A New Face in Congress: Can Nida Allam Defeat Valerie Foushee?
The pro-Israel lobby's spending has long been a thorn in the side of progressive politicians, and North Carolina's Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam is not afraid to take on the powerful group. With a $1.2 million campaign war chest, fueled by small donations from everyday people, Allam is gearing up for a rematch against Rep. Valerie Foushee in the 2026 midterms.
Foushee, who won the seat in 2022 with nearly two years of pro-Israel lobbying spending behind her, has since made a surprising about-face. In August, she announced that she would no longer accept money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) or other pro-Israel groups. The move is a significant shift for a Democrat who had previously been seen as a moderate on the issue.
But Allam sees Foushee's decision as an opportunity to capitalize on public discontent with the influence of AIPAC in politics. In an interview, she said that while Foushee has made progress in her willingness to distance herself from pro-Israel groups, it remains to be seen whether she will actually follow through on her commitment.
"Nida Allam is a serious candidate who could potentially upset Rep. Valerie Foushee," said Rachel Kramer, a progressive activist based in North Carolina. "Foushee's decision not to accept AIPAC money may have been driven by pressure from activists and constituents, but it remains to be seen whether she will actually take concrete actions to address the issues that are driving her opponents' campaigns."
For Allam, Foushee's hesitation on the issue of AIPAC spending is a red flag. "If they decide to spend in this, then it comes down to Valerie Foushee to answer," Allam said. "Is she going to stand by the promise and commitment she made to not accept AIPAC and pro-Israel lobby money? This district deserves someone who is going to be a champion for working families."
Foushee's decision not to take AIPAC money has been welcomed by progressive groups, including Justice Democrats, which endorsed Allam's campaign. The organization criticized Foushee for taking money from corporate interests, including defense contractors who have profited from genocides in Gaza and Sudan.
"In the face of rising healthcare costs, creeping authoritarianism, and ICE raids, and the highest number of federal funding cuts of any district in the country, leadership that only shows up to make excuses won’t cut it anymore," Justice Democrats wrote in a statement.
Foushee has a long history of progressive credentials, including her support for Medicare for All and the Voting Rights Act. But she has also faced criticism from some on the left for her willingness to work with Republicans on issues like gun safety and border security.
Allam, who helped lead Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign in North Carolina, says that Foushee's evolution on Israel issues reflects a broader shift among Democrats under pressure from organizers and constituents. "We cannot allow AIPAC and these corporate billionaires to scare us into silence," Allam said. "It’s actually our mandate to take them on directly, especially now as they’re losing their sway in the Democratic Party."
With the 2026 midterms looming, Allam is gearing up for a fierce campaign that could potentially put an end to Foushee's tenure in Congress. Will she be able to capitalize on public discontent with AIPAC spending and take down a seasoned incumbent? Only time will tell.
The pro-Israel lobby's spending has long been a thorn in the side of progressive politicians, and North Carolina's Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam is not afraid to take on the powerful group. With a $1.2 million campaign war chest, fueled by small donations from everyday people, Allam is gearing up for a rematch against Rep. Valerie Foushee in the 2026 midterms.
Foushee, who won the seat in 2022 with nearly two years of pro-Israel lobbying spending behind her, has since made a surprising about-face. In August, she announced that she would no longer accept money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) or other pro-Israel groups. The move is a significant shift for a Democrat who had previously been seen as a moderate on the issue.
But Allam sees Foushee's decision as an opportunity to capitalize on public discontent with the influence of AIPAC in politics. In an interview, she said that while Foushee has made progress in her willingness to distance herself from pro-Israel groups, it remains to be seen whether she will actually follow through on her commitment.
"Nida Allam is a serious candidate who could potentially upset Rep. Valerie Foushee," said Rachel Kramer, a progressive activist based in North Carolina. "Foushee's decision not to accept AIPAC money may have been driven by pressure from activists and constituents, but it remains to be seen whether she will actually take concrete actions to address the issues that are driving her opponents' campaigns."
For Allam, Foushee's hesitation on the issue of AIPAC spending is a red flag. "If they decide to spend in this, then it comes down to Valerie Foushee to answer," Allam said. "Is she going to stand by the promise and commitment she made to not accept AIPAC and pro-Israel lobby money? This district deserves someone who is going to be a champion for working families."
Foushee's decision not to take AIPAC money has been welcomed by progressive groups, including Justice Democrats, which endorsed Allam's campaign. The organization criticized Foushee for taking money from corporate interests, including defense contractors who have profited from genocides in Gaza and Sudan.
"In the face of rising healthcare costs, creeping authoritarianism, and ICE raids, and the highest number of federal funding cuts of any district in the country, leadership that only shows up to make excuses won’t cut it anymore," Justice Democrats wrote in a statement.
Foushee has a long history of progressive credentials, including her support for Medicare for All and the Voting Rights Act. But she has also faced criticism from some on the left for her willingness to work with Republicans on issues like gun safety and border security.
Allam, who helped lead Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign in North Carolina, says that Foushee's evolution on Israel issues reflects a broader shift among Democrats under pressure from organizers and constituents. "We cannot allow AIPAC and these corporate billionaires to scare us into silence," Allam said. "It’s actually our mandate to take them on directly, especially now as they’re losing their sway in the Democratic Party."
With the 2026 midterms looming, Allam is gearing up for a fierce campaign that could potentially put an end to Foushee's tenure in Congress. Will she be able to capitalize on public discontent with AIPAC spending and take down a seasoned incumbent? Only time will tell.
Nida Allam seems like a total game-changer for the progressive side in NC. I'm low-key impressed by her willingness to take on the pro-Israel lobby and challenge Foushee's stance. 
Allam's got some solid street cred, having worked with Bernie Sanders and being endorsed by Justice Democrats - that's not something you can just buy. 
What I find interesting is how Foushee's decision to ditch AIPAC money has been met with a mix of reactions from different corners of the left. Some people are stoked she's taking a stand, but others (like Allam) think it's a bit too little, too late. 
I'm curious to see how this plays out in 2026 - is Foushee really ready to take on AIPAC and other corporate interests head-on? Or will Nida Allam be the one to bring the heat? 
She's not afraid to take on the big boys, even when they're tryin' to silence her. It's all about who's listenin', you know? The people, or just a bunch of corporate interests lookin' out for themselves... 
, especially if Foushee doesn't follow through on her commitment 
. Pro-Israel lobby's influence is toxic 
and Allam's willingness to take on the pro-Israel lobby is 
brave 
Allam's campaign message resonates with working families 
, and if she can mobilize them, she might just win 
So I was just looking at the latest data from OpenSecrets.org, and it shows that since 2010, the pro-Israel lobby has spent over $1.4 billion on lobbying efforts in Washington D.C. 
And in 2022 alone, Foushee received $243,000 from AIPAC 
That's a lot of $$$ coming from a group with such influence! 
what's more progressive - taking money from pro-Israel groups or making a public statement about it? at the end of the day, foushee's still got that dem record but allam's got the grassroots support 
. Allam, on the other hand, seems like a more formidable opponent who isn't afraid to take on the powerful lobby head-on 
!
. The fact that Justice Democrats is backing her campaign also gives me hope 
. Foushee's decision not to take AIPAC money seems too good to be true... like she's trying to buy her way into our trust 
.
. She's still got some explaining to do if she wants to win over the progressive crowd. And Allam's just riding her coattails 
. The corporate $$$ vs. grassroots activism showdown is always a winner in my book 
. Stay tuned! 
seriously though, this Nida Allam girl seems to be on to something 
.