North Carolina Republicans on Tuesday selected state lawmaker Jennifer Balkcom as their nominee for the 11th congressional district, replacing incumbent Chuck Edwards after he abandoned his re-election bid.
Edwards withdrew following a House Ethics Committee recommendation that he be censured over findings that he fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment toward two young female staffers in his Washington office. He announced last week he would serve out his term but not seek a third. State party executive director Zach Almond said Balkcom beat five other candidates on the first round of balloting.
Balkcom will face Democratic nominee Jamie Ager, who won her party's primary in March, with absentee ballots set to begin Sept. 4. The district, which has not elected a Democrat since 2010, was won by Donald Trump by 10 percentage points in 2024.