As RedState reported, GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards (NC-11) announced last Wednesday that he was dropping his reelection bid after the House Ethics Committee recommended he be censured following a review of "allegations that [he] may have created or fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment in violation of House Rules, laws, or other standards of conduct."
They concluded that Edwards "engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers" but "found no evidence that Representative Edwards engaged in sexual activity with or explicitly propositioned any individual under his employ."
In Edwards' announcement, he said nothing about the bipartisan committee's findings, writing that "After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign. I will complete my current term. Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life. Thank you for your trust, prayers, and support. God bless WNC and America."
READ MORE: GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards Calls It Quits After Damning Ethics Report
Republican Executive Committee officials in NC-11 moved quickly to find a replacement nominee. On Monday evening, it was revealed that out of five contenders, state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom (R-Henderson) had been chosen:
Jennifer Balkcom, who represents a state legislative district in Henderson County, will face Jamie Ager, who won the Democratic primary in March.
North Carolina GOP’s Executive Committee for the 11th Congressional District picked Balkcom to replace Edwards in compliance with state law given how late in the campaign he dropped out.
Balkcom faces a sprint to Election Day, which is less than three months away. Absentee ballots are set to start going out on Sept. 4, giving her just a few weeks to make her case to some voters.
🎉 Congratulations to @JenBalkcom for securing the Republican nomination for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District.
— NCGOP (@NCGOP) August 10, 2026
Jennifer Balkcom has previously served in the North Carolina House of Representatives representing District 117 in Henderson County. She will be on the… pic.twitter.com/Mjfihufq4I
In a statement, Balkcom said in part that "It has been an incredible honor to fight for Henderson County in Raleigh, and I will take that fight to Washington and work every single day to make life more affordable for working families, improve community safety, support our farmers, and ensure we have the resources we need to continue to recover from Hurricane Helene."
She's also a former Democrat, and had this to say about her former party:
Like many Americans, the Democrat Party left me behind when they abandoned their values and embraced extremism. We’re seeing that extremism play out across the country, as their party nominates radical socialists who want to raise taxes, open our borders, and do away with our way of life. We must prevent that radical agenda from reaching our government, and that starts right here in the Eleventh District.
Statement from Rep. @JenBalkcom on being nominated to take up the run for the #nc11 seat.#ncpol pic.twitter.com/H1a6uS05da
— A.P. Dillon (@APDillon_) August 11, 2026
At the end of July, Cook Political moved this race from "leans Republican" to a "toss-up," citing the investigation and "one alarmingly weak recently-reported quarter" of fundraising from Edwards.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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