embraced by my friends and neighbors, and proudly committed to raising my own family in the Triangle for the rest of my life. But in the second Trump era, our nation of immigrants has been violently dismantled to the point of emergency. Now we need new leaders to build an immigration system that protects immigrants and refugees rather than vilifying them. I've been on the front lines as ICE and CBP have invaded the triangle, rounding up members of our community and subjecting them to unjust detentions and even deportations. It's time to end the military invasions of Trump's surveillance state and create an infrastructure for every North Carolina resident, including new arrivals, to thrive. I'll fight to expand asylum laws and protect the fundamental human right to seek safe haven, pass the DREAM Act to provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of our neighbors who call America home and end the cruel policies of family separation and mass detention. In Durham, I helped create the position of immigrant and refugee services coordinator because I know that when we invest in welcoming new Americans, our entire community thrives. In Congress, I'll stand against anti-immigrant fear mongering and work tirelessly to build an immigration system that reflects our values as a nation of immigrants, one that keeps families together, protects workers from exploitation, and ensures that everyone, regardless of where they were born, can live without fear. Nida is in the news. Keep up with all the latest info on what Nida is doing to help build a brighter future for NCO4. There are a number of articles here. Some of the titles include Democrat Nida Allam brings major progressive backers to challenge incumbent U.S. Representative Foushee. Durham Commissioner Nida Allam to challenge Foushee in Democratic primary rematch. Nida Allam challenging Representative Valerie Foushee in Democratic rematch. Representative Valerie Foushee gets a primary challenger backed by Senator Ernie Sanders. AIPAC spent millions to keep her out of Congress. Now she sees an opening. Progressive groups unite behind latest challenger is primaries against House Democrats spread. Federal agents are coming to the triangle, here's what we know, with a number of other articles. As for her endorsements, Nida Allam is supported by numerous progressive organizations and national and local leaders because she's running a campaign for everyone in North Carolina 04. Various organizations that have endorsed her are College Democrats of America, the People's Alliance PAC, Indian American Impact Fund, Justice Democrats, Leaders We Deserve, Muslims United PAC, NCAAT in Action, No Dem Left Behind, Our Revolution, Peace Action, the North Carolina Democratic Party Progressive Caucus, the Progressive Democrats of America, Sunrise Movement, and Working Families Party. Some of the elected officials who have endorsed Nida include Senator Bernie Sanders, the U.S. Senator for the state of Vermont, Julie Von Haefen, the State Representative for House District 36, along with Natalie Bayer, board member of Durham Public Schools, Javiero Caballero, Mayor Pro Tem of City of Durham, Jessica Carta Aughton, board member of Durham Public Schools, Jillian Johnson, former mayor pro tem of City of Durham, Matt Kopak, Council Member of the City of Durham, Mike Lee, County Commission Chair for the County of Durham, Sue Moose, Council Member for the Town of Apex, Charlie Reese, former council member for the City of Durham, Carl Rist, Councilmember of the City of Durham. Other community leaders include Garrett Dixon and Wesley Knott, who is the chair of the Wake County Democratic Party. There's a tab for voter information. Meet North Carolina District 4. North Carolina's 4th Congressional District includes all of Durham County and Orange County, as well as northern Chatham County and western Wake County. The district includes more rural communities like Hillsborough, college towns like Chapel Hill, fast-growing cityscapes like Durham, and small towns growing into renewed metropolitan communities like Pittsburgh and Holly Springs. Our district is full of innovators, educators, and families working together to build a brighter future. If you aren't sure whether or not you live in the new 4th district, you can check by finding your house on the map on this page. Dates to remember February 6th, voter registration deadline. February 12th, one stop early voting begins. February 17th, absentee ballot request deadline. One stop early voting ends on February 28th, absentee ballot return deadline, March 3rd by 7.30 p.m. It has to be received at the Board of Elections by that time. And NC primary election date is March 3rd. And then there are tabs for how you can check your voter registration, update your voter registration, or vote for the first time. Do I have to be registered as a Democrat to vote for Nida alarm in the Democratic primary? How can I vote for Nida if I know I won't be able to vote on election day? And where can I learn about voting in the 2026 primary? There's a tab for volunteering. It says take action with Nida for NCO4. Check out these ways to get involved. There is a Fuquay Varina Canvas for Nida on Saturday, February 14th at 2 o'clock. Tuesday, February 10th. There's a Holly Springs Get to Know Nida Allam. And then there are other dates for events happening. Quick actions for right now. You can pledge to vote for Nida. You can get involved. You can canvas your precinct for Nida. And there are lots of