Ager, Balkcom to Face Off for NC-11 Seat
Democrat Jamie Ager and Republican Jennifer Balkcom will compete in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District after incumbent Chuck Edwards withdrew from the race.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Elections
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Democrat Jamie Ager will face Republican Jennifer Balkcom in the November 3, 2026 election for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District. Incumbent Republican Chuck Edwards withdrew from the race on August 5, 2026, following a House Ethics Committee recommendation that the full House censure him.
Why it matters
The withdrawal reshapes a district that voted for Edwards by a 56.8% to 43.2% margin in 2024, leaving the seat competitive in a year when control of the U.S. House of Representatives is at stake. Forecast ratings for the race have ranged from Lean Republican to Toss-up since September.
Democratic nominee Ager won the primary with 64.7% of the vote, while Republican nominee Balkcom was selected to replace Edwards after his withdrawal. The district's 2024 result was 56.8% for Edwards and 43.2% for Rudow, and Trump carried it 54.2% to 44.7% over Harris.
The players
Jennifer Balkcom
A Republican mortgage loan officer and former North Carolina state representative elected in 2022, now the party's nominee for the 11th District.
Jamie Ager
The Democratic nominee who owns and operates Hickory Nut Gap, a meat producer, and won the party's primary with 64.7% of the vote.
Chuck Edwards
The incumbent Republican congressman who withdrew from the race on August 5, 2026, after the House Ethics Committee recommended censure over allegations of inappropriate behavior toward female staffers.
The details
Jennifer Balkcom, a mortgage loan officer who was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2022, was selected as the Republican nominee after Edwards exited the race. Jamie Ager, who owns and operates the meat producer Hickory Nut Gap, won the Democratic primary, and Libertarian candidate Travis Groo advanced after the party canceled its primary.
Timeline
2024: Edwards defeated Rudow 56.8% to 43.2% in the general election.
October 2025: North Carolina redrew its congressional map, leaving district boundaries unchanged.
August 5, 2026: Edwards withdrew from the race after the censure recommendation.
September 2026: Forecast ratings ranged from Lean Republican to Toss-up.
November 3, 2026: Election day for NC-11 and all 435 House seats.
Season Trajectory
The 2024 result, when Edwards carried the district by roughly 13.6 points, set a baseline that the open-seat contest now tests. With control of the House at stake under a 219-214 split across 435 seats, the NC-11 race is one of the contests that could shift the chamber's balance.
Voters in the 11th District will choose between Ager and Balkcom on November 3, 2026, in a seat that has shifted from the incumbent Edwards to an open contest. The outcome will determine the district's House representation for the next term.
The takeaway
Voters in the 11th District should check their registration and polling location ahead of the November 3 election, since the candidate field has changed since the primary. The race's Toss-up and Lean Republican ratings suggest the contest is viewed as genuinely competitive.
What happens next
Election day for North Carolina's 11th District and all 435 U.S. House seats is November 3, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the candidates and ballot, see Elections coverage across North Carolina.
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