Democrat · North Carolina's 11th District · 2026
Jamie Ager
Ager grew up on Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview and returned after college to build a farming business with his wife, Amy.
Biography
Jamie Ager grew up milking cows on his family's Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview.1 A fourth generation farmer, he and his wife, Amy, raised three sons there while developing the family's meat business.1 They met at Warren Wilson College.2
He graduated from A.C. Reynolds High School and studied history and environmental studies, with a sustainable agriculture concentration, at Warren Wilson.2 His grandfather, Jamie Clarke, represented the region in Congress; his father, John, and older brother, Eric, have served in the state House.2 His great grandparents also helped launch an early regional farm cooperative.2 Ager also participated in an agricultural leadership development program through NC State between 2004 and 2006.2
He and Amy built a business selling beef and pork sourced from regional farmers to retail customers and the food service industry.3 He describes learning sales, marketing and team management over 25 years in the operation.1 After Hurricane Helene, the couple and their sons donated food from the farm to the community.1
Ager prioritizes Helene recovery funding, a public health insurance option and protecting Medicare's ability to negotiate prescription prices.3 His proposals include help for first home buyers, expanded child tax credits and banning congressional stock trading.3 He faces Republican Jennifer Balkcom in the race to succeed Chuck Edwards.4
Record and controversies
Artificial images in advertising
About both candidates: Jamie Ager and Jennifer Balkcom
An October 27 Citizen Times report documented an NRCC funded ad from Balkcom's campaign using artificial images to depict Ager dancing with drag performers.5 Performer Nova Jynah said the ad used a likeness without permission, denied ever meeting Ager and sent Balkcom's campaign a cease and desist letter.5 The report distinguished the fabricated scene from a real 2019 farm event whose broader entertainment lineup included a group that performs in drag.5 Ager rejected the depiction; Balkcom's campaign defended the ad as criticism of events it considered inappropriate for children, and the NRCC said it would keep running it despite the letter.5