places where you can get more information or sign up. And then, of course, you can donate to her campaign as well. She does have links to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok on her page as well. Pulling up her Google search, nothing major comes up. She does have a Wikipedia page if you're interested in that. On Ballotpedia, it says that she's a member of the Durham County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina. She assumed office on December 7th in 2020, and her current term ends on December 2nd, 2028. She's running for election to the U.S. House to represent North Carolina's fourth congressional district. She's on the ballot for the Democratic primary on March 3rd. Nida Allam lives in Durham, North Carolina. Allam earned a bachelor's degree in sustainable materials technology from North Carolina State University in 2015. Her career experience includes working as a North Carolina State Director of the State Innovation Exchange, the vice chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, a project manager with MetLife, and a political director for U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, his 2016 presidential campaign. Her campaign finance summary for 2026, which says that data for this year may not be complete, her contributions that she has been given are $334,740. Her expenditures have only been $28,955. Nida did fill out the questionnaire for the NC Deep Dives Voters Guide for question number one: experience and preparation. What experience best prepares you to represent Southern Wake County specifically? She said, I have lived in North Carolina 04 for almost my whole life. I spent my teenage years at lacrosse tournaments all around Southern Wake County, from Apex to Fuquay Varina to Holly Springs. In addition to my years as a private citizen living here and calling this district home, a wide range of public service experiences drives my candidacy today, including Bernie Sanders 2016 campaign. I worked on the Bernie 2016 campaign across four states, starting as field organizer in South Carolina and ending as political director in New Jersey. I opened field offices, managed staff, built coalitions with grassroots leaders, and helped launch one of the most diverse volunteer-driven campaigns in the country. That experience taught me the power of people-led movements and shaped how I approach every role since the North Carolina Democratic Party. I served as the vice chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party from 2017 to 2021. I helped rebuild trust between the party and the grassroots, training volunteers, recruiting diverse candidates, and leading outreach communities of color and young voters. My focus was always on organizing from the ground up and making the party more accountable to the people it represents. Durham Mayor's Council for Women. As chair of the Durham Mayor's Council for Women, I worked alongside an incredible team to elevate women's voices in local government. We pushed for better access to childcare, pay equity, and leadership opportunities and made sure city leaders were listening directly to the women most impacted by policy decisions. Durham County's Board of Commissioners. As the current vice chair of the Board of Commissioners, my constant goal is to champion working people in Durham and legislate for a livable county. I have played an instrumental part in raising the minimum wage for Durham County employees and led the charge to secure property tax relief for low-income Durham residents. I currently serve on the board of the Durham Museum of Life and Science, Triangle West Transit Planning Organization, Durham Memorial Stadium Authority, the Justice Advisory Council, the EMS Peer Review Committee, and more. As a member of the Planned Parenthood South Atlantic Votes Board of Directors on Temporary Leave, I've helped guide endorsements and organize across four states to elect reproductive rights champions and expand access to care. It's about more than politics. It's about protecting people's freedom to make their own choices and building the power we need to keep that right secure. Number two, top priority. What is the top issue you would prioritize in your first term? And how would it directly affect your constituents? Addressing the affordability crisis for working families across the district, families are being squeezed by low wages, raising prices, and corporate greed, rising prices and corporate greed. A top priority is making sure working people can afford to live with dignity. That means raising the federal minimum wage, strengthening the right to unionize, and ending so-called right to work laws that suppress wages and weaken labor power in the South. I will fight to pass the PRO Act, take on price gouging by corporations, and rein in the outsized influence of billionaires who rig the economy in their favor. Crucially, I support a moratorium on data centers like the one proposed in Apex, which would jack up power bills for working families to subsidize billionaire AI processing. I also support lowering the cost of childcare and other basic necessities so families aren't forced to choose between paying bills and caring for their loved ones. Defending democracy and the rule of law. Our democracy is under attack by corruption, voter suppression, and a system that prioritizes corporate power over people. We need to end gerrymandering at the federal level to end a corrupt system that suppresses the votes of thousands of voters across my state