HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Vice President JD Vance is coming to Western North Carolina on Monday, Oct. 19, for a Republican campaign rally as the November midterm elections draw closer.
The rally will be held at Hyder Warehouse, 142 Chestnut Gap Road in Hendersonville. Doors are scheduled to open at 11 a.m., with the event beginning at 1 p.m., according to the official Republican event registration page.
Vance’s visit comes just over two weeks before the Nov. 3 election, with Republicans working to hold on to a congressional seat in Western North Carolina.
Republican state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom faces Democrat Jamie Ager and Libertarian Travis Groo in the race for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District.
The seat is currently held by Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards, who withdrew from the race in August after a House Ethics Committee investigation found substantial reason to believe he violated House rules concerning sexual harassment and hostile workplaces. The committee recommended censuring Edwards, who disputed its findings. The House voted 413-2 to censure him Sept. 1.
Balkcom, who represents Henderson County in the state legislature, was selected by Republicans to replace Edwards on the ballot.
The 11th District race has drawn national attention as both parties compete for control of Congress. The Cook Political Report shifted the contest from leaning Republican to a toss-up in September.
A Republican source familiar with Monday’s rally told local news media Vance plans to announce his support for Balkcom during the event.
The rally is being organized by Trump 47 Committee Inc., a Trump-aligned political fundraising organization.
Vance’s visit is part of a broader Republican campaign push in the Carolinas. President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a rally Tuesday, Oct. 20, in Greenville, North Carolina, followed by an appearance Wednesday in Clemson, South Carolina.
It was not immediately clear whether Vance would make additional stops in Western North Carolina or address issues such as Tropical Storm Helene recovery, which remains a concern across the region.
Attendance at Monday’s rally requires advance registration. No specific road closures associated with the visit had been announced as of Sunday, although officials warned that additional traffic was possible around the event.
Early voting is underway across North Carolina and continues through Saturday, Oct. 31.