Virginia Foxx

Virginia Foxx grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains without electricity or running water and began working as a weaver at 12.¹ Later, she and her husband, Tom, owned a nursery business in Watauga County before she entered Congress.² Her interests include reading and gardening, and she is a grandmother.²

She spent seven years working toward her undergraduate degree, taking jobs as a waitress, clerk and secretary while raising a daughter.³ She graduated from UNC Chapel Hill, earned a master's there and completed an education doctorate at UNC Greensboro.² Her academic career included teaching at Caldwell Community College and Appalachian State and serving as president of Mayland Community College from 1987 to 1994.²

Foxx served three terms on the Watauga County school board and spent a decade in the state Senate before entering Congress in 2005.² She helped develop the bipartisan 2014 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which reorganized federal workforce training programs.²⁴ She currently chairs the House Rules Committee.⁵

Her stated priorities include lower taxes, less federal spending and a reduced federal role in education.⁶ She opposes Medicare for All and advocates greater healthcare price transparency and private coverage choices.⁶ She also backs abortion restrictions and stronger border enforcement.⁶ She faces Democrat Chuck Hubbard.⁷