N.C. GOP Picks Jennifer Balkcom to Replace Edwards on Ballot

A panel of North Carolina Republican officials on Monday selected state lawmaker Jennifer Balkcom as the GOP's new nominee for the state's 11th Congressional District, replacing Rep. Chuck Edwards after he abandoned his reelection bid amid sexual harassment allegations.

Balkcom, who represents a state legislative district in Henderson County, will face Democrat Jamie Ager, a farmer who won his party's primary in March and significantly outraised Edwards.

The North Carolina GOP's Executive Committee for the district made the selection under state law governing late candidate replacements. Balkcom announced her intention to seek the nomination less than 24 hours before being chosen, and now faces a compressed timeline before Election Day, less than three months away. Absentee ballots are set to go out starting September 4.

"This race is too important to sit out," Balkcom wrote in a statement on X on Sunday, saying Western North Carolina "needs a strong voice right now" as it continues recovering from Hurricane Helene.

Her candidacy drew quick backing from party leaders. North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall endorsed her Monday afternoon, calling her "the right person at the right time" and "a principled conservative." State GOP Executive Director Zachary Almond also congratulated her on X.

Edwards, who had been endorsed by President Donald Trump, said last week he would finish his current term but not seek reelection. His announcement came days after the House Ethics Committee recommended censuring him, finding "substantial reason to believe" he had violated House rules on sexual harassment and hostile workplaces. Edwards has denied wrongdoing, and his attorneys called the findings "unfounded" in a 15-page response.

Edwards won the seat in 2022 after ousting Rep. Madison Cawthorn in the GOP primary; the district was previously held by Mark Meadows before he became Trump's first-term chief of staff. Edwards won by more than 13 points in 2024, but Democrats see an opening as Republicans defend a narrow House majority in the midterms. Ager's race rating was downgraded from "Likely Republican" to "Lean Republican" by the Cook Political Report after the ethics report's release.