Recount Likely in NC-04 Democratic Primary as Foushee Holds Razor-Thin Lead over Allam
Incumbent Rep. Valerie Foushee leads challenger Nida Allam by less than one percentage point as provisional and overseas ballots remain outstanding.
The Democratic primary for North Carolina’s 4th Congressional District is barreling toward a likely recount, with incumbent Rep. Valerie Foushee clinging to a margin of less than one percentage point over Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam, according to NC Newsline.
According to unofficial results, Foushee captured 49.18% of the vote, edging Allam’s 48.22% by just 1,202 votes out of nearly 122,000 ballots cast. Mary Patterson finished far behind with 2.6%.
With provisional ballots and certain military and overseas votes still uncounted, the final margin could shift — and if it remains at or below one percentage point, Allam is entitled to request a mandatory recount, says NC Newsline.
Allam addressed supporters just before midnight, emerging after hours of waiting for results.
“Though we go to bed tonight without the full results, we will keep exercising our right to dream, and we will bring home a victory for the working families of North Carolina in the days ahead,” she told the crowd.
Foushee, meanwhile, released a statement shortly after midnight declaring victory and thanking voters.
“Serving this district in Congress is my highest honor, and I am deeply humbled to have the opportunity to represent this district for another term,” she said.
The contest shattered records for outside spending in a North Carolina congressional primary, with independent expenditure groups pouring nearly $4.5 million into ads supporting both candidates — surpassing even the bitterly fought 2022 match-up between Allam and Foushee.
The race became a microcosm of the national tug-of-war between the Democratic Party’s progressive and establishment factions, a divide sharpened by the party’s sweeping losses in the 2024 elections. Foushee, now completing her second term in Congress, drew strong backing from traditional Democratic constituencies, particularly Black voters. A longtime fixture in Orange County politics, she previously served in the state legislature and chaired the Orange County Board of Commissioners.
Allam, by contrast, galvanized the progressive wing, boosted by endorsements from figures like independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, who campaigned for her during his “Fighting Oligarchy Tour” in Durham last month.
Whoever emerges as the Democratic nominee will face Republican Manesh Gunorkar and Libertarian Guy Meilleur in November — but is widely expected to win in the deep-blue district.