North Carolina Republicans Select New Candidate for House Race After Edwards Withdraws

A panel of Republican officials in North Carolina has chosen state lawmaker Jennifer Balkcom as their nominee for an upcoming House race. This decision follows the withdrawal of Rep. Chuck Edwards from re-election after facing sexual harassment allegations.

Balkcom, who currently serves a legislative district in Henderson County, will compete against Democrat Jamie Ager, who secured the Democratic primary earlier this year. The North Carolina GOP’s Executive Committee for the 11th Congressional District selected Balkcom in compliance with state law due to Edwards dropping out late in the campaign.

Balkcom has a limited time to campaign before Election Day, which is less than three months away. With absentee ballots scheduled for mailing on September 4, she needs to quickly present her platform to voters. Balkcom announced her candidacy less than a day ago, emphasizing the significance of the race.

This race is too important to sit out. Western North Carolina needs a strong voice right now as it continues to rebuild after Hurricane Helene.

Her entry into the race received support from key state figures. North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall endorsed Balkcom, describing her as “the right person at the right time.”

Jennifer is a principled conservative, a tireless advocate for her district, and a leader who gets things done.

State GOP executive director Zachary Almond also expressed enthusiasm for Balkcom’s nomination and looks forward to working with her throughout the election process.

Rep. Chuck Edwards’ decision to not seek a third term came after the House Ethics Committee investigation. The committee found a substantial reason to believe Edwards breached House Rules regarding sexual harassment and a hostile workplace. Edwards has denied any wrongdoing, stating his actions were misinterpreted. His attorneys called the findings “unfounded” in a detailed response.

Edwards was elected in 2022, defeating Madison Cawthorn in the GOP primary. The district, previously represented by Mark Meadows, has a history of Republican leadership.

Although Edwards won the seat by over 13 percentage points in the 2024 election, Democrats hope to gain the seat. Ager, who raised significant funds against Edwards, faces a different political dynamic after the recent ethics report. The Cook Political Report downgraded the district’s rating from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican.”