and the country, especially black voters who are facing surgically targeted voter suppression in North Carolina. In addition to passing voting rights legislation, I would advocate for ending Citizens United and banning stock trading for members of Congress and their spouses. It's time to root out corruption at every level of the process and return power to the people. Additionally, we must have a fighter in Congress to protect immigrant rights and ensure due process for all. Guaranteeing healthcare as a human right. No one should go without healthcare because of their income, employment, or zip code. Coming from a state that expanded Medicaid only to see Republicans attempt to roll it back cruelly. I believe healthcare must be guaranteed for everyone. I will fight to pass Medicare for all to ensure universal coverage, lower costs, and eliminate medical debt. Until that goal is achieved, I will support policies that expand access, protect Medicaid, and lower prescription drug prices because healthcare is a human right, not a privilege. Number three, decision making when district priorities and party priorities don't fully align, how do you decide which comes first? She said during my tenure on the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, Board of Directors, which was Republican appointed, I worked with fellow commissioners from across the state to align on policy goals, identify areas of coherence, and advocate for county priorities at the state level. Of course, this included working with many Republican colleagues to find common ground and mutual interest. I am proud of those relationships, testaments to the truth that we all have more in common than not. Many of my colleagues and I found that we actually supported the same policies when it came down to funding schools, lowering the cost of living, and expanding access to key social services. We were able to sort through conflicting priorities at the party, board, and constituent level, because each of our relationships were founded on the mutual respect and understanding necessary to create change. Ultimately in Washington, I will be accountable to everyday voters and in service of them over any party. But I'm always willing to find ways to compromise or create unexpected paths to change, no matter the collaborator. Number four, issue awareness. What is one issue where Democrats have not paid enough attention to local or practical impacts? She said campaign finance and anti-corruption reforms are among the most important issues facing our country today, and not enough Democrats, including my opponent, are willing to face them head on. I know from experience how money can warp the outcome of a race, leaving a populist candidate bruised in its wake. When I went up against Representative Foushee in 2024, AIPAC dumped over $2 million into our district, making it the most expensive primary in state history. They effectively bought the seat before the general, regardless of the strength of our campaign and the momentum we gathered, all because they were scared to have a Muslim woman standing up for our district. I am determined to end this corrupt system once and for all, even as others in the party chose complacency. This includes an end to Citizens United, a ban on stock trading for members of Congress, and federal restrictions on the revolving door that keeps Congress in the pocket of corporate interest. 5. Red Line Non-negotiable principle. What principle or policy position would you refuse to compromise on, even under political pressure? She said, There is nothing more important to me than living my values. My entire path to organizing grew out of the grief and pain I experienced in 2015, mourning three of my best friends, Dia Barakat, Yussar Abu Salah, and Razan Abu Salah, at the hands of an anti-Muslim hate crime in Chapel Hill. I live every day trying to honor their memories by opposing violence and destruction whenever I find it, whether it's down the street or across the globe. To that end, my red line is violence, bigotry, and genocide. I have been calling out genocide and atrocities all over the world, in Gaza, Sudan, and Yemen, even when it was unpopular to do so. But I stood strong in my belief in the value and dignity of every human life, while maintaining compassion and respect for my critics. I handled the backlash by always being willing to sit down with communities that have disagreed with me and grounding our mutual conversation in our shared humanity. I truly believe that moral clarity and consistency are the bedrock of an effective representative, as is being willing to engage in dialogue on that clarity whenever the opportunity arises. The ICC had already issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, and yet my opponents seemed to openly flaunt both international law and the will of her constituents. The vast majority of our district staunchly disapproves of the Netanyahu regime and his actions in Gaza and the West Bank, and I would never have taken a meeting with the officials carrying out these atrocities, let alone participated in a publicity tour while bombs reigned mere miles away. She said, My opponent continues to accept donations from corporate PACs, including Eli Lilly, Walmart, Lockheed Martin, and many others, a practice I have committed to rejecting from the beginning of my career in public service. I believe accepting these donations creates a grave conflict of interest that prevents legislatures from effectively holding their corporate