Ramba uchinyora ndima iyi - Valentine akashanda muNorth Carolina House of Representatives kubva muna 1955 kusvika muna 1960. Pashure pacho, akanga ari chipangamazano uye gweta kuna Gavhuna Dan K. Moore uye gare gare sachigaro wekomiti yeNorth Carolina Democratic Party (1966 <unk> 1968). Akanga ari nhume kuDemocratic National Convention ya1968
. Muna 1982 akasarudzwa kuCongress kubva kuNorth Carolina's 2nd congressional district uye akashanda nguva nhanhatu muImba yeVamiririri. Haana kumira kusarudzwazve muna 1994 uye akarega basa raakasarudzwa apo nguva yake yakaguma munaJanuary 1995. Chikamu cheU.S. 64 pedyo neNashville chakatumidzwa zita rake mukucherechedza basa rake reruzhinji.