Balkcom selected to replace Edwards in NC 11 congressional race

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — North Carolina Republicans have chosen state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom to replace U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards on the November ballot, giving the Henderson County lawmaker less than three months to introduce herself to voters in a congressional race she said she had not planned to enter.

Balkcom, a Republican who represents the 117th state House district, was selected Monday night by the North Carolina Republican Party’s 11th Congressional District Executive Committee at the Buncombe County Republican Party headquarters in Asheville.

She won on the first ballot from a field of six candidates, according to people who attended the meeting.

Balkcom will face Democrat Jamie Ager, who won the Democratic primary in March.

The selection comes less than a week after Edwards ended his reelection campaign following a House Ethics Committee investigation into his conduct toward two female congressional staffers.

Edwards, who had already won the Republican nomination for a third term, announced Aug. 5 that he was withdrawing from the race. He said he plans to finish his current term.

The House Ethics Committee recommended that Edwards be censured after finding substantial evidence that he violated House rules involving sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct toward the two staffers.

According to the committee’s findings, Edwards gave the women gifts, commented on their appearance and clothing, invited them to dinners and vacations and sent notes expressing affection.

Edwards denied that his conduct was intended as a sexual or romantic advance. The committee said it found no evidence that he explicitly propositioned either staffer or engaged in sexual activity with them.

Censure would be a formal expression of the House’s disapproval. It would not remove Edwards from office, and the full House would have to vote on the recommendation.

With Edwards withdrawing after securing the Republican nomination, state law provides for the congressional district’s Republican executive committee to fill the vacancy on the party ticket.

Balkcom entered the race Sunday after state Sen. Tim Moffitt decided not to seek the nomination. She had initially supported Moffitt.

In announcing her candidacy, Balkcom said she had not planned to run for Congress but decided to step forward because she believes Western North Carolina needs a strong voice in Washington.

“Western North Carolina needs a strong voice right now,” Balkcom said. “Our communities are still rebuilding from Hurricane Helene. Our farmers, families, and small businesses need someone who understands them.”

Balkcom has represented Henderson County in the state House since 2023. She is also a mortgage loan officer and an eighth-generation farmer, according to Republican Party officials.

After her selection Monday night, Balkcom said she plans to focus on affordability, public safety, farmers and Western North Carolina’s continued recovery from Helene.

The other candidates seeking the Republican nomination were Western North Carolina conservative leaders Chad Nesbitt, Ken McKim, Christian Reagan, Matthew Burril and Kristie Sluder.

Nesbitt congratulated Balkcom after the vote.

“The mountains of Western NC have never seen devastation like Hurricane Helene,” Nesbitt said in a statement. “Jennifer Balkcom is the people’s disaster relief and our first responder.”

Ager criticized the replacement process Monday before the vote, calling it a “backroom” decision.

But the process is spelled out in state law. When a party nominee withdraws or otherwise becomes ineligible before the general election, the appropriate party executive committee is responsible for selecting a replacement.

The 11th Congressional District covers much of Western North Carolina and has been represented by a Republican in Congress since 2013.

Now Balkcom faces a compressed campaign schedule.

Election Day is Nov. 3, giving her less than three months to campaign. Absentee ballots are scheduled to begin going out Sept. 4.

Balkcom will also be campaigning across a large district that includes Asheville and parts of Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood, Madison, Polk, Rutherford and other Western North Carolina counties.

Her campaign will come as the region continues to deal with the long-term effects of Hurricane Helene, including rebuilding homes, businesses and infrastructure damaged by the September 2024 storm.

For Balkcom, the first step will be getting her name and message in front of voters who, until last week, expected Edwards to be the Republican nominee.