GOP Rep. Foxx will seek 12th term in the U.S. House

Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx said Saturday she will seek to return for a 12th term in the U.S. House of Representatives representing North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District.

Victim of Hurricane Helene last fall, chairwoman in the 119th Congress for the Committee on Rules and in the 118th for the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the 81-year-old New York City native has more consecutive years (20) in Washington than any other from the state. Her conservative principles align with the Trump administration efforts almost perfectly, focusing on a halt to wasteful spending, encouraging economic growth and strengthening national security.

“I don’t know about you, but I am definitely not tired of winning!” Foxx wrote on social media late Saturday morning. “I am pleased to announce that I will be running for reelection in the 2026 midterms to continue fighting for North Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District and President Trump’s America First agenda!”

To date, there are no opponents for her.

The Federal Election Commission says her campaign cash on hand is $3.1 million. Foxx has won each of her 11 campaigns for House snagging 57% or more of the vote regardless of redistricting map authors.

State House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, was among the early responders.

He wrote, “I’m so glad @foxxforcongress will continue representing us in Washington. She is a fierce advocate for NC and the America First agenda!”

The state’s worst natural disaster left the home of she and her husband cut off from the main road. In the days after the storm slammed the mountains of the Carolinas and Tennessee, Tom Foxx was stranded inside the home. Foxx was apart from him and remained proactive for storm victims, in particular keeping an eye on efforts by FEMA.

Helene killed 107 in the state and caused an estimated $60 billion in damage. Across seven states, 236 lost their lives because of the storm.

Following the Oct. 7, 2023, escalation of war between Hamas and Israel, college campuses became focus points for antisemitic protests. Foxx was among the most outspoken to quell the unrest and led congressional hearings that led to more probes and the separation from respective top leadership jobs for Dr. Claudine Gay at Harvard, Dr. Liz Magill at Penn and Dr. Minouche Shafik at Columbia. Dr. Martha Pollack resigned from the presidency at Cornell and said the decision was before headline-grabbing protests on campus.

In his Jan. 14 choosing of Foxx to lead the powerful Committee on Rules, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said, “For two decades, Dr. Foxx has been a stalwart in the House and a leader in multiple policy areas. Her drive and personality have established her as among the most universally respected members of our Republican Conference. Dr. Foxx is an example of how members should serve, and our conference will benefit greatly with her at the helm of the influential Rules Committee.”

Foxx turns 82 on June 29. Her district is the northwestern region of the state that borders Tennessee and Virginia. The counties include a dip into northwestern Guilford, and all of Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Alleghany, Ashe, Watauga, Caldwell, Alexander and Wilkes. Her congressional map was drawn by Democratic majorities in the Legislature for her first three terms, Republicans for seven, and judicial special masters for one (2022).

Foxx has won when presidential elections were won by Republican George W. Bush (second term), Democrat Barack Obama twice, Republican Donald Trump twice and Democrat Joe Biden. She’s won when gubernatorial elections were won by Democrats Michael Easley (second term) and Bev Perdue, Republican Pat McCrory, and Democrats Roy Cooper twice and Josh Stein.

Foxx’s wins have all been against Democrats. She in 2004 defeated Jim Harrell Jr. 58.8%-41.2%; in 2006 defeated Roger Sharpe 57.2%-42.8%; in 2008 defeated Roy Carter 58.4%-41.6%; in 2010 defeated Billy Kennedy 65.9%-34.1%; in 2012 defeated Elisabeth Motsinger 57.5%-42.6%; in 2014 defeated Josh Brannon 61%-39%; in 2016 defeated Brannon again 58.4%-41.6%; in 2018 defeated DD Adams 57%-43%; in 2020 defeated David Wilson Brown 66.9%-31.1% in a three-candidate race; in 2022 defeated Kyle Parrish 63.2%-36.9%; and on Nov. 5 defeated Chuck Hubbard 59.5%-40.5%.