donors accountable, as these are the very same actors causing or exacerbating some of the problems raised in part two. Finally, my opponent has been named co-chair of the House Democratic Caucus Commission on Artificial Intelligence and the Innovation Economy. I am thrilled to see our state represented in leadership of such an important commission, especially as the future of AI is being actively created and deployed right here in our district. However, I am concerned about her past decisions on this issue and failure to speak out against the new data center being built in Apex, where hundreds of residents are organizing to prevent the environmental destruction that massive data centers wreak. Personally, I support a moratorium on the construction of data centers until proper regulation is in place. Seven, accountability. How should voters hold you accountable if they feel you are not representing their district's interest? She said, the best part of my job is being with my constituents. I cherish running into folks on the playground at the grocery store, just seeing them and hearing their feedback in the midst of everyday life. In some ways, being a working mom is the most important way I will stay accountable to our district in Congress. When I think about what it means to me to be a progressive leader in Congress with all the responsibilities and challenges it requires, I think of my children's future. As a mother, my commitment to progress in our state has only grown stronger as I watch through my kids' eyes. Looking at Alaya and Abdul, I see the whole world, a future where they and their peers can live free of stereotypes, discrimination, and structural oppression. I feel even more dedicated to preserving the strong, vibrant, diverse community that makes NCO4 what it is. And when I see them playing with their friends in the daycare, I am reminded of the outstanding debt we owe the next generation. We are just stewards of this community, trying to leave it better, more equal, and more connected than we found it. That is my accountability. And I believe it is essential that I bring it to voters directly, via town halls, social media, community events, and more, so that they never have to do the work to seek me out. 8. Learn more. How can voters learn more about you, your values, and how you approach decision making? She said, check out my website, nitaalam.com, N-I-D-A-A-L-L-A-M.com. And whether they vote for me or not, please register by February 6th to vote in the primary. The last candidate who will be on the Democratic ballot for the U.S. House of Representatives for District 4 is Mary Patterson. I could not find a website for Mary. Doing a Google search, I found her ballotpedia page. It just basically says that she's running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent North Carolina's 4th Congressional District. She's on the ballot in the Democratic primary on March 3rd. She did not complete their questionnaire. The campaign finance information that I see for 2026, noting that all values might not be represented. For her, it says that she has not collected any money, she's not spent any money, and therefore has no money on hand. There is an indy congressional district or questionnaire and answer form if you're interested in reading that. She did answer the questions for our NC Deep Dive Voters Guide. Number one, experience and preparation. What experience best prepares you to respond to represent Southern Wake County specifically? She responded, life experiences. Number two, top priority. What is the top issue you would prioritize in your first term, and how would it directly impact your constituents? She said clean work and housing environments, free from health hazards like HVAC mold and air ventilation systems, supporting healthcare, immigration, environmental issues, creating more buffer zones, court administration issues, EEOC and equal fair wages, terminating the will to fire contractors and employees their jobs for no legal reasons, removing racial and ethnic indicators from job applications except for U.S. citizenship, affordable housing, removing additional cable, garbage, and pest control fees from total cost of rent, making items an option crime reduction. Number three, decision making. When district priorities and party priorities don't fully align, how do you decide which comes first? She said to set and establish priorities for what is best needed for the vast population majority. Number four, issue awareness. What is one issue where Democrats have not paid enough attention to local or practical impacts? She wrote, environmental changes and impact on global warming and immigration. Number five, red line non-negotiable principle. What principle or policy position would you refuse to compromise on, even under political pressure? She responded, helping the poor people out in America for health care, food, housing, and jobs for work. Number six, concrete example. Can you describe a real issue in your district and explain how your approach would improve or change what is currently being done? She said, overpopulation in the area with no real solutions for trash and garbage disposal, reduction and recycling. Place recycling bins and apartment complexes for greater participation by the tenants. Number seven, accountability. How should voters hold you accountable if they feel you are not representing their district's interest? She said, if I am not doing my job as a representative, then communicate with me by