Durham County Commission Vice Chair Nida Allam has announced her run for US Congress.
Allam will take on Rep. Valerie Foushee in a Democratic primary challenge.
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Allam was elected to the Durham County Commission in 2019, and she previously challenged Foushee in 2022.
During her announcement in downtown Durham Thursday morning, Allam cited her tenure on the County Commission, which includes funding allocations to Durham Public Schools, raising minimum the wage for County and DPS employees, and the creation of the Immigrant and Refugee Services Program.
Allam also pointed to her response to ICE’s presence in Durham recently.
"Leadership means standing with people in the moments that matter, in the moments of joy and grief, of difficulty and ease, of crisis and calm,” Allam said. “Leadership is a call to action, not in spite of, but because of, the circumstances."
WRAL asked Allam why she believes she is a better candidate for the seat than Foushee.
She says she is committed to continuing her work and upholding her promises.
“I will be accountable to the people of this district,” Allam said. “I have, since I first ran for County Commission in 2019, always taken a pledge to never take money from corporate PACs and dark money special interest groups, because I believe as elected representatives, we need to be accountable to the people we serve in our districts.”
WRAL spoke with Congresswoman Foushee when she filed to run for reelection last week.
“I think that it's important we make sure people understand that we need to bring jobs. So many people have lost their jobs due to DOGE at the beginning of this year,” Foushee said.
She also cited her priority of keeping healthcare affordable.
“We know that with the expiring ACA tax credits that a lot of people are going to see increases in their premiums, such that many people will not be able to hold onto their health insurance,” Foushee said. “There is so much work to be done, and I'm ready to stay in this fight to make sure that it is done.
Foushee also released a statement in response to Allam’s filing on Thursday, writing:
"Throughout my years in public service, I've faced every challenge with the same approach: show up, do the work, and stay focused on delivering real results for North Carolina. That commitment is the foundation of everything I've done, and it remains unchanged.
My record speaks for itself, and I have been proud to stand up for our shared progressive values in Congress by advancing legislation like the ICE Badge Visibility Act, the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, Medicare for All, and the Block the Bombs Act.
As one of just two members of the North Carolina congressional delegation who have hosted multiple in-person Town Halls this year, including a listening session for federal workers and multiple Town Halls via telephone, I know that being a Member of Congress is about representing your district as a whole. Without listening to my constituents, I would not be able to properly reflect our community's needs in Congress, like fighting back against Trump's billionaire tax breaks, helping to uncover Elon Musk's illegal interference in government contracts, and voting against the National Defense Authorization Act.
I am proud of the legislation I have supported, the votes I have taken, and the services my office has provided to constituents. I look forward to earning the support of the voters of the Fourth District and continuing to serve as their voice in Washington for another term."
You can find dates for voting in North Carolina here.