Congresswoman Deborah Ross is a civil rights advocate, a clean energy champion, a lawyer, and a proud North Carolinian. She was sworn into the House of Representatives on January 3, 2025, for her third term representing North Carolina’s Second Congressional District, which includes most of Wake County.

In Congress, Deborah is fighting for equality, justice, and progress. She serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Space, Science, and Technology. She is also a member of House Democrats’ leadership team, serving as a Chief Deputy Whip and on the Steering and Policy Committee.

In her first two terms, Deborah became a leading voice on issues ranging from women’s health and health care access to immigration reform and clean energy technology. Since taking office, 13 pieces of Deborah’s legislation have been signed into law, including bills to increase funding for sexual assault nurse examiners, hold perpetrators of child sexual abuse accountable, enhance judicial ethics and transparency, and bolster North Carolina’s offshore wind energy potential. She also secured crucial federal funding for affordable housing, public safety, and water systems throughout Wake County.

This Congress, Deborah continues to fight for legislation to advance real solutions for North Carolinians and people across the country. She is the lead sponsor of comprehensive legislation to help end sexual abuse and violence in sports by strengthening the U.S. Center for SafeSport. She is also spearheading critical legislation to protect legal immigration options that are under attack by the Trump administration. She proudly introduced a bill to protect Documented Dreamers, the children of long-term visa holders who come to the United States legally and live in many North Carolina communities.

Deborah grew up in a small town. The proud daughter of an Air Force veteran and an early childhood education teacher, her parents instilled in her the belief that with opportunity comes responsibility and that through public service she could help others and make a difference.

She graduated from law school at UNC-Chapel Hill and entered public service in 2002, when she ran for and won a seat representing Wake County in the North Carolina House of Representatives, where she went on to serve for more than a decade. As a Representative in the General Assembly, Deborah worked to protect voting rights, fund transit and transportation projects, increase access to affordable housing, and protect and expand healthcare. Deborah was named as one of Wake County's most effective legislators for her ability to work across the aisle to deliver results for the people of North Carolina.

Prior to serving in public office, Deborah worked as a civil rights lawyer, helping to pass the South’s first anti-racial profiling law and reforms to the state’s juvenile justice laws. Later, in private practice, she worked to build North Carolina’s clean energy future, helping to create thousands of jobs in the renewable energy sector. 

Deborah and her husband Steve live in Raleigh with their dog Wylie.

Click here to download Congresswoman Ross's official photo.