New students: Here's who represents you in N.C. and D.C.

Here’s everything you need to know about who represents Orange County in state and national government. 

U.S. Congress

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C.:

Thom Tillis has represented North Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2015, before which he served as a member and the Speaker of the N.C. House of Representatives. A Huntersville resident from a working-class background, Tillis received his bachelor's degree at 36 after working his way up the corporate ladder. Tillis serves on the Armed Services Committee; the Veterans' Affairs Committee; the Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee; and the Committee on the Judiciary. He will face Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham in the Nov. 3 general election.

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C.:

Richard Burr, a Wake Forest University graduate coming from a 17-year career in business and five-term run in the U.S. House of Representatives, is serving his third term in the U.S. Senate representing North Carolina. Burr sits on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee and the Finance Committee. He recently made national headlines after stepping down as chairperson of the Senate Intelligence Committee in response to an ongoing FBI investigation into possible insider trading at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. Rep. David Price, D-N.C.:

David Price represents all of Orange County and parts of Wake and Durham counties in the U.S. House of Representatives. Price, a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill with a doctorate in political science from Yale University, worked as a professor of political science and public policy at Duke University before making his first congressional run in 1986. He currently serves on the House Appropriations Committee and is the chairperson of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations subcommittee. Representing a large part of the Research Triangle, Price has previously sponsored legislation surrounding college affordability, scientific research and transportation. 

N.C. General Assembly:

The North Carolina General Assembly is the legislative body of the state government and has two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Republican Party has the majority in both. 

The Senate consists of 50 members who serve a term of two years each. N.C. Sen. Phil Berger, R-Caswell, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, is the current Senate president pro tempore. 

N.C. Sen. Valerie Foushee, D-Chatham, Orange:

Valerie Foushee is currently serving her third elected term as state senator for the 23rd District in the North Carolina Senate. A Chapel Hill High School and UNC-Chapel Hill graduate,  Foushee is a former Chapel Hill Police Department supervisor, N.C. House representative and chairperson of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools board. The first Black woman to be elected to the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, Foushee currently chairs the North Carolina Black Alliance, and advocates in the Senate for investing in education and ensuring social and racial equality. Foushee will face Republican challenger Tom Glendinning on Nov. 3.

The House consists of 120 members who serve for a term of two years each. The current Speaker of the House is Tim Moore, R-Cleveland.

N.C. Rep. Graig Meyer, D-Caswell, Orange:

Graig Meyer is currently serving his fourth term representing District 50 in the N.C. House. A social worker by trade, Meyer previously served 16 years as coordinator of the Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate program, a Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools initiative designed to improve districtwide achievement of students of color. Meyer, who also worked two years as director of student equity for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, currently serves on five committees, including the Education Committee and the House Select Committee on COVID-19 in the Education Working Group. As of June 23, Meyer will run unopposed for reelection on Nov. 3.

N.C. Rep. Verla Insko, D-Chatham, Orange:

Verla Insko represents District 12 in the N.C. House and is serving her 12th term, the most of any currently serving North Carolina Democrat. A UNC-Chapel Hill Masters in Public Administration graduate, Insko has previously served on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education and the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. Insko, who previously served as the House Chairperson of the Joint Oversight Committee on Mental Health, currently serves in 10 committees, including the Appropriations Committee and the House Select Committee on COVID-19 in the Health Care Working Group. As of June 23, Insko will run unopposed on Nov. 3.

For more information on how to register to vote in Orange County, check out this voter registration guide.

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