A panel of Republican officials in North Carolina has nominated a state lawmaker for a House race after Rep. Chuck Edwards withdrew his re-election bid due to sexual harassment allegations. Jennifer Balkcom, who represents a state legislative district in Henderson County, will compete against Jamie Ager, the winner of the Democratic primary in March. The North Carolina GOP’s Executive Committee for the 11th Congressional District chose Balkcom in accordance with state law, following Edwards’ late withdrawal from the campaign.
Balkcom is now faced with a tight timeline until Election Day, less than three months away. Absentee ballots will begin distribution on September 4, leaving her a short period to connect with voters. She declared her intention to seek the nomination less than a day prior to being selected.
“This race is too important to sit out,” Balkcom wrote in a statement on Sunday. She emphasized that Western North Carolina “needs a strong voice right now,” especially after Hurricane Helene.
Her candidacy received substantial support from influential figures in the state. North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall endorsed Balkcom on social media, stating she is “the right person at the right time.” Hall added that Balkcom is a principled conservative, dedicated to her district, and an effective leader.
North Carolina GOP’s executive director, Zachary Almond, congratulated Balkcom following the announcement, expressing enthusiasm for working alongside her and her team during the election cycle.
Rep. Chuck Edwards, who had the backing of former President Donald Trump, announced last week he would complete his current term but not pursue a third term in the House. This decision followed the House Ethics Committee’s recommendation for censure amid accusations of violating House Rules concerning sexual harassment and hostile work environments. Edwards has consistently denied these allegations, asserting his actions were not intended to be sexual or romantic. Despite the committee’s findings, Edwards’ attorneys submitted a 15-page rebuttal, labeling the accusations as “unfounded.” Earlier, Edwards referred to the allegations as “baseless” and welcomed an investigation in May.
Edwards won his seat in the House in 2022 after defeating scandal-ridden Rep. Madison Cawthorn in the GOP primary. Prior to this, the district was represented by Mark Meadows, who led the House Freedom Caucus before serving as Chief of Staff during Trump’s initial term.
Despite Edwards securing his seat by a margin of over 13 percentage points in 2024, Democrats are optimistic about potentially flipping the seat as Republicans aim to maintain their slim majority in the House approaching the midterm elections. Ager, a farmer who exceeded Edwards in campaign fundraising, was previously listed as “Likely Republican” by the Cook Political Report. Following the House Ethics Committee report, this rating was adjusted to “Lean Republican.”