Federal

U.S. Representative, 11th Congressional District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 3
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A member of the U.S. House of Representatives votes on federal laws, taxes and spending on behalf of the district.

Rep. Chuck Edwards, the Republican nominee, withdrew in August 2026; on August 10 the district's Republican executive committee named state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom to replace him on the ballot. No incumbent is on the ballot.

Candidates Compare by issue

Jennifer Capps Balkcom

Republican

State representative; mortgage loan officer · Hendersonville

The gist

Pledges to focus on affordability, safety, farmers and Helene recovery
Supports working with the Trump administration on western NC rebuilding
Sponsored a state law barring adversary governments from buying farmlandIn office
Sponsored a state bill toughening penalties for armed burglaryIn office
Sponsored a state bill allowing newborn safety devicesIn office
Sponsored a bill on parents' access to minors' medical recordsIn office
Sponsored state aid for extraordinary costs of students with disabilitiesIn office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Jennifer

View sources (6)

Pledges to focus on affordability, safety, farmers and Helene recovery
Jennifer Balkcom to replace Edwards on NC-11 ballot
News coverage · Carolina Journal · Aug 10, 2026 · carolinajournal.com
“make life more affordable for working families, improve community safety, support our farmers … continue to recover from Hurricane Helene”
Supports working with the Trump administration on western NC rebuilding
Jennifer Balkcom to replace Edwards on NC-11 ballot
News coverage · Carolina Journal · Aug 10, 2026 · carolinajournal.com
“work with President Trump's Administration to continue rebuilding Western North Carolina”
Sponsored a state law barring adversary governments from buying farmland
House Bill 133 (2025–2026 Session), filed edition: NC Farmland and Military Protection Act
Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov
“to prohibit the acquisition of agricultural and other lands critical to the safety and security of the state by certain foreign governments”
Sponsored a state bill toughening penalties for armed burglary
House Bill 42 (2025–2026 Session), filed edition: Burglary & B&E/Sentence Enhancement
Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov
“enhance the punishment imposed for certain burglary and breaking or entering offenses committed by a person in possession of a firearm”
Sponsored a state bill allowing newborn safety devices
House Bill 139 (2025–2026 Session), filed edition: Baby Boxes/Newborn Safety Device
Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov
“to allow infants to be safely surrendered at certain facilities in a newborn safety device”
Sponsored a bill on parents' access to minors' medical records
House Bill 519 (2025–2026 Session), filed edition: Parents' Medical Bill of Rights
Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov
“when parents are allowed ACCESS TO MINORS' MEDICAL RECORDS”
Sponsored state aid for extraordinary costs of students with disabilities
House Bill 883 (2025–2026 Session), filed edition: Support Students with Disabilities Act
Government record · North Carolina General Assembly · ncleg.gov
“FOR ONGOING EXTRAORDINARY COSTS of children with disabilities”

Jamie Ager

Democratic

Farmer; co-owner of Hickory Nut Gap · Fairview

The gist

Pledges to make Helene recovery funding his top priority
Supports a public health insurance option
Supports Medicare drug price negotiation and insulin caps
Supports banning members of Congress from trading stocks
Supports tax reform so top earners pay more
Opposes selling off federal public lands
Supports taking on monopolies in food and utilities

More about Jamie

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Pledges to make Helene recovery funding his top priority
Platform — Jamie Ager for US Congress
Campaign website · Ager for Congress · agerforcongress.com
“In Congress, my top priority will be delivering recovery funds and pushing to help our region come back even stronger than we were.”
Supports a public health insurance option
Platform — Jamie Ager for US Congress
Campaign website · Ager for Congress · agerforcongress.com
“I'll push for a public option so everyone has access to quality affordable health care.”
Supports Medicare drug price negotiation and insulin caps
Platform — Jamie Ager for US Congress
Campaign website · Ager for Congress · agerforcongress.com
“I'll defend Medicare's power to negotiate drug prices and keep capping insulin and other essentials.”
Supports banning members of Congress from trading stocks
Platform — Jamie Ager for US Congress
Campaign website · Ager for Congress · agerforcongress.com
“I'll fight to ban members of Congress from stock trading, so no one is using insider knowledge for personal gain.”
Supports tax reform so top earners pay more
Platform — Jamie Ager for US Congress
Campaign website · Ager for Congress · agerforcongress.com
“I'll push both parties to reform the tax code so the folks at the top pay their fair share.”
Opposes selling off federal public lands
Platform — Jamie Ager for US Congress
Campaign website · Ager for Congress · agerforcongress.com
“These are assets that we must cherish and protect. I'll never allow them to be sold off.”
Supports taking on monopolies in food and utilities
Platform — Jamie Ager for US Congress
Campaign website · Ager for Congress · agerforcongress.com
“I'll take on monopolization — from the food industry to our utilities — so corporations don't control too much business”

Travis Groo

Libertarian

Safety specialist, Old Dominion Freight Line · Greensboro

The gist

Proposes abolishing income and capital gains taxes, auditing the Fed
Opposes all gun laws
Supports bringing all U.S. troops home
Opposes any war without congressional approval
Proposes investigating FEMA's Hurricane Helene response
Opposes tariffs as taxes paid by Americans

More about Travis

View sources (1)

Proposes abolishing income and capital gains taxes, auditing the Fed
Travis Groo - US House NC District 11 (Tar Heel Libertarian interview)
Interview · Libertarian Party of North Carolina · lpnc.org
“Day one: abolish all income taxes. Day two: abolish all capital gains taxes. Day three: audit the fed.”
Opposes all gun laws
Travis Groo - US House NC District 11 (Tar Heel Libertarian interview)
Interview · Libertarian Party of North Carolina · lpnc.org
“All gun laws are illegal.”
Supports bringing all U.S. troops home
Travis Groo - US House NC District 11 (Tar Heel Libertarian interview)
Interview · Libertarian Party of North Carolina · lpnc.org
“As a non-interventionist I would advocate to bring all of our troops home to defend and protect our boarders.”
Opposes any war without congressional approval
Travis Groo - US House NC District 11 (Tar Heel Libertarian interview)
Interview · Libertarian Party of North Carolina · lpnc.org
“No war without congressional approval.”
Proposes investigating FEMA's Hurricane Helene response
Travis Groo - US House NC District 11 (Tar Heel Libertarian interview)
Interview · Libertarian Party of North Carolina · lpnc.org
“I want to conduct a thorough investigation into how they handled this natural disaster.”
Opposes tariffs as taxes paid by Americans
Travis Groo - US House NC District 11 (Tar Heel Libertarian interview)
Interview · Libertarian Party of North Carolina · lpnc.org
“Tariffs are taxes that Americas pay.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 8 issues covered in this race.