Who's running in North Carolina's 4th congressional district
3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Valerie Foushee currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
LGBTQ equality; she is endorsed by Equality North Carolina.
Gun violence prevention; she is endorsed by Giffords.
A negotiated two-state settlement in the Middle East; she is endorsed by J Street.
Research and university funding for the Research Triangle.
Agriculture and rural policy in the parts of the district outside the Triangle.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 4th District since January 2023; re-elected in 2024 with 71.9%.
Former Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board member, Orange County commissioner, and North Carolina state representative and senator.
Beat Durham County commissioner Nida Allam in the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary by about 1,200 votes.
Her primary campaign was supported by substantial outside spending from artificial intelligence industry groups.
Arguments in favor
LGBTQ, gun safety and Middle East diplomacy organisations have endorsed her re-election.
— Equality North Carolina, Giffords and J Street
Much of the North Carolina Democratic delegation and prominent progressives in Congress backed her against a challenge from her left.
— Reps. Alma Adams, Don Davis, Maxwell Frost and Pramila Jayapal, and former Rep. G. K. Butterfield
Arguments against
Her primary challenger argued she is too supportive of Israel and of business interests, and made the race a test of whether incumbents are fighting the administration hard enough; the challenge came within about 1,200 votes.
— Nida Allam, her 2026 Democratic primary opponent, backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders
Reporting on the primary noted that she was carried across the line partly by a large advertising boost from the artificial intelligence industry, which her critics tie to the business-interest criticism.
— NOTUS reporting on outside spending in the primary
What we couldn’t verify
Foushee's response to the outside-spending criticism was not established from sources read; the spending was independent expenditure rather than campaign money.
No National Republican Congressional Committee material naming Foushee for the 2026 cycle could be found, and no criticism of her from Max Ganorkar's campaign was located.
Her 2026 general election fundraising was not established from sources read.
Opposition to what he calls socialism in American politics.
Free-market economic policy and lower taxes.
Small business and construction industry policy, drawing on his family business.
Legal immigration, having immigrated himself.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Immigrated from India in 1989 to study for an MBA in international finance.
Works as a home designer and builder in a family-owned construction business.
Became active in the Tea Party movement in 2009.
Has run for Congress in North Carolina in 2022, 2024 and 2026; the 2026 Republican primary in this district was cancelled because he was the only candidate who filed.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Ganorkar by name could be found. Searched: his name with 'criticism', against Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material, against Valerie Foushee's campaign, and against News & Observer, WUNC, INDY Week and ABC11 coverage. Because no case against him exists on the record, no case for him is presented either.
His endorsements and fundraising were not established from sources read.
The district voted Democratic by more than forty points in 2024; how he intends to change that was not established.
Libertarian candidate for North Carolina's 4th District in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
Meilleur's biography and policy positions could not be established: no campaign website, candidate questionnaire or news profile covering him was located. The standsFor list is left empty rather than filled with guesses.
No published criticism of Meilleur by name could be found, and no published case for him beyond the ballot listing.
His fundraising was not established from sources read.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
North Carolina held its primary on March 3, 2026. Democratic incumbent Valerie Foushee survived a challenge from Durham County commissioner Nida Allam by about 1,200 votes, in a race with heavy outside spending on both sides including a large boost for Foushee from the artificial intelligence industry; Allam conceded rather than seek a recount. Republican Max Ganorkar was the only Republican to file, so that primary was cancelled. Libertarian Guy Meilleur is also on the ballot. The district covers Durham and Orange counties and parts of Chatham and Wake. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia and WUNC, NBC News and NC Newsline reporting. Criticism of Ganorkar and Meilleur by name could not be found, so their entries carry no arguments in either column.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A North Carolina ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at North Carolina State Board of Elections.