Republicans name candidate to replace Chuck Edwards after sexual harassment investigation

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.

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.

“I’m blessed to receive the Republican nomination for the 11th Congressional District. Western North Carolina is where I was born, raised, and chose to raise my own family,” Ager said in a statement following her nomination.

“Rest assured, I will work every single day between now and Election Day to earn the votes of our friends and neighbors. Our region is incredibly strong and resilient, and I plan to be the fighter everyone who calls Western North Carolina home deserves.”

Edwards was first elected in 2022 after defeating the scandal-plague congressman Madison Cawthorn in the Republican primary. Last week, the US House ethics committee found he “fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment” towards two female employees in his Washington DC office.

While the investigation uncovered no evidence that Edwards engaged in sexual activity with the staffers or suggested it, his behavior likely violated provisions in the House code of conduct that prohibit sexual harassment and unwanted advances, and the ethics committee recommended he be censured.

Even before Edwards dropped out, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the House Democratic campaign arm, had added his district to its list of targets to regain the majority in the House of Representatives in November’s midterms.

No House Democrat has won election to the region since 2010, and the race between Ager and Balkcom is likely to see concerted spending from both parties and outside groups.

Edwards had won the Republican nomination for his district in last March’s primary, and the North Carolina Republican party had convened in Asheville a meeting of officials from the region to select a replacement. Zach Almond, the state party’s executive director, said Balkcom beat five other candidates on the first round of balloting.