writing. Number eight, learn more. How can voters learn more about you, your values, and how you approach decision making? She said, I am new to this political arena, learning that as a Durham District 4 candidate, that I must not only represent the city of Durham, North Carolina, but four other cities outside of my district with only one open candidate position open in the polls. Not fair enough for running or consideration. Yet again, politics in the dirty south. No wonder we are stuck in the mud for progress. We expect one person to handle all of the work while everyone else sits on their hands and does nothing. I do not have a website yet and less than 30 days to get everything done. I'm in the process of moving my family due to mold in our apartment and running to emergency rooms. I did find one other tidbit that was on Ballotpedia for all of the candidates, and it mentions that this is a 2026 battleground election. Ballotpedia identified the March 3rd Democratic primary for U.S. House in North Carolina's 4th Congressional District as a battleground election. The summary below is from our coverage of this election. Incumbent Valerie Foushee, Nida Allam, and Mary Patterson are running in the Democratic primary for North Carolina's 4th Congressional District on March 3, 2026. As of January 2026, Foushee and Allam led in endorsements, fundraising, and local media attention. The primary is a rematch between Foushee and Allam, who ran for the then open seat in 2022. Foushee defeated Allam 46% to 37%. The 2026 primary is taking place in the context of redistricting North Carolina. The redrawn fourth district's boundaries differ from those established following the 2020 census and used in the 2022 election. According to the Assembly's Chase Pellegrini DePour, of the roughly 40,000 votes that Foushee won in 2022, about 22% came from areas no longer in the district. The changes affected only about 5% of Allam's voters. Foushee is a former administrator with the Chapel Hill Police Department who served 15 years in local elected positions and 10 years in the North Carolina General Assembly before her election to Congress. Allam is an organizer and the vice chair of the Durham County Board of Commissioners. Pellegrini DePore wrote that the candidates' voting records likely wouldn't differ dramatically. They are also radically different in their approach to politics. Allam has an aggressively pro-worker message and a pension for TikTok trends and selfie-style Instagram videos. Foushee is a measured 69-year-old stateswoman at the highest and the highest profile member of a local political dynasty. Representative Jim Klyburn, Emily's List, and the Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee endorsed Foushee. Senator Bernie Sanders, our revolution, and the sunrise movement endorsed Allam. As of January 2026, major election forecasters rated the general election safe slash solid democratic. So whoever wins this primary likely will easily get the seat for the congressional fourth district. And again, just to kind of go over the campaign finance stuff, Valerie Foushee has raised $361,920. Nida Allam comes in about $25,000 shy of that at $334,740. However, they have spent dramatically different amounts. Valerie Foushee has spent $254,01 while Nida Allam has only spent $28,955. So their cash on hand currently, Valerie Foushee has $193,614 as of December 31st. And Nida Allam has $305,785 as of December 31st. And again, Mary Patterson, there's not any data. So right now it shows that she's received zero in contributions and paid zero dollars for disbursements. And that brings us to the end of the three candidates that are running to be on the Democratic primary ballot for the U.S. House of Representatives for District 4. Again, their names are Valerie P. Foushee, Nida Allam, and Mary Patterson. And that brings this episode of the NC Deep Dive to a close. Make sure you check out all the other relevant episodes for the 2026 primary election at www.ncdeepdive.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, or wherever you currently listen to your podcast. I will be including helpful links for each candidate and voting in general on our website show notes, including our NC Deep Dives Voters Guide for the 2026 primary election. We were blessed to have many candidates that took the time to share their thoughts and speak to voters within Southern Wake County. The Voter's Guide is arranged by party affiliation and organized in such a way to make it relatively easy to find the races or the candidates you might be interested in. All candidates' websites are linked if I was able to find one. I also consciously chose to arrange the voters' guide starting at the end of the ballot. So often we are aware of the larger races, yet don't hear about or take the time to learn about the smaller ones. As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or topics you'd like to share, you may contact us via social media or by emailing ncdeepdive at gmail.com. If you found value in this episode, we'd love for you to subscribe, review, and share it to help us in our mission to help voters make their most informed choices. Thank you for engaging with this episode and becoming a more informed citizen. Democracy is a team sport. Together we make democracy work and our communities a better place to work, play, and live. Your vote matters, your voice matters, you matter. Until next time, my friends, Namaste. The love and light in me sees and honors the love and light in you.