Incumbent U.S. Representative Virginia Foxx, 83, is in a closely contested race for North Carolina's 5th congressional district, trailing Democratic challenger Chuck Hubbard by a slim margin as votes continue to be counted. As of the latest reports, Hubbard holds a narrow lead of 139,034 votes to Foxx's 138,935, a difference of just 99 votes, with over 95% of the ballots tallied.
Foxx, a Republican who has served in Congress for over 21 years, has been a figure of controversy throughout her tenure. Recently, she drew criticism for a "disrespectful" and "hostile" letter sent to a 10-year-old boy, Christian Mango, who had written to her about tax credits for electric vehicles as part of a school assignment. In her response, Foxx accused the child of being "indoctrinated" by his teachers.
Foxx was also captured on video in 2023 shouting "Shut up, shut up" at journalists asking questions about Speaker Mike Johnson's past vote to overturn the 2020 election results. Republican lawmakers present in the room reportedly booed and jeered at the reporter.
Her congressional career, which began in 2005, has seen other notable incidents. She was among a small group of lawmakers who voted against aid packages for victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and twice against aid for Hurricane Sandy in 2013. In 2021, Foxx was fined for evading metal detectors installed after the January 6th Capitol attack. She also voted against proposals to release the Jeffrey Epstein Files in 2025.
Despite the controversies, Foxx has been a consistent representative for her district, though the current election outcome remains uncertain as final votes are processed. Hubbard's victory in Guilford County, the district's largest, appears to be a key factor in the tight race.