Republicans name candidate to replace Chuck Edwards after sexual harassment investigation

Published August 11, 2026 · Category: News

Overview

Jennifer Balkcom to face Democrat Jamie Ager in race to represent North Carolina’s 11th congressional district

North Carolina Republicans on Monday chose state lawmaker Jennifer Balkcom to replace Chuck Edwards, the incumbent congressman who earlier this month dropped his re-election bid after a US House investigation determined his conduct towards to young female staffers likely amounted to sexual harassment.

Details

Balkcom will face off against the Democratic nominee, Jamie Ager, in the November midterm elections to represent the 11th congressional district in western North Carolina. Though Donald Trump won the district by 10 percentage points two years ago, Democrats believe Ager may have a shot at winning amid the president’s low approval ratings and frustration over the pace of recovery from Hurricane Helene, which devastated the region in 2024.

Source

Originally published at www.theguardian.com.

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