ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Voters in Asheville and across the western mountains are choosing a new member of Congress this fall, and both candidates for the open 11th District seat come from long-established farm families in the region.
Democrat Jamie Ager, a fourth-generation farmer whose family runs Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview, faces Republican state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom, a mortgage loan officer raised among her relatives’ apple orchards in Henderson County.
Republican Chuck Edwards, the current congressman, gave up on a new term in August amid conduct allegations, leaving the seat open. The U.S. House voted in September to censure him. The state Republican Party picked Balkcom as the replacement nominee, giving her about three months to campaign, while Ager has been running for roughly a year and a half.
The district stretches over roughly 6,200 square miles across 16 mountain counties. Since 1991 its voters have elected just a single Democrat, Heath Shuler, and President Donald Trump has carried it three times.
Hurricane Helene recovery is central for both. Ager calls Helene relief money his top goal in Congress; the storm cut power and downed trees at his farm and briefly cost it major restaurant buyers. Balkcom, in the state House since 2023, worked to win state relief dollars and wants to bring that effort to Washington. Her best-known bill bars transgender athletes from women’s and girls’ sports.
Early voting in person is open now and ends at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Voters may use any early voting site in their county, can register and vote at the same time during that period, and will be asked to show photo ID. Election Day is Nov. 3.
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